Alexander Gilbert • Cellular and Molecular Biology 1994
After graduating, I went to medical school at New York University and then did my advanced medical training at Harvard's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I specialize in transplant nephrology and am an Associate Professor at Georgetown University and Director of the Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Program at the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute. 7/19
Doug Bouws • Political Science 1995
Graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 2002 with Masters in Divinity. Spent 14 years NE of Sacramento as Pastor of Hospitality at Granite Springs Church. Now live near Grand Rapids, MI as a legacy gift coach/consultant--help non-profits market gifts in the Will to their most loyal donors. 7/19
Christina Consolino • French 1995
I received my PhD in Physiology in 2003 and taught college-level anatomy and physiology until May 2019. My work has been published in Brevity Blog, Flights, HuffPost, Short Fiction Break, Tribe Magazine, and Literary Mama, where I serve as Senior Editor. I'm also co-author of Historic Photos of University of Michigan. I currently teaching writing classes through Word's Worth Writing Center in Dayton, Ohio, and work as a freelance editor and writing tutor. In my spare time, I read, write, run, and spend time with my husband and four children. 7/19
Stacy Robin Mansoura • Practical English (ICP) 1995
After graduation, I focused on technology at a consulting firm, a Fortune 500 company and eventually a university, while completing a few graduate degrees. In 2003, I launched The Degania Group, positioning established and emerging companies for growth, sale and investment. “On the side,” I’ve volunteered as an EMT and served in multiple roles for not-for-profits focused on economic development, education and women's issues. Currently, I spend the majority of my time in-house with a long-time client, responsible for marketing, growth, client experience and innovation. I live in NJ with my husband and 1-year-old daughter. 12/16
Robert Yoon • Political Science and Communication 1995
I was a peer writing tutor back in the 1990s when it was still called the English Composition Board. I am now a political journalist, having clocked more than 17 eventful years as CNN's Director of Political Research. In that role, I mostly covered campaigns and elections, with a special emphasis on preparing for presidential debates and Election Nights. Now, I'm back in Ann Arbor as the Howard R. Marsh Visiting Professor of Journalism in the Department of Communication and Media. I teach classes on the role of the news media in campaigns and elections. My experience at Sweetland/ECB has been extremely helpful in working with students to make the most impact with their writing. Outside of the classroom, I'm also the host of a journalism-themed radio talk show on WCBN-FM called The J Word. 7/19
Brooke Ingersoll • Psychology 1996
I received my PhD in experimental psychology for UC San Diego in 2003. I am currently a faculty member in the Clinical Psychology Program at Michigan State University, where I conduct research on the development, evaluation, and implementation of community-viable interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. I am a co-author of an evidence-based parent-mediated intervention curriculum for young children with ASD. 7/19
Dr. David LaMond • BGS 1996
Dr. LaMond is a nutrition and prevention expert; who is a successful medical entrepreneur. Dave developed and operates numerous successful medical practices, along with a consulting company which helps physicians and medical practitioners operate successful independent practices. Drawing from his foundation and board certification in Family Medicine, he developed the innovative medical principles behind the Blue Sky MD concept of total patient care. Blue Sky MD has appeared on the INC 5000 list three times; as one of the 5000 fastest growing privately held companies in the US. Dave has been a featured speaker for numerous medical conferences and has been a business and health consultant and has made several appearances on health television broadcasts. 7/19
Denise Schimmoeller • English 1996
I completed an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology at Wayne State University in 2000. I spent the last 20+ years in the training and development field, serving clients in the automotive, retail and beverage industries. Since 2008, I have worked as a Development Leader at Deloitte. My team and I partner with internal clients to create and execute talent development strategy in alignment with their business goals. I aim to provide value by fostering an environment of continuous learning that enables others to perform at their optimal level. I guess you could say that I've never stopped coaching! I currently live in South Lyon, Michigan with my husband and 2 children. 7/19
Patience (Atkin) Jones • Comparative Literature 1997
