Interviews with Alumni

May 15, 2019

Episode 36 – Classics at a Private University

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academic job search, assistant professor, Classics, job interviews, junior faculty, networking, professional network, tenure track jobs

Allannah Karas earned her PhD in Classics from the Graduate Center. She is an Assistant Professor at Valparaiso University in Indiana. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Allannah talks about her position at Valparaiso and the benefits of working in a small private university. She also lays out some of her strategies from the job search and her tips for networking as a new junior faculty member.

May 1, 2019

Episode 35 – History in Transport Infrastructure

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, Department of Transportation, Excelsior Fellowship, history, Jonathan Hill, New York State, non-academic job search, PhD, program evaluation, research, transferable skills

Jonathan Hill is an Excelsior Fellow in the policy and planning department at the New York State department of transportation. Jonathan earned his PhD in history at the Graduate Center in 2018. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Jon tells us about the joys of using research skills to make an impact on civic infrastructure; the surprising benefits of asking quote-unquote stupid questions; and how to negotiate the changing terms of your professional identity when you carry your PhD to work outside the ivory tower.

April 17, 2019

Episode 34 – Middle Eastern Studies in International Nonprofits

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast communications, international relations, Masters, media, Middle Eastern Studies, nonprofits

Elida Jbeili earned her Masters in Middle Eastern Studies from the Graduate Center. She is Director of Communications and Media at Lebanese American University for North America. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Elida talks about the various benefits of working in a nonprofit and how her career has developed as she's moved between different organizations.

April 3, 2019

Episode 33 – Linguistics in AI-Powered Text Analytics

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, job search advice, linguistics, non-academic job search, transferable skills

Michelle McSweeney is director of data quality at Converseon, a social media analytics and consulting agency. Michelle earned her PhD in linguistics at the Graduate Center in 2016. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Michelle tells us about how to negotiate a job offer and earn what you’re really worth; the rewards and drawbacks of shifting your professional identity after academia; and how following your interests—even when they might seem incompatible at face value—can ultimately empower and even transform the value of your work and help you stand out on the job market.

March 20, 2019

Episode 32 – Ed Psych in Enrollment Management

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academia, academic administration, educational psychology, enrollment management, NYU

Astrid Rodriguez earned her PhD in educational psychology from the Graduate Center. She currently works at NYU managing Student Success initiatives in Enrollment Management. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Astrid talks about the importance of enrollment management efforts in pursuing universities' missions. She also discusses how an administrative position in higher education can be rewarding for graduates who want to have a positive impact on students' lives.

March 6, 2019

Episode 31 – Comp Lit in Tech Literacy Postdoc

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academia, comp lit, comparative literature, digital humanities, digital ocean, MIT, postdoc, python

Lisa Tagliaferri is a postdoctoral fellow in MIT's digital humanities program. She earned her PhD in the comparative literature program at the GC in 2017, and she spent several years outside academia working as a community manager and developer educator at the cloud computing company Digital Ocean. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Lisa tells us about the value of tapping into personal interests that can lead you down seemingly divergent paths, but that can ultimately enrich your academic and professional work in unexpected ways; how to bridge education and advocacy work through radical mentorship; and the advantages of applying your research skills to exploring the wide world of job opportunities beyond academia.

February 20, 2019

Episode 30 – Anthropology in Environmental Advocacy

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academic job search, ACLS fellowship, advocacy, alumni, anthropology, geography, job search, non-academic job search, nonprofits, public policy, tenure track jobs

Jay Blair is assistant professor of geography and anthropology at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. Jay earned his PhD in the anthropology program at the GC, before taking a Mellon public fellowship with the American Council for Learned Societies. His ACLS fellowship placed him with an environmental advocacy nonprofit organization, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In this episode, Jay talks about the pro's and con's of applying your research skills in a nonprofit organization; how to tell your professional story in ways that let you bridge academic research and advocacy work; and why the constraints of an unpredictable academic job market might actually push you to rediscover passions and skills you might have sidelined during your PhD.

