Career Development and Experiential Learning Center Staff
TODD BUTYNSKI
Interim Director, Career Development & Experiential Learning Center
Todd is the current Interim Director of the Engineering Career Development & Experiential Learning Center and has been here for the past 5, after spending almost 7 years on-campus in the Alumni Association and Central Career Services. He is a proud graduate of the Isenberg School of Management, majoring in Sport Management. After a short stint selling tickets in the sports industry, he now focuses on student development and corporate relations, two areas that he is passionate about.
When not around campus, he can be found at various indoor soccer arenas, working at his family farm in Greenfield, or out and about with his wife and 2-year-old, Miles.
SALLY DARBY
Associate Director, Career Development & Experiential Learning Center
Sally has been part of the Engineering Career Center for twelve years. Born in Philadelphia, she is a graduate of the University of Delaware where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Previous positions include Industrial Products Accounts Manager for Alcoa, as well as Account Representative in the North Carolina radio market.
A resident of Amherst, she enjoys time with family and friends, hiking, kayaking and helping UMass engineering students, of course!
CHRISTINA MATA, Assistant Director, Graduate Career Programs
Christina Mata, the Assistant Director, Graduate Career Programs in the College of Engineering, received her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons School of Social Work in Boston, MA, and a BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.
In addition to an early career working in the private sector as an advertising Account Manager, she is an experienced Counselor and Personal Coach, having worked in both Private Practice and community health centers in Los Angeles, Boston and the Pioneer Valley.
Christina is available to support graduate students in their career development and on all facets of their internship and full-time job searches.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, gardening and spending time with family and friends.
ROGER GRETTE, Career Assistant
BA in Geology, University of Colorado, Boulder
MS in Geography, University of Massachusetts Amherst
I’m looking forward to another year of helping engineering students pursue their career goals. My career background hasn’t followed a typical path, so I’m always interested in hearing about students’ plans for their future. My interests are bicycling, hockey, music, travel, and skiing so come talk to me about those areas as well or maybe I’ll see you out on the roads.
I hope to see you in the career center office!
Student employees:
JESSICA WU. Mechanical 2023
Hi, I’m Jess! I’m a Senior Mechanical Engineering major from Winchester, MA. I’m super excited to be on the Engineering Career Center Staff this year!
This past year I took a semester off school to pursue a 6-month co-op program at SharkNinja as a mechanical engineering intern. As a part of the R&D team, I focused mainly on airflow-related projects and experienced what it is like to be an engineer in a corporate setting. I'm super interested in the consumer appliance industry and engineering product design!
On campus, I am a part of two research labs, the Intelligent Sensing Lab, where I work on roll-to-roll microcontact printing, and The Nanoscale Interfaces Transport and Energy Lab, where I work on solution-processed electronics (materials science!).
Outside of engineering, I love reading, piano, volleyball, and spikeball!
BEN PEPPER, Chemical 2024
Hey, I’m Ben! I am a junior from Ashland, MA majoring in chemical engineering.
This past summer I was an intern at Blueprint Medicines in Cambridge, MA where I had the opportunity to work in a pharmaceutical lab with rare diseases. I was able to work in the analytical development department testing various drugs for impurities. If you have any questions about internships and the pharmaceutical industry, please don't hesitate to reach out! My email address is bpepper [at] umass [dot] edu.
Outside of engineering, I am a big fan of paddleboarding, watching movies, and traveling.
TODD BROWN, Civil 2024
Hi, I’m Todd! I'm from Hanover, MA and I am a junior studying Civil Engineering.
Over the summer I had the opportunity to work as an intern for Merrill Land Surveyors and Engineers. It was a great experience for my first internship where I got to learn a lot while also being able to contribute and help my project managers. I mainly worked with AutoCAD, using it for markups, site plans, septic design, etc.
Outside of engineering, I enjoy playing sports (hockey and basketball), playing video games, and traveling.
JULIA CERRUTTI, Biomedical 2023
Hey, I’m Julia! I am a senior studying biomedical engineering on the pre-med track.
This past spring, I was on co-op at Bristol Myers Squibb in their cryogenics and cold chain sciences groups located in Devens, MA. Although cryo was cool (haha), I pivoted to a research-based position this summer at Dyne Therapeutics in Waltham, MA. At Dyne I helped characterize transferrin-mediated drug delivery to muscle tissue for patients with Myotonic Dystrophy and Pompe Disease. Outside of classes, I enjoy running, reading, and volunteering with the Boltwood group on campus!
I love to chat so stop by the Career Center and say, "Hello!"
SHIVANI RAY, Mechanical 2023
Hi friends, I'm Shivani! I am a senior mechanical engineering student from Framingham, MA. I am incredibly interested in additive manufacturing, and this summer I was an intern at a 3D printing company called Markforged.
On campus, I am the president of the MIE Makerspace. With this position, I love bringing students from all majors and backgrounds together! Outside of engineering, I love painting, coding, and reading (ask me about my favorite book!).
