An English and PWTC alum and a student sit chatting in the South College atrium.

How to contact an alumni mentor

To contact one of our mentors, we recommend that you join the English LinkedIn group and contact mentors through LinkedIn. You may also speak with Celeste or Janis in the Undergrad Office to receive the mentor's email address. Remember to use your UMass email address when reaching out!

Not sure what you'd say to a mentor? Consider asking for an informational interview. When reaching out to a mentor, remember the importance of expressing interest in what they do, rather than in helping you find a job.

Read: "Connecting with an Alumni Mentor is Easier Than You Think"

Browse mentors by industry or profession

Many English alums have graciously volunteered to speak with interested majors about their careers and experiences in the work world. They are listed below by industry or profession.

 


Non-profit/Social Change

Alumni

Year

Region

Company

Title

Industry

Samaya Abdus-Salaam 2017 New York City PushBlack Development Manager Non-profit Media
Elizabeth Adewale 2015 Lynn, MA Children's Friends and Family Services Outpatient Therapist Marriage and Family Therapy
Kelsey Anderson 2011 Waltham, MA Mass General Hospital Clinical Social Worker Clinical Social Work
Rafi Bocarsly 2017 Israel Sadaka-Reut Arab Jewish Youth Partnership Resource Development Coordinator Social change NGOs
Peter Breslow 1977 Washington DC NPR - Weekend Edition Senior Producer Public Radio
Cheryl Crosby 1998 Boston / International NFPA Director of Creative Services Non-profit public health
Alix Kennedy 1998 Western Mass. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Executive Director - Museums Public Museums
Maura Kolhonen 2018 North Shore, MA Essex County DA's Office Victim Witness Advocate Victim Witness Advocacy
Amanda Mattingly 2014 Framingham Massachusetts Department of Public Health Domestic Violence Program Coordinator Public Health
Dana Pungello 2005 Thornwood, NY NAF senior Director, Marketing and Communications Education - College Prep
Ann-Marie Reddy   Providence, RI FamilyAid Director of Development Housing
Kiersten Rooke 2010 Washington DC Chemonics International Data Quality and Collaboration Advisor International humanitarian aid and ventures
Josh Stearns 2004 Springfield, MA Democracy Fund Senior Director of the Public Square Program Philanthropy and Media/Journalism


Writing/Editorial/Media

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Industry

Hannah Auerbach 2010 Boston, MA GBH  Audience Engagement Manager Media
Diba Bijari 2017 Providence, RI Morning Brew Associate Branded Content Writer Media
Diana Band 2009 Denver Self-employed writer (for Kirkus Media and more) Contracted Writer Various
Shami Barooshian 2014 Boston Original9 Media Director, Editorial Strategy Marketing
Peter Breslow 1977 Washington DC NPR - Weekend Edition Senior Producer Public Radio
Ryan Comeau 2019 Hampden, CT Cornerstone on Demand Proposal Writing Sales/Marketing
Chanel Dubofsky  2001 Brooklyn, NY Modern Fertility, Lilith Magazine, and Vermont College of Fine Arts Freelance Contributor, Content Writer, Lead Graduate Asistant Education/Writing
Caroline Fenton 2007 Boston, MA Pearson Education Manager, Product Management Education/Publishing
Nathan Frontiero 2017 Turners Falls, MA Nathan Frontiero Creative Services and Fidelity Investments Freelance Writer and UX Content Strategist Arts/Culture/Literacy
Erin Hayes 2003 Framingham, MA MediaBoss Televsion CEO Entertainment
Danielle Jin 2020 Boston, MA Healio Strategic Solutions Contracts / Proposals Writer  Medical Communications
Erik Kraft 1993 Greater Boston Too Many Chickens!, Gotham Writers' Workshop, and Harvard Business School Online Writer, narrator, Online Instructor, and Customer and Technical Support Specialist Writing, Teaching, Tech Support
Laura Lovett 2013 Boston, MA Aging Media Network Editor of Behavioral Health Business Journalism
Chris Lindahl 2014 Los Angeles, CA Self-employed Freelance copywriter, communications expert, and SEO consultant Writer
Stephanie Myers 2005 New York City Inc. Magazine Group Director, Digital Growth at Inc. and Fast Co. Publishing/Media
Maria Pedone 2012 New York, NY Well Pleased Consulting and The Upside Founder + Chief Strategist and Consulting Member Media
Caroline Phinney 2016 New  York City The Daily Beast Newsletter Product Manager Media
Emma Piscia 2016 New York City ABC News Assoc. Producer Broadcasting
Elizabeth Roman 2006 Springfield, MA The Republican; Masslive.com; El Pueblo Latino Reporter and Editor (El Pueblo Latino) Media: News & Events
Kate Russillo 1999 Bolton, MA Cengage Group Content Manager Marketing
Craig Sandler 1995 Greater Boston State House News Service General Manager, CMO Media: News & Events
Rebecca Tarr Thomas 2010 Beverly, MA Adams Media Acquisitions Editor Media: nonfiction publisher
Shoki Yashiro 2013 Boston, MA Fidelity Investments Senior Copywriter Creative Branding/Advertising