I'm a principal with Graphicmachine, a marketing and business growth consultancy that specializes in helping architecture, engineering, and construction firms connect with the right clients. Graphicmachine is based in Kansas City, Missouri, but works with clients nationwide. I graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 2000 and practiced criminal defense and commercial litigation in New York City before changing industries and relocating to Kansas City in 2010. I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for ArtsKC (the regional arts council) and as a member of the Speakers Bureau for RAINN, the country's largest anti-sexual assault organization. 7/19
Kristin Arola • English 1998
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University where I focus on the intersections between cultural rhetoric (specifically American Indian Studies) and multimodal composing practices. I earned a PhD in Rhetoric and Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University. My first academic position was at Washington State University where I directed an undergraduate program in Digital Technology and Culture and served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of English. In 2017, I returned to Michigan where, amongst other things, I enjoy spending my summers in my homeland, the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 7/19
Alan Goldenbach • History 1998
Spent 12 years as a reporter with The Washington Post, before moving over to academia. Now in my fifth year as an Asst. Professor of Journalism at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. 7/19
Kristina Curkovic Pasko • English 1998
After graduating UM, I went to law school and practiced law for 14 years in New Jersey before transitioning into a career as a high school English teacher at a private school in northern New Jersey. Now, I again get to work with students on their writing. I loved my job as a U-M peer tutor, and one of my favorite things about teaching is sitting down one-on-one with students and their written work. 6/17
Charles Scrase • English 1998
After graduation I worked as an editor for a marketing research firm, and then joined the Peace Corps, where I taught computer skills and literacy, before starting my own non-profit in the same country (St. Vincent) doing the same work. After that, it was on to business school at Duke, where I got my MBA. Ever since then, I've been working at Google, where I lead customer services operations for North America and serve as the site lead for our Ann Arbor office. 7/19
Christopher Tam • Bachelor of Business Administration 1998
After graduating from Ross I worked in the consulting mines and got my MBA from UCLA. After getting my MBA I worked in marketing for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas and now work for Hilton. I am immensely grateful for being a Sweetland (then "English Composition Board") Peer Tutor, as it strengthened my writing skills and gave me a lot of confidence. Communication is a key part of any corporate management role, and I always look for great writing skills in anyone I hire. 6/18
Lori Webster • English 1998
I joined Teach for America after graduation and spent seven years in New Orleans as a teacher and a nonprofit leader. Today, I am the Grant Writer and Manager for Albuquerque Public Schools, where I work on behalf of over 83,000 students and 11,000 employees. 6/17
Laura (Leffak) Berger • BA English Lit.; BA Religious Studies
I moved to NYC and got a Master’s in Social Work, worked in that field for eight years, eventually moved back to Michigan with my family and returned to school for nursing. We now live in Cleveland where I work as a critical care nurse at Cleveland Clinic. 12/19
Adrienne Gutierrez Bitter • Communications 1999
Lived in Chicago, Detroit, London, and D.C. working for a media agency, specializing in creating human experiences for brand engagement. Love to travel and fortunately work on global accounts that take me across the world. Married this handsome man and had these adorable twin gentlemen, who are now 18 months-old. Recently moved to Saudi Arabia, for my husband’s career. The company I work for has a local office so am the rare working woman in Riyadh! Given this diplomatic adventure, I decided it was time to get back to my writing roots and started a blog to document our experience. 8/17
Shana Anderson • Biology 2000
I returned to U-M in 2009 to pursue my MBA. I now work as a Strategy Consultant for a small boutique firm based in Ohio. My middle son was born with Down syndrome, so I also own and operate a company called Reeve's Tees that makes Down syndrome awareness t-shirts and provides work to adults with developmental disabilities. 10/16
Jeff Merritt • Political Science 2000