February 8, 2019

Episode 29 – Philosophy in Bioethics Research

Kate Pendoley All, Alumni Aloud Podcast bioethics, humanities, interdisciplinary, philosophy, research institute, research jobs

Carolyn Neuhaus is a research scholar at the Hastings Center, the oldest independent, nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research institute in the world. She earned her PhD in Philosophy from the Graduate Center. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Carolyn talks about the journey through her PhD program, the opportunities that were most beneficial to her career development, and the beginnings of her career in bioethics research.

December 19, 2018

Episode 28 – English in Community College

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academic administration, academic career, adaptability, alumni, community college, diversity, English, teaching jobs

Stacey Donohue is a professor in the Writing and Literature department at Central Oregon Community College. She earned her PhD in English at the Graduate Center in 1995. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Stacey talks about the importance of enjoying teaching and mentoring students if you’re applying to teach at community college; the subtle art of being adaptable to the needs of a diverse student body; and the value of getting some experience in university administration while you’re in graduate school.

December 5, 2018

Episode 27 – Digital Humanities in Independent Schools

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, digital humanities, history, independent schools, K-12 education, MALS, teaching jobs

Chris Meatto is an alumnus of the Graduate Center's MALS program. His concentration was digital humanities with a focus in history. He teaches history and global studies at Greens Farms Academy, an independent school in Connecticut. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Chris sheds light on the hiring process of independent schools and explains what he enjoys most about developing curriculum, working with teenagers, and collaborating with fellow teachers.

November 21, 2018

Episode 26 – Environmental Psychology in Program Evaluation

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, environmental psychology, nonprofit, program evaluation, public policy, research skills, soft skills

Chang Chung earned his PhD in environmental psychology at the Graduate Center in 2013. He recently left his job as a researcher specializing in program evaluation and policy research for the FDNY Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Fire Department of New York. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Chang talks about the value of trying out unexpected things during your PhD program, the similarities and differences between academic research and working for a nonprofit, and the importance of being able to translate your research into actionable insights to make an impact in your chosen field of work.

November 6, 2018

Episode 25 – Biochemistry in Medical Writing

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, biochemistry, critical feedback, healthcare, job search advice, lifelong learning, pharmaceuticals

Avalon Garcia is a senior medical writer for Evolution Medical Communications, a consulting firm that crafts communication and educational materials for pharmaceutical companies and the patients and healthcare staff they serve. Avalon earned her PhD in 2008 in biochemistry from Hunter College and the GC. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Avalon talks about the importance of inviting feedback on your work, the value of getting started early in your job search, and how to cultivate those all-important mindsets of lifelong learning and collaboration that will help you thrive in your new working life.

October 17, 2018

Episode 24 – English in Digital Learning and Strategy

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, digital learning, diversification, English, IT services, learning curriculum, personal values

Mike Pino is the global learning partner for Cognizant, a fortune-200 IT services and business process outsourcing company based in New Jersey. He’s responsible for setting the learning curriculum for 40,000 employees who work in data analytics, artificial intelligence, programming, and digital engineering that keeps them up-to-date with today’s digital trends. Mike earned his PhD in English from the Graduate Center in 2004. In this episode, Mike tells us about and the importance of pursuing learning outside your PhD discipline, the breakthrough insights you can gain by applying your academic interests and training in business contexts, and the importance of conveying your value to companies in ways they can understand and appreciate.

October 3, 2018

Episode 23 – Math in Data Science

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast agile design, alumni, data analytics, data science, finance, math, research skills, tech bootcamp, tech jobs

Bren Cavallo earned his PhD in Mathematics from the Graduate Center. He's a data scientist at M Science, a data-driven research and analytics firm that uses unconventional data sets to uncover strategic insights on trends for leading financial institutions and corporations. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Bren talks about the similarities and differences between data science and academic research; how agile design sprints can enhance your productivity; and the benefits of taking a bootcamp to sharpen your skills and work portfolio for emerging tech jobs where credentials are always evolving.

