Below are stories from students and alumnae (many in their own words) reflecting on their experiences with the academic departments, faculty, internships at Mount Holyoke College and graduate school and/or careers. The Lynk Initiative not only provides funding for domestic or international summer internships and research positions but also enhanced advising, mentoring, and a process of curricular innovation to incorporate opportunities for experiential learning into the liberal arts curriculum.
Alumnae Stories: Internships and Careers
Emily Wells ’15 discovered a “treasure chest” of knowledge about early American life after winning the envied Historic Deerfield Summer Fellowship.
Luong Nguyen ’12: I learned to conduct independent research, program algorithms, and present my ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Maria Correa FP '16: the best way for me to learn is by working with and learning from Spanish speaking students and educators in their own voices.
Emily McGranachan '12: The Spanish department fostered my passion for social movements in Latin America in a way that only language acquisition can.
Kiana Lussier '13: I wondered how many luciérnagas, fireflies, I could spot in the forest in one minute.
Abigail Daane '04: Professors at MHC showed me it was possible to balance career and family.
Evgenia Sokolova '01: My passion is creating linkages at the water-renewable energy-food nexus, enabling small business opportunities and economic growth.
Dr. Ashfia Huq '96: Making lithium ion and other batteries better using neutron scattering.
Ellie Rounds '98: to read & write critically, understand historical context is important because policy work occasionally doesn't integrate it well enough.
Kelsey Shramma '12 is a third year graduate student, recently published in Nature Chemistry
Sarah Hastings ’15 is turning her passion into purpose, and she's doing it by building an ‘environmentally-conscious’ 190-square-foot dwelling.
Lindsay Pope '07: I could have gone to a conservatory, but because I went to MHC, I had more performance opportunities in a less competitive environment.
Nelia W. Dunbar ’83: My professor's curiosity, love of fieldwork, and self-confidence gave me the enthusiasm to go on really exciting adventures.
Diying Wu ’11: My independent study project contributed to my M.A. thesis on China-Latin American Free Trade Agreements at the University of Chicago.
Yarrow Axford ’97: My undergrad research at Mount Holyoke College sparked a career in climate science.
Clare Schweitzer '12: as a double major in dance and mathematics, I found that many threads ran through my two fields of study.
Debbie Fazen ’04: my independent research with Professor Gomez and the skills I gained were vital to my success as a Regulatory Affairs specialist.
Diana Katz '12: it's important to keep an open mind, there is no limit to what's possible with a film studies degree from Mount Holyoke College.
Margaret Stevens '14: Solar cell research at MHC led me to the electrical engineering Ph.D. program at Tufts University.
After an internship in Pakistan leading to a thesis, Natasha Ansari ’13 coauthored a book on economic altruism and microlending with mentor Shahrukh Khan.
Beyond the classroom: Javeria Kella ’19 discusses her internship with Gbowee Peace Foundation in Liberia.
Ariel Hayat ’15: my passion for music, storytelling, and authentic connection has continued to be a grounding point in my life following graduation.
Tiffany McClain '01: if every discussion about how to communicate or understand a social issue started with a history lesson, we would all be better off.
discusses her internship at the Academy of Television and her plan for career success in the future.
Stephanie Otema Dzandu ’09: I have gained a deeper understanding of petroleum activities, from well-drilling to the economics of how revenue is obtained.
Sarah Kate Gillespie '94: I love my work and can't imagine doing anything else.
Nana Dufie Addo ’05: I co-founded the Ghana-US Alumni Network and was awarded “Next Generation Leader’ by the African Leadership Network.
Insun Yoon '09, My research experience inspired me to become a compassionate and competent dentist.
Deborah M. Piroch '89: I cannot recommend international internships highly enough before graduation.
Barbara Conviser ’66 was headed for a law career before a Mount Holyoke College professor encouraged her to major in what she did best—art.
Gabriella Gonzalez '16: Language is one very important part of communication, but there is more to it.
A Zin Oo '06: a rigorous curriculum, deeply engaged faculty and an extremely diverse student body pushed me beyond the many learning opportunities here.
Alex Adame '04: My MHC experiences continue to inspire me to strive for the ideals of social justice, community, and close collaborative relationships.
Alessandra Geffner-Smith '14: As a MHC student, I gained the academic foundations of my field and the confidence to make valuable professional connections.
Liz MacLauchlan ’13: I learned about teaching and managing a classroom through my tutoring and work as a teaching assistant in the Chemistry Department.