Publishing

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Specialty

Beth Codey 2014 Hoboken, NJ Penguin Random House Senior Manager Business Intelligence and Marketing Marketing, Market Trends
Kate Hale 2009 Washington DC Wonder Lab Group Founder and Consultant  Publishing, Audio, & Video Content
Kathryn Hueber Quinones 2012 Arlington, MA Pearson Project Manager Publishing
Sarah Jaffe 2010 New York, NY Penguin Random House Excutive Producer Publishing
Sandra Mangurian 1964 Chicago Self-employed, Marketing Products Publishing Executive, Curriculum/Content Specilist Print and online curriculum/ content development
Amanda Pritzker 2004 New York, NY HarperCollins Publishers Senior Marketing Director Marketing
Monica Sweeney 2010 Greater Boston Hollan Publishing, Inc. Editorial Director Publishing
Rebecca Tarr Thomas 2010 South Shore, MA Adams Media/Simon and Schuster Acquisition Editor Media: Nonfiction Publisher


Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Industry

Jesse Adams 2000 Northampton, MA Jesse Adams Law Firm LLC Owner, Lawyer Legal
David Bradley 1997 Boston Suffolk County DA's Office: Homicide Unit Asst. District Attorney Criminal justice
Timothy Conklin 2016 Greater Boston Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP Associate Legal
Elizabeth Egan 2019 Greater Boston Fragomen Associate Attorney Legal
Jill Grucan 2001 Miami, FL Grucan Immigration Law Founding Attorney  
Tess Halpern 2019 Waltham, MA Boston College Law School Student  
Erik Kimball 1987 Florida The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of Florida U.S. Bankruptcy Judge  
Maura Kolhonen 2018 North Shore, MA Essex County DAs office Victim Witness Advocate Victim Witness Advocacy
Christopher McHallam 1991 Massachusetts Christopher W. McHallam, Esq. Attorney Mediator
Samantha Ryan 2012 Boston Ropes & Gray LLP Corporate Associate Corporate law


Healthcare

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Industry

Kelsey Anderson 2011 Waltham, MA Mass General Hospital Clinical Social Worker Clinical Social Work
Gordon Bedford 2001 Suffolk County, MA Sana Biotechnology, Inc Documentation Specialist - Records and Archives Manager Clinical Research
Danielle Jin 2020 Boston, MA Healio Strategic Solutions Contracts / Proposals Writer  Medical Communications
Joseph Needleman 2012 Hershey, PA Indiana University School of Medicine Medical Resident Medicine
Nicholas Smith 2002 Unterägeri, Zug, Switzerland International School of Analytical Psychology (ISAP) Jungian Psychoanalyst-in-Training  