From 1998-2002, I worked with U.S. State Department-sponsored democracy programs in Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro. Upon returning to the U.S., I served as Executive Director for the Center for Civic Responsibility and in 2005 founded Grassroots Initiative, the nation’s first not-for-profit election consulting firm. In 2010, I joined New York City government where I now serve as Director for Innovation. In my current role, I’ve led a range of technology efforts including the launch of the .nyc top-level domain and announcement of LinkNYC, a private-public partnership to build the largest and fastest municipal Wi-Fi network in the world. 10/16
Christine Veenstra • Biology & English 2000
I am a medical oncologist and health services researcher at the University of Michigan. I care for patients with colorectal cancer. My research focuses on factors that impact the quality and value of cancer care and I have a particular interest in improving outcomes for survivors of colorectal cancer. 10/16
Adam Docks • Political Science 2001
Since 2006, I have practiced law at Perkins Coie LLP, based in the Chicago office. I am the firmwide Co-Chair of the Hotels & Leisure Industry Group, specializing in transactions involving hotels. In addition, I serve as the Chicago Chair of the Attorney Development Committee. Outside of work, I am a board member of the US Holocaust Museum, focusing on educational initiatives. I live in Highland Park, Illinois with my family. My children have not yet experienced a win over Ohio State. 7/19
Jen Misthal • English & Political Science 2001
Came home to New York City to teach middle school English and history. When I’m not grading, I’m running and training for marathons. 9/19
Joshua Sherman • Political Science 2001
After graduating from Michigan, I returned to NJ for law school at Rutgers University in Newark. I earned a J.D. in 2004. I then served for two years as a law clerk for a federal judge in Trenton, NJ. After my clerkship, I went to work as a litigator at a law firm in New York City. I then served as the Assistant Chief of the Securities Fraud Prosecution Section for the NJ Attorney General's Office. I am now Senior Counsel in the Enforcement Department of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in New York City. I live in Livingston, NJ with my wife and three children (9-year-old boy, 7-year-old girl, 3-year-old boy). 7/19
Danielle DeLonge • English 2002
I live in Milford, Michigan, and work as a Technology Communications, Training and Change Manager for Plante Moran. The tools I gained from working in the Writing Center help me everyday as I share important technology concepts to everyone in our professional services firm. The ability to communicate clearly, and help others do the same, is still important in professional environments. 7/19
Kristin Rosella • English 2002
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2002, I attended law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where I specialized in litigation and became a student assistant for the legal writing program. After that, I worked in corporate litigation at two different law firms, Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago and DLA Piper in New York, before shifting into human rights law. Currently, I work as a Senior Legal Consultant for a defense team at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, a hybrid criminal tribunal investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. I also work as a Senior Legal Counsel for a start-up nonprofit, Project Expedite Justice, which seeks justice for survivors of international and transnational crimes in East Africa and Southeast Asia. I am currently based in Cambodia and Singapore. 7/19
Margaret Vincent • English 2002
Following undergrad, I attended Michigan's Law School and graduated in December 2005. I currently live in Chicago and work remotely as Senior Counsel for Stocksy United, an artist-owned stock photo co-op based in British Columbia, where I am also still regularly called upon for my proof-reading skills. In addition to my legal position, I am also a contributing photographer to the co-op. 11/16
Channelle Kizy-White • Economics 2003
I am currently living in Commerce, Michigan and have been practicing law for over ten years. I went to law school in Chicago at Loyola University School of law and now have my own law firm based in Southfield, Michigan. My practice is focused on all domestic matters such as divorce, custody, child support and other related matters. I practice in the Tri-County area (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties). 7/19
Katherine Banks McBride • Theatre Performance 2003
I am an actor, teacher, and facilitator living in Ann Arbor. As an actor, you can catch me on Netflix’s Mindhunter or you can see me or hear my voice on many commercials including Ford, Volkswagen, Just Wink, Perkins, or Hotel Indigo. Locally, I can be found performing at Williamston Theatre or Tipping Point Theatre. As a facilitator, I lead workshops on leadership, communication, and sales across several industries. I teach drama at Greenhills School and still work as a private writing tutor! 8/19
Rachel Barak • English; Spanish Minor 2004