Ruilin Fan ’17 and Margaret Stanne ’16: how working in MHC's Archives and Special Collections has impacted their lives.
Kameliya Atanasova '08: My arabic skills, writing experience in Cairo, and digital media training in the Five Colleges prepared my graduate foundation.
Sarah Hayden '15: it helped me realize how much I would like to continue my studies about Latin America and the environment.
Mengjia Wan '14: during my study abroad in Tokyo, I listened to Japanese people's views on Japan's society, culture and foreign relations.
Sarah Watkins '15: I work to recruit students from around the world and help students in rural Michigan access a college education.
Kelsey Shramma '12 is a third year graduate student, recently published in Nature Chemistry
“Interning is like test-driving. It allows students to choose or eliminate future career options without risking longtime commitment.”
All MHC students are guaranteed one paid internship experience. This biology major landed lab work each semester, and paid research gigs every summer.
Sophia Spector '15: my italian major helped me discover my true passion and prepared me for my career.
Mojun Zhu ’11: my strong science research background helped me better understand the fundamental aspect of medicine as it relates to clinical practice.
Alexis Holliday ’16: I connected with the communities I was serving by communicating with lawyers, immigration officials, and youth in their own languages.
Julia Godinez 17: Camping outside, I had the privilege of truly bonding and connecting with my students.
Zilin Cui '11: I learned how to engage with Spanish speakers on a cultural, intellectual and professional level, and became a true world citizen.
Judith Oliver '69 describes her journey as a graduate student and now professor specializing in Art History.
Kim Cameron-Dominguez '04: I was moved by the questions that anthropology requires that we ask of and about ourselves.
Gayathri Ramani '12: my education and internships paved the path to a better understanding of my research interests and professional aspirations.
Alison Bory '97: my desire to explore dance as a physical, creative, and intellectual endeavor has determined the course of my professional life.
Carol Culley Ueland '69: When I applied to Columbia, they exempted me from writing their MA essay on the basis of my Mount Holyoke thesis.
Jessie Babcock ’03: When I decided to double-major in English & Spanish literature, I never could have guessed where my studies would lead.
Dana Rubin '12: Working for an affordable housing director, I heard stories, many from first generation immigrants about public transportation issues.
Anuja De Silva ’03: my interest in polymer and material science led to graduate school and my career in the semiconductor industry.
Mahmuda Afrin Badhan ‘11: my MHC education taught me to appreciate my individuality as a woman in science and never sell myself short as I persevere
Claudia Mazur ’16 spent a semester learning about the world's oceans and climate as part of earning a marine science studies certificate through MHC.
Felicia Harrsch ’14: MHC prepared me for graduate school, and my background in neuroscience and chemistry has given me a leg up in pharmacy classes.
Obdulia Valle '15: I want to teach students about the Spanish language, cultures and people that encompass this language in Latin America and the US.
Shelly T Hsiao '10: I love practicing medicine and feel confident in my skills because of the solid science education and chemistry research experiences.
Phoebe Cos '16: after interning at the Postal Museum, I have a greater appreciation for the postal service, the art of stamps and postal history.
Helena Valvur ’18: the experience of working in a lab has taught me to be independent and confident in my own abilities
Tea Gongadze '12: at MHC, I developed sophisticated analytical skills and prudent judgment necessary to address firm`s financial and strategic concerns.
Marta Checko '14: Through my year abroad, I developed the language capacity to research German/Polish relations since WWII and defend an honors thesis.
Alumnae Anne Hyde's book Empires, Nations and Families: A History of the North American West, 1800-1860 won the History profession’s most prestigious award
Natercia Rodrigues '06: it has been a priority to learn within the context of a supportive community that values mentorship.
Lynette P. Rizzo: Learning about many facets of dance opened my eyes to a range of possibilities and prepared me to take on each opportunity I encountered.
Rebecca Brenner '15: in four days I preserved boxes of letters and this project became my honors thesis on the efforts of Frances Perkins to aid refugees.
Markeisha Miner '99: At Mount Holyoke, "I learned to speak with the courage of my convictions without drowning others out."
Janet Buhlmann '89: at Pfizer, I work with academic partners helping to translate their discoveries at the bench into novel therapeutics.
Samantha Neally ’19: I learned not only about plants, but also about how indigenous communities are impacted by globalism, tourism and other issues.
Barsha Dash '14: Pursuing internships outside MHC to amass technical skills and build connections which proved pivotal for acceptance to graduate school.