If you want to hear more about my experiences or the organizations that I am a part of, definitely stop by to chat. I can’t wait to see you all soon!
JABIN CHEN, Mechanical 2023
Jabin joined the Engineering Career Center as a freshman in 2018 after discovering a keen interest in advancing his career path in the engineering field. Being from the small town of Hopedale, MA, he is currently wrapping up his senior year in Mechanical Engineering.
With an extensive breadth of experience in automotive, aerospace, robotics, and materials industries with companies including Tesla, Rivian, Raytheon Missiles & Defense, and Amazon Robotics, he hopes to apply his skills to making a positive and lasting impact on human lives. And with the 2 semesters he recently just took off to pursue more professional opportunities, he's eager to return to school to help students realize that their goals are very much attainable and within arm’s reach.
When he logs off, he enjoys searching for the perfect street taco, jamming out, shooting hoops, binging movies, and daydreaming.
THOMAS HORNER, Computer 2023
Hi everyone, I’m Thomas! I am a senior computer engineering major from Staten Island, NY.
This past summer I worked as a Solutions Engineering Intern for Deloitte in Atlanta, GA. During my time there I was placed on a marketing project and had the opportunity to experience how marketing and engineering go hand in hand. I am glad to have worked this internship because I learned that engineering is involved in every professional setting, however unrelated it may seem. Some of my engineering related interests are cryptography and cybersecurity.
Outside of school I really enjoy reading, watching movies, and playing basketball. I look forward to working with everyone in the Engineering Career Center!
SAPHIR ALEXANDRE, Mechanical 2024
Hi, my name is Saphir Alexandre, I'm a mechanical engineering junior at UMass Amherst. My goal is to be a great design engineer in the aerospace field, and I want to help anyone achieve their goal as well, which is why I work at the Career Center!
This summer I attended The Leadership Academy to polish my leadership skills and learned how to thrive in my early career as an Engineer. I had the opportunity to learn important and helpful tips from many experienced engineers. We also learned how to negotiate when dealing with common real-life situations. It was a very challenging course, but I enjoyed it and came out with a strong growth mindset.
I also worked on my personal design project for my figurine collection.
Outside of school, I enjoy weightlifting, long walks and anime. I love talking about these things so feel free to stop by!
Kate Falvey, Biomedical 2023
My name is Kate Falvey, and I am a senior biomedical engineering major with a minor in engineering management from Hingham, MA. This past summer, I interned at Atalanta Therapeutics, a start-up biotechnology company in Boston, MA. They are developing and modifying their patented siRNA technology that targets and silences genes associated with neurodegenerative disorders. I supported the In Vitro Biology Team, where I performed protein quantification cellular assays, programmed methods to run experiments on automated lab equipment, and assisted with assay development efforts to support their internal pipeline and partnership targets. After college, I want to pursue a career in the biotechnology industry, working in research and development or process development, and eventually want to go to graduate school to get my master's!
On campus, I am the president of my sorority Sigma Kappa, the treasurer for the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi, and I am involved with the Biomedical Engineering Society! Aside from engineering, I am a seasonal educator at Lululemon during our winter breaks, and I love going to F45 in Hadley, MA, and listening to music and podcasts.
This is my second semester working at the career center; I am excited to start working with my fellow engineering peers!
JORGE UBIÑAS, Industrial 2024
Hi everyone, my name is Jorge, and I have been given the pleasure to work at the Engineering Career Center this year!
I'm originally from Boston, specifically the neighborhood of Dorchester and have decided I'd like to get out of the city and away from the suburbs to somewhere completely different-- UMass Amherst.
I am currently studying Industrial Engineering and along with an interest in systems and human factors, I enjoy hiking, writing, reading and finding the meaning beneath the surface of things, regardless of what they are. I look forward to working with all of you and helping you become the best you can be!
NOAH WALLS, Electrical 2023
Hi, I’m Noah. I’m a senior in electrical engineering from Ashfield, MA. This past Summer I was an intern at Dennis Group in Springfield, MA working in the building electrical department. In my time there I designed power, lighting, and fire alarm layout drawings for numerous food processing plants.
Within engineering, I’m interested in robotics and embedded systems. Outside of school, I enjoy rock climbing, boxing, and playing video games.
SIDDHANTH GHOSH, Computer 2023
Hi, I’m Sid. I'm a senior in computer engineering. I interned at Dell this past summer as a Solutions Architect in Round Rock, TX and Hopkinton, MA. I worked on customizing a client's solutions using latest trends such as DevOps, software-defined, and artificial intelligence which are changing how customers deploy and operate their IT infrastructure as well as working on my ISM certification. I've worked as a research intern at SENGI as well as with the Mobile Sensing lab at UMass. I'm currently working as a research intern at the WET Center.
Outside of school I've been a long time member of Engineers without Borders and worked at CEPA (the center for education policy and advocacy). Currently I'm an undergraduate TA.
I love napping, eating, and hiking.