Technology/Software

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Industry

Anastasia Armstrong 2017 New York, NY Haven Technologies Technical Writer Global Information Technology
Curtis Bordage 2018 Marlborough, MA TJX Sr Engineer IT Security/Identity and Access Management
Jesse Buday 2005 Cambridge, MA Pegasystems Principal Content Platform and Tools Specialist Software
Ellen Forbes 1990 Atlanta, GA Candler School Of Theology Digital Communications Manager Software
Patrick Hellen 2001 Boston, MA Salesforce Principal Solution Engineer Technology
Daniel Leonard 1992 Lexington, MA uniQure, Inc.  Senior Director of Global Patient Advocacy Biotechnology Research
John Pinson 1987 Novato, CA Pinson Communications Content Strategist & Creative Director Media/Digital
Christopher Pitt 2016 Burlington Dimensional Insight Technical Writer Software Development
Becky Scott 2007 Boston F5, Inc Scrum Master Multi-cloud security and application delivery
Nicholas Trieber 2017 Suffolk County, MA Cambridge Mobile Telematics Technical Writing Team Lead Technical Writing
Katie Weagle 2011 Worcester, MA Rapid7 UX Writing Manager Cybersecurity Software
Chana Zolty 2016 Los Angeles, CA Pragma Platform Technical Writing Manager Video Games & Software Technology


Marketing/Public Relations/Business

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Industry

Shami Barooshian 2014 Boston Original9 Media Editor Public Relations
Beth Codey 2014 Hoboken, NJ Penguin Random House Senior Manager Business Intelligence & Marketing Publishing (Marketing)
Kylie Condosta  2019 Pullman, WA Washington State University Public Relations & Communications Cordinator  Public Relations & Higher Education
Joanna Frank 2010 Greater New York Area Signature B&B Companies Asst. Account Executive Insurance
Nathan Frontiero 2017 Turners Falls, MA Nathan Frontiero Creative Services and Fidelity Investments Freelance Writer and UX Content Strategist Arts/Culture/Literacy
Natasha Gural-Maiello 1991 New York, NY Morgan Stanley VP, Senior Investment Writer Investment Management
Victor Ho 2019 Peabody, MA BookBub Member Support Specialist  Marketing
Kevin Horwitz  1999 Framingham, MA Shield Therapeutics plc Sales Operations Manager Marketing
Amberly Lerner 2020 Sherborn, MA National Research Group Senior Research Analyst  Market Research
Kristen Mouris 2015 Falmouth, MA Falmouth Marine and Yachting Center Inc. Bookkeeper & Office Administrator Business Bookkeeping - Outdoor recreation
Jonathan Myerov 1992 Greater Boston Mercury Systems Director, Bid and Proposal Robotics
Bill O'Leary 1991 Washington DC Heidrick & Struggles Partner-in-Charge External Affairs and Corporate Relations
Amanda Pritzker 2004 New York, NY HarperCollins Publishers Senior Marketing Director Marketing
Lauren Proctor 2008 New York, NY NielsenIQ Director of Digital Strategy and Operations Digital Trends and Marketing
Allie Struzik 2006 Seattle, WA Amazon Creative Program Manager Marketing
Molly Trowbridge 2019 Boston CTP Boston Senior Accountant Executive, Public Affairs Division  Marketing/Advertising
Eden Univer 2010 New York, NY Three Ships Director of Content Marketing
James Wagstaff 2007 New York, NY Raptor Maps — Solar Software Chief Revenue Officer Energy Industry Financial Services
Alexandria Ziomek 2018 Boston, MA Bain Capital HR Recruiting Cordinator  Financial Services


Higher Education 

Alumni    

Year

Region

Institution

Title

 
Tara Hancock 2000 Greater Boston Worcester State University Exetcutive Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement  
Jen Nailos 2007 Austin, TX University of Texas at Austin Director of Assessment and Professional Development  
Becky Prior 1994 Greater Boston Berkelee College of Music Associate Director of Instutional Research  
Michael Romero 2015 Boston, MA Boston University School of Medicine Senior Program Manager  
Michael Sirois 2015 Greater Boston Northeastern University Academic Advisor  
Adam Zinkievich 2008 Hartford, CT Bay Path University Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations  