Mengyuan Tang '16: I will continue to pursue my passion in law school to fight against corruption, especially in international law.
Merita Salihu '15: The cultural component of my studies allowed me to understand people beyond just having the language skills to communicate with them.
A biology and film studies double major, Anqa Khan ’17 is gaining an intersectional understanding of public health through her research and internships.
Margaret (Mollie) Frederiksen '13: My history as a dancer combined with my interest in the human body and how it works drew me towards dance medicine.
Kaitlin McCarthy '09: As a writer and dancer, I look for the values expressed within the dance, and evaluate how well the piece fulfilled those values.
Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson ‘94: A blended major combined my love of music and science and set me on an interdisciplinary path.
Shannon Seigal ’19 has combined her interests in environmental sustainability and social justice and taken advantage of every opportunity.
The Hollings award will help Erin Jones ’17 develop her deep love of oceanography by providing academic funding, contacts, and a paid research internship.
Michelle Johannes ’93 is an expert in the physics of energy in the lab — and on the volleyball court.
“This year I have taken some actions to make Mount Holyoke a more inclusive and equitable campus and I am very proud of the work that I have accomplished.”
"I came to Mount Holyoke excited to learn and to challenge myself. Painting allowed me to look more critically at things around me." -Anna Berlin
Hannah Doherty '10: Since starting my graduate program at Duke, I am often reminded of the stellar preparation I had with my Environmental Studies degree.
Outstanding research in ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy of organic molecules
Caitlin E. Scott '07: the many opportunities at MHC for undergraduate student research are an early introduction to graduate level research.
Nondie Hemphill '10: MHC instilled within me the courage to follow my interests and unapologetically enter into the burgeoning field of Space Law.
Allison Fisher '14: introduced me to a multitude of perspectives concerning the environment around us.
Grace Ehlers '11: At work I synthesize/contextualize material, historical, financial and cultural sets of information into one reference point every day.
Billie Jean Stirewalt '14: I've visited 12 countries, met the love of my life, adopted a Georgian mountain dog, and published research papers for USAID.
Catherine Herrold '2000: I gained the courage to pursue research in Egypt & I was "in the right place at the right time" when the Arab Spring broke out.
Shoshana Walter ’07, winner of a major journalism award, revels in the challenging work of reporting in-depth crime stories that can have social impact.
Mai-Anh Ha ’13: my graduate level specialization at UCLA and was inspired by my chemistry courses and lab experience.
Rebecca Malcolm-Naib '87: the dance program at MHC nurtured and launched my multi-faceted career in dance.
Kim Meersma 15: my junior-year summer internship was a large part of why I was able to find a great job so quickly following graduation.
Adrienne Picciotto '16: My internship with the Media Institute for Social Change was one of my most life-changing experiences.
"High Rocks is an alternative education program in Rural Appalachia where I did workshops to inspire, educate, and empower young women"
Donna Williams ’84 used her business savvy to found Field Goods, which transforms the model of how to get fresh food from farms to families' dinner tables.
Paula T. Alekson ’90: I have been greatly served by the totality of my educational experience founded in the classroom, on the stage, and the box office.
Megan Brooks '14: I still carry what I learned in my Middle Eastern Studies major, the people I met, and my experiences abroad into all that I do.
Carrie Kortegast '98: there’s so much you can do with a liberal arts degree, yet there’s so much to do with a liberal arts degree.
Katharyn Fletcher ’09: my double major in chemistry and german studies inspired me to pursue post-graduate research fellowships in Hamberg.
Jody Phelps ’18: Spanish has been a huge part of my career here at Mount Holyoke and in my other ventures, like my internship and studying abroad.
Mary A. Francis ’86, Chevron’s chief governance officer, said critical-thinking skills fostered at MHC have proved valuable in her professional life.
Lindsey Scannell '07: my Pugh Grant funded my primary source research at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives in Paris.
Divya Chandramouli '14: I learned at Mount Holyoke that scholarship injected with an activist sensibility is all the more valuable and impactful.
Naomi Rodri '15: like historians, theatrical professionals constantly question what a play means and how it can be understood in its historical context.
Mount Holyoke’s new master’s in teacher leadership program seeks to change education from within.
Social entrepreneur Ellen Chilemba ’17 is showing the women of the world's poorest country how to lift themselves out of poverty.
Ruth A. Miller '97: Twenty years ago, the History Department prepared me for an academic career, It’s difficult to overstate how grateful I am.