After graduating from U-M, I was a high school English teacher for several years in South Florida. In 2007, I heard through the grapevine that Google opened an office in Ann Arbor. I ended up landing a job there and moving back to Ann Arbor. In the 12 yrs since joining Google, I've worked in various roles in learning and development in three US Google offices. Currently, I manage the global executive coaching program supporting Google’s leaders worldwide out of the Boulder, CO office. I also moonlight as a competitive youth soccer coach! 7/19
Nasim Deylami Fussell • History 2004
I am a partner in the public policy and regulation practice at Holland & Knight in Washington, DC, where I work at the intersection of trade law and policy. I help craft advocacy strategies for clients seeking to influence trade negotiations or legislation; represent client before Congress and the executive branch; and advise on the political risks associated with cross-border transactions. 2/22
Nicolette Gabel • Psychology 2004
I live in Ann Arbor and I work as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Health System. I am an Assistant Professor of the UM Medical School. My job involves providing psychotherapy, teaching, conducting research, and also administering and interpreting neuropsychological assessments. The lengthy report writing requires a high level of communicative expertise for which I can thank my time tutoring at Sweetland! 10/16
Jennifer R. Garner • English and Political Science 2004
I graduated from The University of Michigan Law School in 2008. I moved to Chicago immediately after graduating from law school. I am now a partner in the Chicago office of Locke Lord LLP. I am a member of the real estate group, and I work on transactions involving the acquisition, disposition, leasing and finance of office, multi-family, industrial and retail properties. 7/19
Julie Goncharov • English 2004
I am a new resident in Gilbert, Arizona, reinventing my career in the field of corporate training. After 10 years working as a Production Specialist, Business Analyst, and IT Trainer at a major corporation in the Chicago area, I now assist a rising social media coach with business process development and workflow solutions. Throughout my career, I have used the knowledge I gained from Sweetland Writing Center of helping others produce clear objectives in their writing to enhance my own library of documentation. 10/16
Geetha Lakshminarayanan • American Culture; Mathematics Minor 2004
After teaching high school math, I’ve transitioned to being a teacher educator. I currently work for Stanford University supporting pre-service teachers earning their credential in secondary mathematics teaching. I also support math teachers around the U.S. and internationally through video-based teacher coaching. I still draw on the questioning techniques I learned at Sweetland that position me as a coach rather than an authority! 7/19
Tracy Tancredi • English 2004
I am a High School English Teacher at Dakota High School in Macomb, MI. I teach AP Literature & Composition, Medical English 12, and English 12. 7/19
Amy Abernathy • English and Music (School of Ed. Teacher Certification) 2005
A love of language, learning and self-expression has guided my journey. I am a Speech-Language Pathologist in Texas where I live with my husband and two sons. After undergrad I became a substitute teacher and reading coach. In 2007, I began teaching Language Arts and quickly discovered a passion for working with children who fell outside developmental norms. This led to my position as a campus RTI (Response to Intervention) Coordinator and Dyslexia Interventionist. From there I obtained an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. My work serves as an ongoing reminder to the limitless capacity of communication. 7/19
Thomas R. Campion, Jr. • Organizational Studies & German 2005
After completing a Ph.D. in biomedical informatics in 2010, I joined Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City where I am now an Associate Professor. What I learned about peer tutoring through Sweetland has a had a large impact on my professional development. 7/19
Megan Maciasz DiSanto • Political Science 2005
After graduating, I accepted a full-tuition scholarship at Roger Williams University School of Law, graduating in 2008. I passed and was admitted to the bar in three states (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York). After a one-term clerkship with Chief Justice Paul Suttell of the Rhode Island Supreme Court (a position requiring and heavily focused on strong writing skills) and two years in private practice, I joined the City of Providence Solicitor's Office in 2011. As a Senior Assistant City Solicitor, my practice is focused largely in litigation and appellate work. I use my writing skills daily. I live in Providence, Rhode Island with my husband and two sons. 7/19
Erin Rachel Kaplan • English Literature, Political Science, RC Drama 2005