Higher Education - Teaching

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Specialty

Genevieve Crane 2010 New York Stonybrook University Director, Creative Writing and Literature BFA Program  
A.C. Kemp 1987 Greater Boston MIT Lecturer in English Language Studies  
Kerry McDonough 2013 Boston, MA Boston College Adjunct Professor  
Rose Mendonca 1994 Dunstable, MA Bay Path University Adjunct Professor  
Kerry O'Grady 2006 New York, NY Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Practice  
Marcy Tanter 1996 Stephenville, TX Tarleton State University Professor of English English literature


Secondary Education - Administration and Teaching

Alumni    

Year

Region

Institution

Title

Specialty

Rout Asefa 2017 Washington DC District of Columbia Public Schools School Leader Recruitment and Selection Manager Administration
Michele Bernhard 1992;
2003
Northampton, MA Northampton High School Teacher English and Language Arts
Nicolas Blaisdell 2019 Peabody, MA Revere Public Schools Teacher Humanities
John Bonanni 2007 Barnstable County, MA Nauset Regional Middle School Teacher Special Education & English
Warren Charleston 2019 West Newton, MA Fessenden School Teacher Health and Geography
Margaret Clayton 2012 Arlington, MA Public Schools of Brookline Middle School Teacher English
Melanie Clinton 2016 Amesbury, MA Salem Public Schools Moderate Disabilities Teacher English
Seth Czarnecki 2009 Bolyston, MA Algonquin Regional High School Teacher English
Brian Dickey 1998 Springfield, MA Springfield Public Schools Director of Secondary ELA & Libraries  ELA
Nicholas Ellis 2015 Keene, NH Hillsboro-Deering Middle School Middle School Teacher Writing
Nicole Gordon 2012 Keene, NH Stevens High School Assistant Principal Adiminstration
Hillary Lynch 2014 Greater Boston MATCH Charter Public School Interim Instructional Leader English 
Dave Mello 2020 Williamsburg, VA Toano Middle School Middle School Teacher English
Angela Sweeney 2010 Palmer, MA Palmer Regional Vocational Technical High School 9th & 10th grade teacher & Department Head English
Luke Useted 2015 Holyoke, MA Northampton Public Schools English Teacher English
Michelle Wade 2013 Pittsburgh, PA Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School Teacher Mathematics
Michelle B. Wynn 1993 California St. Ignatius College Prep AP Teacher Chemistry


Museums/Historical Societies

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Specialty

Alix Kennedy 1988 Western Mass Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Executive Director-Museums Public Museums


Philanthropy and Media

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Specialty

Josh Stearns 2004 Springfield, MA Democracy Fund Senior Director of the Public Square Program Philanthropy and Media/Journalism


Government

Alumni    

Year

Region

Company

Title

Specialty

Timothy Conklin 2016 Greater Boston Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP Associate Legal/Government
Rebecca Felcon 2014 Boston Department of Homeland Security Immigration Services Assistant Federal Government
Patrick Prendergast 2013 Boston, MA Office of State Representative Paul Brodeur Chief Of Staff Government
Tessa Simonds 2008 Washington DC Blue State Managing Director Politics


Book Authorship

Alumni    

Year

Region

Book Published

Publisher

Genre

Genevieve Crane 2010 New York Sorority Gallery/Scout Fiction
Erik Kraft 1993 Greater Boston

Too Many Chickens

The Lenny and Mel Series

Self-published

Simon and Schushter

Humor and YA
Jack Massa  1978 Sarasota, Florida

Cloak of the Two Winds

Ghosts of Bliss Bayou

Triskelion Books

self-published

Fantasy

YA Fantasy


PWTC Alums
English alumni visit South College to speak with current students about careers. | Photo credit: Janine Solberg