Yanni Lai ’14: I found the psychology professors always ready to help students and their valuable guidance continues to inspire me after graduation.
Emily McClintock '14: I would not be where I am nor would I be as effective a teacher as I am without the department, professors and courses.
Maimuna Ahmad ’09, CEO of Teach for Bangladesh, shares how her organization is transforming the lives of children and their teachers
Led one of the earliest collaborative research groups that involved faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students
AnneElizabeth Konkel ‘14: the difference between reading accounts of the Taliban in the classroom & talking face to face with a former Taliban negotiator.
Alexandra Ekstein-Kon '11: My internship experience was fantastic because of the wonderful people I worked with and the magical city that is Venice.
Courtney Long '07: a realistic, optimistic, mindset while navigating the journey is essential to building relationships in any art history career.
Sarah Hastings '15: my house has grown from a non-linear network of human interaction, books, coursework, resource flows, and online inspiration.
Erica Berman ’05: In the theater department, I explored my artistry, gained confidence in my storytelling abilities and expanded my artistic world view.
Laura Swanbeck '08: with the generous support of my professors, I turned what I considered a strange film obsession into an unconventional career.
Kristin Colvin Young '97: They can say no, and from the start, I relied on my love of Dance.
Emily Harcourt ’09: because of my student research experience working the chemistry lab, I work comfortably with different techniques across disciplines.
Elizabeth Dickinson 'FP13: I can now work with any bird species and have solid biological fieldwork skills that will translate to a variety of job types.
Eliza Skakel ‘13: I was exposed to an academic environment, process, and professionalism that I had not previously encountered.
Tracey Gilrein Kry '04: work, before graduate school- whether in library science or anything else, to make sure the fit is right for you.
"I’m investigating potential gender and racial discrimination in disciplinary action in the National Job Corps."
Kate Bailey '08: as a dance major, my interest in formulating my own Pilates-based movement series based on spirals later turned into my honors thesis.
Hooked on science after an unintended geology class in her first semester at Mount Holyoke, Heidi Roop ’07 has traveled the world as a climate scientist.
Allison Cressy: distinguishing between what people say and why, what is really going on, and the significance of the difference between the two is crucial.
Tracy Whelen '14: Geography has also allowed me the independence to chart a course through the projects that interested me.
"More well-funded institutions may be alluring, but at a smaller institution you can experience more diversity in your work and make a real difference"
Mervnide Pierre '14: I would not be where I am without advising and guidance, so finding a mentor/advisor invested in my success was crucial to my journey.
Emily McGranachan '12: I frequently think about my experience traveling and living internationally when talking about LGBTQ rights and the global movement
Marly L. Stasi '12: I studied history, literature, language, art, and culture, because an italian major is by no means limited to a language alone.
Ruth P. Zager '49: the study of history aids one in evaluating the 'talking heads' and their analyses of the health issues in this country.
Lyndsey Ingram ’2001: my internship was the most meaningful and significant thing that happened at the start of my career.
Catherine Walker ’07: the ability to chart your own unique path is tremendously valuable in becoming an independent thinker and researcher
Allyson Laforge '16: I am bringing back multiple skills to Mount Holyoke, including a deeper understanding of material culture and public history.
Jane A. Flegal '09: How do science—and scientific uncertainty—and human values influence decision-making in highly contentious areas?
For Aderike Ajao '16, career exploration at MHC leads to a summer internship in New York City at banking giant Barclays.
Anne Marie Bedford ’60: I had the drive and endurance to pursue extremely demanding graduate studies because of confidence instilled in me by MHC.
Fanny Fennimore '14: experiencing a new culture, I gained insight into changed & unchanged aspects of South Africa's economic, social & political history.
Mount Holyoke Alumnae Make Meaningful Contributions Behind the Scenes: Melissa Holmes ’90
When her advisor suggested computer science, Vickie Victor ’18 said no way. But she tried it anyway — and landed a summer internship at Google.
Biologist Koty Sharp ’98 employs metagenomics to reveal intricate relationships between interdependent organisms at sea.
Margaret Murdock ' 18 :One of the most critical parts of research is being able to communicate what you learn and discover.
Lila Reid '15: Mount Holyoke gave me the opportunity to fuse my interests in dance and teaching through a career-oriented and practical approach.
Ono discusses his unconventional path and how he found inspiration from Ramanujan in a new book, My Search for Ramanujan: How I Learned to Count.
Olivia Derks ‘13: I am considering a career in environmental psychology, so the internship allowed me a closer look at this field of clinical psychology.