After graduation I worked for a couple of years and then moved to NYC for my Masters in Educational Theatre at NYU. After finishing I worked as a teaching-artist and educator for several years in New York/ New Jersey before I began my PhD in Theatre at the CUNY Graduate Center. After three years at CUNY I transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder to finish my dissertation which I will be defending in December of 2019. I am currently teaching undergraduates at CU and working at the Student Academic Success Center as an Inclusive Excellence Coordinator. 7/19
Lindsy Krauser • English & Political Science 2005
I currently reside in Michigan, am a mom of 4, and am a public high school teacher. I teach both English and Social Studies. 7/19
Daniel Krawiec • Political Science 2005
Since graduation, I attended law school and lived in South Florida for nearly 15 years. I recently moved back to Michigan and practice management-side employment law in Detroit. 7/19
Jamie Lukos • Kinesiology 2005
Dr. Jamie Lukos is a branch head in the Basic and Applied Research Division at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego, CA where she supervises a diverse group of 30 scientists and engineers. She is also the lead scientist for the human-machine teaming group and subject matter expert in neuroscience with 22 publications, 2 book chapters, and 2 patent applications. Her work leads to a better understanding of the neurological basis of human decision making in operationally-relevant environments and informs algorithm development for physiological monitoring devices, human-machine teaming bidirectional communication and fieldable brain computer interfaces (BCIs). 7/19
Lauren McDonnell • English & French 2005
After a career in public relations as a technical writer, I decided to return to graduate school to become a teacher. I now teach literature, writing, and English as a second language at the Lycée Français de Chicago, a French international school. I still implement key learnings from my experience at the Sweetland Writing Center in my daily teaching. I am also the go-to "editor" in my family for all things written! 10/16
Gina Pensiero • American Culture 2005
Since graduation, my professional focus has been on the emerging discipline of content strategy. I've been a content strategist for Audible.com, Huge Inc. and, now, at Facebook on their news product team. Outside of work, I still enjoy writing, recording and performing music. I live in Brooklyn, NY. 10/16
Kristin Taber • English w/ Teaching Certificate 2005
For the past 11 years I've been teaching English at Forest Hills Eastern High School in Ada, MI just outside of Grand Rapids. Along with being co-chair of the department, I teach AP Language and Composition to a great group of ambitious 11th graders, a Creative Writing seminar for some artistic and hilarious seniors, and I partner with a colleague from the History department to co-teach a blended World Lit and World History humanities class. In my spare time I like to garden and bake, and I even dabbled in some very amateur food blogging back in 2014. 10/16
Zeenah Ghouse • Business 2006
After a year with Americorps, I went on to complete a degree in law with an LLM in taxation. I’ve been working in financial services since then living in New York City. 7/19
Ashley Jardina • Political Science 2006
I completed my undergraduate degree in 2006 and finished my Ph.D. in political science at Michigan in 2014 (a three-time graduate!). I now live in Durham, NC with my golden retriever named Maize, and I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Duke University. My first book, White Identity Politics, was published by Cambridge University Press in February of 2019. 7/19
Anne Joling • English; History 2006
After graduating from Michigan I went to work for the University's Institute of Continuing Legal Education as an assistant editor for about a year and a half. In the summer of 2008 I relocated to Madison, Wisconsin to attend law school at the University of Wisconsin. Although I was reluctant to enter Badger territory, I found out quickly that Madison is a wonderful city, and generally speaking, my continued dedication to being a die-hard Wolverine was mostly tolerated. While in law school I met my now husband and after graduating in December of 2010 I decided to make Madison my permanent residence. I am now a senior attorney at the domestic litigation firm of Cordell and Cordell where I practice family law and am also working to build a collaborative divorce practice. 10/16
Katie Lorenz Lowes • English; Spanish 2006
I moved to Chicago to pursue my MBA in Marketing & International Business at Loyola University, worked as a Spanish-language media buyer at Starcom, promoted healthy lungs and clean air at the American Lung Association and led over 150 school assemblies on the importance of building good character as Miss Illinois 2008. I currently work at Edelman in healthcare business development, teach dance fitness classes and still use one of Sweetland’s hyper-secure passwords (among other skills). 12/17
Jerin Phillip • Biomedical Engineering 2006