September 19, 2018

Episode 22 – Linguistics in Translation Entrepreneurship

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, bilingual, entrepreneurship, grants, linguistics, time management, translation

Rocio Raña earned her PhD in Linguistics from the Graduate Center. She runs Langalo, a translation business in New York City. She also works on different research projects, publishes, and continues to teach. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Rocio shares her time management tips and some advice for continuing research outside of academia.

September 5, 2018

Episode 21 – Political Science at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, asylum officer, federal government jobs, immigration, political science, public policy, research skills

Neil Hernandez is an Asylum Officer at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Neil earned his PhD in the Political Science Program at the Graduate Center. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Neil tells us about the rewards of blending practice and theory in public administration, the rewards of making a difference in people’s lives by understanding and affecting policy implementation, and the different ways that qualitative research skills he gained during his PhD have helped him thrive in his role at the agency.

September 5, 2018

Episode 20 – Neuropsychology in Pharmaceuticals

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast alumni, informational interview, job search advice, neuropsychology, pharmaceuticals, transferable skills

Rob Silva is a Senior Medical Director- Neurology at Ipsen Pharmaceuticals. He earned his PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology from the Graduate Center. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Rob talks about how to sell your graduate school experience and research skills to a hiring manager in the pharmaceutical industry. He also discusses the importance of informational interviews and preparing for your job search while you're still in school.

September 5, 2018

Episode 19 – Anthropology in Program Evaluation

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast anthropology, global health, health sciences, program evaluation, research jobs, resume development

Lauren Suchman is Evaluation Director at the Institute for Global Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. Lauren earned her PhD from the Anthropology Program at the Graduate Center. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Lauren tells us about the importance of shaping a narrative around your career choices and the benefits of thinking and preparing for post-dissertation life early in your PhD training, as well as the sacrifices and unexpected joys of applying research in outcome-driven contexts.

May 23, 2018

Episode 18 – Sociology at John Jay

Anders Wallace All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academic career, academic job hunt, academic job search, alumni, higher education, John Jay College, PhD, sociology, tenure track jobs

Richard Ocejo is Associate Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He earned his PhD at the Graduate Center in 2009. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Richard talks about what it’s like to make the career jump from graduate school to a tenure-track position, how to think about your professional development over the course of your PhD studies, his top tips to help you stand out on the academic job market, and how to hack your productivity in any job—whether it’s academic or non-academic.

May 9, 2018

Episode 17 – History at Pew Research Center

Abigail Turner All, Alumni Aloud Podcast academic environment, editor, history, Pew Research Center, PhD, senior writer, transferable skills

Jeff Diamant is Senior Writer and Editor at Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C. He received his PhD in History from the Graduate Center in 2016. In this episode of Alumni Aloud, Jeff talks with us about the academic and journalistic environment at Pew, and the most helpful skills he learned while at the Graduate Center.

Category: Interviews with Alumni

Episode 36 – Classics at a Private University

Episode 35 – History in Transport Infrastructure

Episode 34 – Middle Eastern Studies in International Nonprofits

Episode 33 – Linguistics in AI-Powered Text Analytics

Episode 32 – Ed Psych in Enrollment Management

Episode 31 – Comp Lit in Tech Literacy Postdoc

Episode 30 – Anthropology in Environmental Advocacy

Episode 29 – Philosophy in Bioethics Research

Episode 28 – English in Community College

Episode 27 – Digital Humanities in Independent Schools

Episode 26 – Environmental Psychology in Program Evaluation

Episode 25 – Biochemistry in Medical Writing

Episode 24 – English in Digital Learning and Strategy

Episode 23 – Math in Data Science

Episode 22 – Linguistics in Translation Entrepreneurship

Episode 21 – Political Science at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Episode 20 – Neuropsychology in Pharmaceuticals

Episode 19 – Anthropology in Program Evaluation

Episode 18 – Sociology at John Jay

Episode 17 – History at Pew Research Center

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