Jiaxi Song ’12: I pursued independent research that prepared me to work in a highly interdisciplinary research field.
Mwikali Kioko ‘01: history and the way people have related to each other in the past has a huge role to play in the way they continue to today.
Elodie Munezero '16: "When it comes to the industry, you’re never going to be able to do only what you like."
Rudo Makonza Goto ’13: The interdisciplinary nature of Biochemistry enhanced my critical thinking.
Laura E. Fernandez ’08: After my lab experience at MHC, I completed a Ph.D. in Theoretical Computational Chemistry and work at ACS Nano and Nano Letters.
Shreeya Joshi '15: I worked in the Public Affairs Office which dealt with communicating to the public and news media about the EPA.
Alessandra Hickson '09: When I went to graduate school to pursue a career in journalism, my knowledge of art and film helped me in my reporting.
Rita C. Economos ’01: At Mount Holyoke I learned grit and courage — I don’t think I could have learned them so well, and with such joy, anywhere else.
Heather Southwick '90: While in graduate school, I began to combine my love of dance and medicine through an internship with Boston Ballet.
Audrey Zhang Yang ’13: My experiences and connections at Mount Holyoke continue to motivate me to thrive in many areas of my post-graduate life.
"More than 10 years after that first drawing class, I am now a professional designer and strategist working in an industry I didn’t event know existed."
Claire Schwartz '16: I created maps of mars missions for NASA using ArcGIS and MatLab, which I learned in my planetary science class
R. Aleida Montejo ’03: my fluency in Spanish, French and Italian allows me to support my business in sometimes unexpected ways.
Gina Ciralli '14: my classes and professors at Mount Holyoke certainly inspired my interest in art and helped me gain the necessary internship experience.
Katia Vais Bienenfield '02: I now run a grant-making program for Holocaust survivors and Nazi victims in the greater NYC area and globally.
“The gates of the College truly open to another world. Each interaction requires us all to take an introspective look at our values as well as our biases.”
Michelle Bennett '06: Cultural Anthropology helped me learn to navigate two different cultures and inspired me to pursue a masters degree.
Christiana Axelsen '03: I was encouraged and challenged to pursue those things that I am truly passionate about with rigor and discipline.
As a Mount Holyoke student, Sara R. Haviland ’03 interviewed life-long civil rights activists for her thesis — leading to a doctorate and her first book.
Jennifer Trehey O'Malley '89: I found surgery was not my life's work, but this thing called research I ended up loving.
Abena Opoku ’10: The biochemistry program prepared me to be resilient and press through the challenges I face in the corporate world.
Kathryn Higgins '12: If you have always dreamed of being an explorer, or if you are in love with the Italian language, I recommend this internship.
Emma Singer '14: I work with students who have vastly different outdoor experiences from my own and my ES major helped me to better understand their needs.
Aubry K Hildebrant '07: Medical Family Therapy presented a unique combination of social science, medicine/healing and understanding other people's stories.
Songqiao Yao '11: wins a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a master’s in geographical research at the University of Cambridge.
Hannah Weisman '2000: I learned research skills; discovered beautiful and heartbreaking stories of loss, survival, and strength and found my career focus.
Allison Palmer '85: I encourage all my students, regardless of their major, to take at least one art history course and study abroad.
Holly Sprague '11: my perseverance and the guidance I received at Mount Holyoke allowed me to make my vision of serving tribal communities a reality.
“I learned to ask questions fearlessly and make mistakes. No one knows everything. The only way to learn and move forward is by asking and doing.”
Varsha V Manoj '16: I compiled my internship interviews with women and children participating in SEEDS Model Village program into a short film.
Mika Kie Weissbuch '11: while researching privatization in and around Managua’s municipal dump, we got the idea to start a children’s community center.
Olivia Griffin '13: everyone assured me, “your undergrad major doesn’t matter" but I am absolutely sure I chose the right major in Middle Eastern Studies.
Aurora West Seamon ’17: My critical social thought major equipped me to teach a diverse group of learners and field questions about American culture.
Anna Driftmier ’12: What tends to surprise people are the ways in which my classics degree has influenced my career beyond just its history with theater.
Catherine Allgor FP '92: my training as an MHC history major gave me knowledge, confidence, and courage.
Erica Metzger Hare '98: after graduating from MHC, I worked for several years in management consulting before obtaining my MBA in Economics and Management.
Raheal Boadi-Yeboah ’11: my chemistry background from MHC has been helpful in my doctorate courses at the University of Buffalo.