After a 2-year stint at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, I returned to U-M for a Master's in Public Health with a health policy concentration. I started my career overseeing quality and population health for a Medicare-Medicaid project at the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services in Lansing. Since then, I've worked in Washington, DC for the National Academy for State Health Policy lowering prescription drug prices and The Pew Charitable Trusts combatting the opioid epidemic. In my spare time, I continue to put my Sweetland skills to good use helping others with their writing and teaching standardized test prep. 7/19
Christopher Saddler • Cellular and Molecular Biology 2006
Medical school Wayne state SOM, University of Wisconsin Internal Medicine residency, and Infectious Disease Fellowship. Assistant Professor, Infectious Disease at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI with focus on the Immune Compromised Host. 7/19
Jesse Smith • Political Science & Philosophy 2006
After graduating in 2006 I went on to law school at Washington University in St. Louis. I moved to Chicago in 2009 and spent my first few years as an attorney in fairly traditional legal practices. In 2013, I moved away from the law firm world and into the growing industry of managed legal services. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to move to London and open my firm's office there. I recently returned to Chicago, but I still oversee all London operations. 7/19
Lindsey Belzyt • English and History 2007
For the past 13 years I have been teaching ELA and ESL. Currently I am the Middle Years Programme Coordinator for grades 6-10 for Royal Oak Schools in Michigan, and function as a workshop leader and consultant for IBO. 7/19
Sarah Braunstein • English 2007
After graduation, I spent 8 years working for Google holding a variety of positions including account management, digital campaign strategy, internal marketing, and product commercialization across offices in Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Beijing. I currently reside in Chicago and am a full-time graduate student pursuing a Masters of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Institute of Design (ID). On the side, I enjoy playing music with my band Ovef Ow! 10/16
Sara Franklin • English & Spanish 2007
Editor at Sourcebooks 2007-2010. Law school at Northwestern University School of Law, JD 2013. Corporate finance attorney at Winston & Strawn, 2013-present (Chicago). 7/19
Amanda Nichols Hess • English 2007
I'm an academic librarian at Oakland University in Rochester, MI -- my experience as a writing tutor continues to impact my own work as a scholar and my work with students in their research. Our campus writing center is located in the library, which is fun, and I'm able to pitch the important work they do because I know it first-hand! 7/19
Jeff Parker • Honors Mathematics and Philosophy 2007
I can’t believe it has been ten years since working at Sweetland! It hasn’t felt a day over two…speaking of two...it seems to be a thematic number of the past decade for me. I now have two beautiful ladies in my life: my wife Stefanie and my daughter Ellie. We have purchased two houses in that ten years and have now added two dogs to our family. I have worked at two different companies, the most recent of which is Quicken Loans in downtown Detroit where I lead a team in Business Intelligence. Life is two (too) good. 6/17
Holly Richardson • French and Francophone Studies 2007
Since graduating from U-M in 2007, I've made a career writing, thinking, and organizing projects in the non-profit sector. I've had the opportunity to serve at a variety of organizations, ranging from community-based non-profits working on hyper-local issues to the Greater Philadelphia YMCA to National Public Radio (NPR). To further develop the love of language that I cultivated at Sweetland, I completed a MA in language and communication from Georgetown University's Linguistics department in 2011 - a program I highly recommend! As a professional writer in the non-profit sector, everyday I'm grateful that I found my voice and confidence in writing at Sweetland. 7/19
Rebecca Soares • English 2007
Working as a writing tutor at Sweetland and serving as a teaching assistant for the Summer Bridge Scholars Program at Michigan made me realize that teaching was my passion. After graduation I began my doctorate in literary studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I taught freshman English and various special topics literature courses. I earned my PhD in English in 2014 and am currently a Senior Lecturer and Honors Faculty Fellow at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. My scholarly work has been published in Women’s Writing, Victorian Poetry, and Victorian Periodicals Review and my co-edited collection, The Female Fantastic: Gendering the Supernatural in the 1890s and 1920s, was published by Routledge in 2018. 7/19
Sherry Grace Gabriel • English 2008
