Interview is edited for length and clarity.
What drew you to English literature and Spanish?
I love language in general, and I was impressed by the modern language department at Simmons at the time. Both departments’ professors had an intimate knowledge of the material and were there to mentor students in a way that felt personal.
I enjoyed diving into the readings we had since many classes were dedicated to one text for the majority of the semester, like Don Quixote or Cantar de mio Cid. It was one of those things that made sense to me and was something I had to pursue. Being a double major was intense, but my faculty advisors, Professors Maria Dolores Pelaez Benitez and Richard Wollman, provided a strong support system around me that allowed me to be successful. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Why did you choose to study at Simmons?
It was the community, 100%. It was such a tight-knit group of students and professors that I never felt like just another body in a classroom. I felt nurtured, and that helped me build strong relationships with peers and professors. That type of environment made it so much more conducive to learning, where mistakes were made and not seen as failure. My successes in school and afterward were possible because of how I was supported.
What impact did attending a women-centered institution have on your education?
My experiences at a women-centered institution empowered me to be myself and solidified my confidence, which I have definitely seen translate into my professional life. I am a better advocate, and I have a more confident voice because of the environment Simmons provided me in my undergraduate years.
Simmons also showcased women leaders in their respective fields and at the university. In many ways, I felt like I could see myself in them and that they understood what I was going through. It made the connections I did make with them that much deeper.
Did you have any internships?
I had jobs throughout Simmons that benefited me. I was a Writing Center tutor as well as a study skills advisor. Those roles definitely informed my decision to pursue work in higher education. Being able to tutor, advise, and coach helped me confirm that I liked that type of work. Those experiences in college were excellent examples of how my coursework and dedication led to more formalized employment opportunities down the line.
What is your current role?
I began my own freelance career coaching as a Gallup Strengths Certified Coach and am also currently a Director of Employer Relations at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
I run the work that goes through the Career Center to build industry partnerships. I collaborate with different departments and faculty to build career programs for students, specifically connecting them to employers and organizations that either offer internships or jobs. I also work with alumnae/i to try and connect them to students who are looking for a mentor in their field of study, or if they are not sure what they want to do yet, to build connections and enable those opportunities for students.
Did you have a favorite course at Simmons?
Through the Modern Languages Department, there was a course called “The World of Don Quijote” and through the English department, one called “The Romantic Rebel” where they took a particular focus on a niche time period and/or select author and it gave me a deeper and more true understanding of the themes and text across unique areas of literature and art at large. Along with other courses, they fostered attentiveness to detail and critical thinking, which I loved.
How do you stay connected with other Simmons alumnae/i or professors?
Over the years, I have kept in touch with Writing Center supervisors and various professors from my major departments, such as Professors Maria Dolores Pelaez Benitez, Eduardo Febles, Danisa Bonacic, Louise Cohen, Richard Wollman, Kelly Hager, Pam Bromberg, and others.
I honestly look forward to the Simmons’ magazines and email updates through the community network just to see who is doing what. Even if I do not know someone personally, I enjoy knowing what the Simmons community at large has contributed to my field of study and beyond.
What advice would you give someone interested in studying English literature or Spanish?
As silly as it may sound, I would always encourage students to follow their passion. If language is your passion, follow it. If art is your passion, follow it. Right now, what I speak from is personal experience, and a greater pattern is that the market is seeing the ways people’s skills are transferable. Students in college will be gathering skills in the humanities, health sciences, and truly any fields that can be beneficial for a host of jobs, not to be confined to one role.
Also, I would recommend that students use all of the resources campuses have to offer. It is easy for students to become narrowly focused on their coursework because that does take up a lot of their time. The more students can tap into their community at school, whether it's the career center, tutors, mentors, or other resources, the more successful they will be.
Even if you can not necessarily see how your goals might align, having someone like a faculty mentor, career advisor, or someone you just connect with at a work study job, or a professional staff member could help you visualize connections that you may not see yourself. Relying on your community is huge.