Sadaffe Abid ’95: Circle helps women executives and entrepreneurs develop the capacity to exercise leadership.
Lee Tae Cobb '10: As a film studies major I learned to look at visual mediums with a critical eye and experience film from the production side.
Nooria Puri: history provided me with the necessary framework to understand a spectrum of subjects, and contemporary issues.
Christina Elder ’18 began with a study abroad experience in New Zealand and then returned to that country for an internship studying addiction science.
The ability to search for information, weed through various sources, and become comfortable with new topics is an important piece of her work in law.
Dana Reuter ’15 : I am very interested in what mammals eat and how that has changed through time with climate and vegetation changes.
Fay Gartenberg ‘11: mentorship helped me resolve a conflict between a financially secure career choice and exploring my artistic practice and identity.
Astrid Rehl Baumgardner ’73: Because of the academic rigor and encouragement I experienced at MHC, I have a life and career of passion and purpose.
Alexandria Decatur '16: take math courses and gaining some research experience, whether it is through an internship with a professor or writing a thesis.
Claire Ricker '95: I advise against devaluing your history degree & encourage students to explore opportunities besides traditional history-oriented paths.
Natascha Martens (Nen) '05: through speaking multiple languages I started my professional career in academia and quickly moved to other fields.
Allison Fisher '14: finding a rewarding career path after an unexpected beginning
IR student liaison Julia Kellerbauer ’18 adds a touch of home at work.
Rain Ross '2000: Studying at MHC, gave me a breadth of experiences that have given me choices in my professional and personal goals.
Emily Wells ’15: I researched toys and toy companies, wrote up my findings in brief reports and added them to the database, along with other materials.
Future physician Jailene Rodriguez ’20 gained hands-on lab experience in high school via Mount Holyoke’s Restoration Ecology Summer Scholars Program.
Sabrina Smith ’17 seeks alumna advice, opportunities, and experience during her internship at the Mount Holyoke College Joseph Allen Skinner Museum.
Kirsten Reoch '90: as a docent in a historical art museum I was interested in the actual built structure of the house and its restoration over the years.
Lauren Parda Kusek '2014 FP: my student research of Roman and Northern Renaissance collections informed my work in the non-profit world.
Jamie Theophilos '13: Through the insight, connections and encouragement of my professors, I launched my career in media.
Laura Congreve Hunter '17: Processing astronomical images is how raw images taken by telescopes becomes useful information for astronomers
Maria Correa FP '16 shares her responsibilities and challenges as the Community Advisor of a Language Living Learning program.
Clarissa Leight '18: As an intern, I met astronomy researchers and presented my findings at 2016 Division of Planetary Science conference
Victoria Schmidt-Scheuber ’12: Academic rigor, guest speakers and supportive atmosphere inspired me to continue onward to graduate school.
Julita Penido '12: in the Astronomy Department, I learned to be open to new possibilities, even if they didn’t follow the conventional path to success
Ye Li '11: one of my proudest achievements during my undergraduate journey is my thesis in Spanish.
Thanks to the support of her MHC professors, Aidan Diamond ’15 has been able to nurture an interest in Batman into a burgeoning academic career.
Erica Keller '15: atop a volcano in Mexico, I gathered real data that I would use later in the year to research galaxies billions of light years away
Julia Berazneva ’04: MHC was a critical stepping-stone from my academic interests to a career bettering the lives of the poor and marginalized.
Yaaminey Mubayi '90: I wanted to study Asian Art, Comparative Religions, languages and Cultures and chose South Asian Studies as a major.
Mei Lum ’12, new owner of her family store — one of the oldest shops in the neighborhood — keeps community and family traditions thriving.
Sara Rashid ’15 and Aladrianne Young ’16 reflect on their work at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum.
Hayat R Ahmed ’13: After graduation, I sought to understand the elusive nature of HIV and engage in current strategies to search for a cure.
Gretchen Luft Harris Ph.D. ’63: Mount Holyoke is a place where women are encouraged women to pursue their goals and this means beyond college
Catherine Dietrich ’12: my work has benefited greatly from the skills I gained in higher level biochemistry classes and my undergraduate lab experience.
McKenzie Conner ’13: Learning another language and culture led to insighta into the background of its artists I would never otherwise understand.
Michelle Brooks-Thompson ’06: revealed her gale-force voice on TV’s sing-off The Voice, she brought down the house and amped up a flourishing career.