Upon graduation, I completed my MPH from Columbia University and my DrPH from UCLA. Next, I worked for a boutique strategy consultancy focused on the life sciences in New York City for eight years before transitioning to my current role as the Director of Commercial Strategy and Insights at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Sweetland helped hone my skills to write effectively and succinctly – a skillset that proved invaluable since leaving Ann Arbor. 1/23
Becky Shapiro Herrick • English; German 2008
I'm a children's book editor in New York City. I worked at Scholastic for many years, and after a brief stint at Sky Pony Press, I'm now a freelance editor, working with Scholastic's licensing group as well as various other publishers and individuals. 7/19
Andrew Kahn • English 2008
I moved to Ann Arbor in 2016 with my wife, also a U-M grad. We continue to enjoy life in this wonderful college town. I am approaching two years with MLive.com, where I cover Michigan's men's basketball and football teams. 7/19
Desiree Lauricella • Psychology; Women's Studies 2008
Desiree is a litigation attorney in Chicago, IL, and is the Principal/Owner of her own law practice, the Law Office of Desiree L. Lauricella, LLC. Her clients include small and middle-market businesses in a variety of fields, real estate brokerages, condominium & homeowner's associations, property management companies, financial institutions, and individuals. She is also a licensed real estate broker in Illinois. In her spare time, Desiree enjoys serving as the current President of the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Greater Chicago, mentoring high school and college students, volunteering with UM's College of LSA Dean’s Young Alumni Council, and spending time with her husband, Robby, and two bunnies, Pebbles & Scotch. She never misses a Michigan Football game and loves all Detroit sports teams, despite her fellow Chicagoans trying to convert her allegiances for over ten years. 8/19
Krista Mathews • Classical Archaeology & English 2008
Since graduating, I spent nine years at Target Corporation learning and working in retail before relocating in 2017 to Park City, UT, where I am the Vice President of Partner Management at Overstock.com. 7/19
Clare McGuire • English; History 2008
After graduating from U of M, I lived and worked in Philadelphia for two years working at an Americorps position and then in residence life at a university. After Philadelphia, I went to graduate school in Bloomington, Indiana for public finance and policy analysis and then moved to DC to work for a federal consulting firm. I moved to Chicago in 2015 for a job in the budget office at Chicago Public Schools, and am now working in budget and operations for the University of Chicago Poverty Lab. 7/19
Michele Meredith • Comparative Literature; French 2008
After graduating from Michigan, I moved to New York City to teach English in the South Bronx through Teach for America. After four years of teaching, I went back to get a graduate degree in International Affairs at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and started working at New Visions for Public Schools, an education non-profit and school support organization in New York City. About a year and a half ago, I took a job as a program officer on the K-12 team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 7/19
John Sloan • Economics; German 2008
After graduating from Michigan, I taught English in Germany through the Fulbright program and pursued a Masters in development studies from the London School of Economics. I have since worked as an economist with the United Nations in Ethiopia, Lebanon, and now currently at UN Headquarters in New York. 7/19
Jake Smith • Political Science 2008
After graduating, I moved to Minneapolis to attend law school at William Mitchell College of Law. I live in Minneapolis and am currently a tax consultant in the international tax group at KPMG LLP. I focus primarily on cross-border M&A and tax planning for multinational corporations. 10/19
Natasha Stagg • Creative Writing 2008
Attended University of Arizona for a MFA in Fiction, worked as an editor for fashion magazines, published two books with Semiotext(e), and continues to work in New York and Paris as a writer and consultant. 7/19
Imran Syed • Political Science 2008
I attended the University of Michigan Law School and graduated in 2011. I am now a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan Law School, and I teach in the Michigan Innocence Clinic. My work involves supervising law students who are working on cases involving prisoners who have been wrongfully convicted. I have been fortunate enough to have helped win the release from prison of nearly a dozen innocent men and women. I also teach a seminar course in the Michigan Innocence Clinic as well as a separate law school seminar course on forensic science and the law. 7/19
Emily Niedzwiecki Chonde • Political Science 2009