Saryu Fensin ’06: As a chemistry major I participated in research during my undergraduate training which is not possible at the larger universities.
Cristina Ghenoiu ’04: analyzing the latest breakthroughs in the scientific and medical world is part of my every day job, and exhilarating!
Hilary Pollan '12: My Nexus Global/Local Experiences helped me the most in collaborating with diverse groups to improve community health.
Chen '16 reflects on her summer internship with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and how it relates to her potential career path.
Tiffany A. Goulet '97: I have taught grades 7-12 in MA, CT, Washington DC, Bangladesh, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and China.
Crystal Nguyen ’05: the people I met at MHC including my advisor have been supportive and helped me at every step of my career.
Julia Husten Nguyen ‘95: not initially in the field of grant reviewing, transferrable skills as a history major and educator prepared her for her work.
Alexandra Horne ’12: My experiences at Mount Holyoke helped me grow into the sort of woman confident in her ability to do whatever she wants.
Katherine Bracher ’60: Every night I sketched comet Arend-Roland and took pictures in the observatory dome and was hooked!
Katherine Kraschel ’06: each day at Harvard Law School, I apply the critical and analytic thinking skills my professors at MHC pushed me to sharpen.
MHC alumna Amy Norman ’95 built Little Passports, a business working to get kids interested in other cultures with activity packages mailed to their homes.
Shannon Lynch FP 16: a once in a lifetime experience, as an intern, I lived on islands with only other researchers and the birds we were trying to protect.
Carey Lang '14: I came in with some experience in outdoor education, and found I enjoyed leading full day teen hikes and gained the skills to do it again.
Iman Abubaker '14: I was introduced to the field of environmental governance and policy and made important connections.
Krystiane Cooper ’92: My MHC experience and education prepared me to use and engage my voice in the world for both singing and social justice.
Michelle Grohe ‘13: whether it is difficult weather conditions, working among thorny invasive species, or walking knee deep in a mucky marsh.
Osato Iyore Ayanru ’05: on my Fulbright in Ghana, I studied medicinal plants that traditional healers prescribed to to HIV + patients.
Cassandra Cushman ’08: I learned lessons that have carried me to New York City, on to film, to the stages of The Public and Roundabout theaters and beyond.
Marsha Allen FP’10: My final year at Mount Holyoke changed me. I realized that with hard work and the right support network, I could be a scientist.
Laura Breitenfeld '17: Raman Spectroscopy is just the beginning.
Aviva Elzufon '10: through my Spanish major I developed the ability for critical, concise, well-written work throughout my post-graduate career.
Carrie Phelan Thomas '74: you can take your history degree and move into any one of thousands of career areas.
Emma O’Leary ’16: Biochemistry fulfills my need to be intrigued, confronted with complex questions, and participate in independent research.
Jude Harzer’s ’87: her paintings explore the familial relationships that shape children.
Alexandra Ekstein-Kon '11: studying Italian at Mount Holyoke was the catalyst that gave me the tools I needed to make the move to Europe.
Tenaya Vallery '10: my undergraduate research experiences at MHC were pivotal to my acceptance to Yale.
Katharine Hinkle ’02: Connecting students to the natural world they live in is why I am teaching and what Mount Holyoke gave me the ability to do.
Colonel Lina Rivero Cashin ’88 credits her dual-degree in math and physics for helping her enter the space operations career field
Sarah Hastings '15: I learned a ton from the campers, the Cary scientists, my supervisor, and the mosquitoes I collected for the researchers!
Michelle ‘Misha’ Oraa Ali ’17: My thesis looked at neural signatures in auditory imagery by using poetry, specifically limericks.
A woman in the heavily male fields of physics and engineering, Shehzeen Hussain ’14 wants to solve community energy problems using both.
Nora Bond ’14: my study of psychology helped me discover that understanding that people are people, first, is the key to better work.
Evan Towle '97: The anthropologist knows that every family will make its own meaning and grieve in its own way.
Merli V. Guerra '09: taking Beginning Classical Indian Dance led to me touring the world with Devi’s company and the Deborah Abel Dance Company.
Rachel Soraruf Medley ’02: Go outside your comfort zone — even rejections can be opportunities in disguise
Melissa A. Danz ’17: Studying philosophy helped me to explore how I can work toward justice for all when the needs of a country are very complex.
Lily Corman Penzel '15: I learned how to effectively search databases, find elusive information and compile it into clear, succinct arguments.
Anna Kudla '13: I found myself in places I never imagined, doing things I never thought I was capable of doing, connecting with people, and learning ...
Zoé Emilie Henrot '12: one of my favorite aspects of SPCB is the fact the Company artists have a voice in every aspect of each performance.
Rebecca Rothstein '14: One cannot divorce Russian politics from Russian literature.
Lydia Young '75: MHC helped her become a strong leader in a field with few women
Lillian Patierno Stafford ’15: Constructive criticism, crucial guidance and the overall knowledge/resources of my professors helped me in my arts career.
Angela DiCiccio ’08: my work is a serendipitous mix of my experiences as a biochemistry major and my research with Professor Chen in materials science.
Kiana Lussier '13: It is exhilarating to feel passionate about your field of work and study! MHC Geography helped me put my career path in motion.
Sonia Mistry '03: Today, I know exactly who made my clothes, and every day I support these workers in exercising their fundamental rights.
Felicity Emerson ’17: I have grown into a strong, confident and competent individual and aspiring scientist after four years living and learning at MHC.
Weixi Lei '13 explains how the critical thinking skills she developed at MHC help her contribute valuable perspectives when assessing business projects.
Empowered by the skills she gained at Mount Holyoke, Woyneab Habte ’17 founded a copy shop in her country to provide peers an alternative to sex work.
Julia Godinez 17: he friendships and bonds I made this summer exposed me to an entirely new culture, which accepted me despite all our differences.
Dawn Zhang ’09: I built the skills in my scientific training to help my team synthesize information and advise senior management on strategic priorities.
Stacey Owens '06: After creating my own major, I could not stop creating, and still do in my career as a TV Producer.
Rose Wellman '05: The best classrooms center on collaboration, exchange, and diversity of thought and experience. This was something I learned at MHC.
Ellie Schwetye ’04: inspired by female-focused, female-driven and female-created theater traditions.
Susannah Gilbert '13: My love for Italy, the Italian language and culture have remained a huge part of my life and are a constant source of joy every day.
Ellen Chilemba ’17 continues to explore ways to help Malawi women rise out of poverty through Tiwale, the community-based organization she founded.
Ariel Szabo White ’09: I am thankful to my professors, who encouraged me to experiment.
Lisa Brunie '06: by engaging people in our communities and together promoting environmental awareness, we can make a real difference.
Yingxi (Lucy) Gong '13: The museum staff was not only my daily colleagues but also mentors — they trusted and supported my work and interests.
Founder of On-Her-Own, the first work-study program in Ethiopia helping to provide low-income female students with non-exploitative means of income.
Rita Kerbaj ’14: My Spanish minor gave me access to opportunities in emerging markets and the confidence to pursue them as a leader at a top startup.
Samhita Arni 06: of utmost importance is that one’s education helps one develop one’s own moral compass through thinking through values and value systems.
Lillian Smith '09: Because of my background in Anthropology, I bring something to the table that someone with a business or statistics degree doesn't.
Ashley Kosa ’15: my chemistry background was integral to my internship in art conservation and restoration.
Erin Murphy ’15: My theater experience pushed me to be more flexible and open-minded about the ways in which theater could exist in my life.
“I am proud that we have changed the conversation around immigration and undocumented individuals into a positive and purposeful one.”
Louisa Rader '18: I continued my summer internship research exploring craters on Mars into my senior project
Loren Robertson '06: At MHC, I majored in Dance and minored in Film, now I run a videography business in California.
Lindsay Sceats '11: Preparing for my my senior thesis gave me practice in looking at data with a critical eye and forming my own scientific opinions.
Alaine Johnson '10: To immerse myself in another language, culture, and in literature that was socially and politically significant was truly powerful.
Kristina Varade '02: ... when academic curiosity becomes a professional reality.
My-Linh Nguyen ’13: my chemistry and french background allowed me to connect with my scientist colleagues at the Embassy.
Laura Zingle ’03: my academic/work experience made me a better stage manager and I thank MHC for shaping me into a more confident, worldly individual.
Alum Veronika Kivenson’s NSF grant allows her to use a supercomputer to examine how microbes metabolize pollutants found in marine sediment.
Alexa Birdsong ’84: My english and politics majors contributed to my interest and respect for the importance of the history of music.
Monica Chelliah ‘14 talks about her job as a Web Programming Assistant.
Emma Boisselle ’13: When people ask me what I do for a living, I say, “I’m an actor whose day job is being a lighting designer.”
Carolyn Lau ’15: My lab courses prepared me for graduate-level research.
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