I currently live in Washington, DC and serve as a Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance where I work on criminal justice policies related to conditions of incarceration and support DOJ's implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). In this role, I guide and oversee implementation of the national Standards to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement facilities across the nation. Prior to joining DOJ, I was a Research Associate at ICF International in Fairfax, VA where I conducted social science research and program evaluations in the areas of victimization, prisoner-reentry, juvenile justice, and education for at-risk youth. 10/16
Amy Fingerle • Program in the Environment 2009
I have worked in aquatic ecosystems since I graduated from UM. My work and post-graduate studies have taken me to the Great Lakes, the coast of Oregon, and northern Iceland. I now live in a remote community in northern California, where I coordinate the fisheries program of the Salmon River Restoration Council, a community-based nonprofit. 7/19
James Kunz • History 2009
I graduated in 2009 with my wife (also a Sweetland alum!) and moved to Easton, Maryland. We both teach in public school in the same county: I teach government and history, and she teaches Latin. During the summers we travel the world, taking advantage of our DINK (double income/no kids) status. 10/16
Colleen Lawson-Thornton • English; American Culture 2009
Since graduating, I have been working as a special education teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. I currently serve as my school's Special Education Liaison, Philosophy teacher, and Student Activities Coordinator. My work focuses on helping students become their own educational advocates, and providing students with opportunities to shape our school's culture through leadership programming. 10/16
Cameron MacConomy • Political Science 2009
I live in Los Angeles (most of the time) where I work as a film and television producer. I find material or ideas for movies and TV shows, then shepherd those ideas into existence. A lot of my time is spent working with screenwriters on their scripts. So, not much has changed since my time as a Peer Tutor! 7/19
Rachel Matz • English 2009
I am currently a high school English teacher and newspaper advisor in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. While teaching, I earned a master's degree in education technology and am currently pursuing coursework in education leadership. In my classroom, I am passionate about pursuing student-centered instructional strategies, including many of the peer review strategies used at Sweetland. When not teaching, I spend my time with family and also enjoy reading, listening to podcasts and musical soundtracks, and exploring with my dog. 1/23
Yevgeny Shrago • Economics; Philosophy 2009
After graduation, I worked for a year at a public policy research firm and then attended Harvard Law School. After graduating HLS in 2013, I spent 4 years working as a government lawyer, including stints with the Treasury and the Obama White House. In 2017, I moved to Atlanta and am now a Project Leader with the Boston Consulting Group office there. 7/19
Adrienne Szpyrka • English 2009
Adrienne Szpyrka is currently an associate editor at Running Press Kids, based in Philadelphia, PA. Before coming to Running Press, she was an editor at Sky Pony Press in NYC. She acquires primarily middle grade and young adult fiction and is always looking for new authors! 10/16
Amanda (Schuetz) Szymanski • Sociology and Political Science 2009
Since 2009, I have been living and working in Ann Arbor. My focus is social science and health policy research. I've worked in survey research operations at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research; health services research and quality at the University of Michigan Health System; and currently, at Arbor Research Collaborative for Health as a Project Coordinator for federal contracts through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 7/17
Betsy Varnau • French & Francophone Studies; Political Science 2009
Immediately out of undergrad, I taught abroad in Guadeloupe for 6 months to get more on-the-ground experience in a French-speaking country. After returning to the States, I got a job at CareerBuilder and worked there for 5 years doing Corporate Marketing and Product Marketing. I now live in Chicago. I'm in my second year of law school at Northwestern University and I am tentatively going to be working for a large law firm in Chicago after I graduate and pass the bar. 10/16
Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse • Political Science; Minor in Music 2009
After graduation I worked multiple jobs, including jobs at a local restaurant as a waiter, at American Friends Service Committee doing correspondence with the incarcerated, and at Sweetland as a tutor with incoming freshman. In 2011, I attended Harvard Law School. Graduated in 2014 and moved to Minneapolis where I now work at the Public Defender's Office. 10/16
