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
All MHC students are guaranteed one paid internship experience. This biology major landed lab work each semester, and paid research gigs every summer.
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.
Rudo Makonza Goto ’13: The interdisciplinary nature of Biochemistry enhanced my critical thinking.
“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.”
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.
Alexandra Ekstein-Kon '11: My internship experience was fantastic because of the wonderful people I worked with and the magical city that is Venice.
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.
Dana Rubin '12: Working for an affordable housing director, I heard stories, many from first generation immigrants about public transportation issues.
Dana Reuter ’15 : I am very interested in what mammals eat and how that has changed through time with climate and vegetation changes.
Emily McGranachan '12: I frequently think about my experience traveling and living internationally when talking about LGBTQ rights and the global movement
Rebecca Rothstein '14: One cannot divorce Russian politics from Russian literature.
Future physician Jailene Rodriguez ’20 gained hands-on lab experience in high school via Mount Holyoke’s Restoration Ecology Summer Scholars Program.
Abena Opoku ’10: The biochemistry program prepared me to be resilient and press through the challenges I face in the corporate world.
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.
Alum Veronika Kivenson’s NSF grant allows her to use a supercomputer to examine how microbes metabolize pollutants found in marine sediment.
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.
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.
Saryu Fensin ’06: As a chemistry major I participated in research during my undergraduate training which is not possible at the larger universities.
Courtney Long '07: a realistic, optimistic, mindset while navigating the journey is essential to building relationships in any art history career.
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.
Shreeya Joshi '15: I worked in the Public Affairs Office which dealt with communicating to the public and news media about the EPA.
Jamie Theophilos '13: Through the insight, connections and encouragement of my professors, I launched my career in media.
Catherine Walker ’07: the ability to chart your own unique path is tremendously valuable in becoming an independent thinker and researcher
Ellie Rounds '98: to read & write critically, understand historical context is important because policy work occasionally doesn't integrate it well enough.
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 ...
Michelle Grohe ‘13: whether it is difficult weather conditions, working among thorny invasive species, or walking knee deep in a mucky marsh.
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.
Divya Chandramouli '14: I learned at Mount Holyoke that scholarship injected with an activist sensibility is all the more valuable and impactful.
“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.”
Biologist Koty Sharp ’98 employs metagenomics to reveal intricate relationships between interdependent organisms at sea.
McKenzie Conner ’13: Learning another language and culture led to insighta into the background of its artists I would never otherwise understand.
Hannah Weisman '2000: I learned research skills; discovered beautiful and heartbreaking stories of loss, survival, and strength and found my career focus.
Sarah Hastings '15: I learned a ton from the campers, the Cary scientists, my supervisor, and the mosquitoes I collected for the researchers!
Stephanie Otema Dzandu ’09: I have gained a deeper understanding of petroleum activities, from well-drilling to the economics of how revenue is obtained.
Weixi Lei '13 explains how the critical thinking skills she developed at MHC help her contribute valuable perspectives when assessing business projects.
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.
Heather Southwick '90: While in graduate school, I began to combine my love of dance and medicine through an internship with Boston Ballet.
Chen '16 reflects on her summer internship with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and how it relates to her potential career path.
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
Gayathri Ramani '12: my education and internships paved the path to a better understanding of my research interests and professional aspirations.
Jessie Babcock ’03: When I decided to double-major in English & Spanish literature, I never could have guessed where my studies would lead.
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.
Alexa Birdsong ’84: My english and politics majors contributed to my interest and respect for the importance of the history of music.
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.
Ariel Szabo White ’09: I am thankful to my professors, who encouraged me to experiment.
Lillian Patierno Stafford ’15: Constructive criticism, crucial guidance and the overall knowledge/resources of my professors helped me in my arts career.
Outstanding research in ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy of organic molecules
Adrienne Picciotto '16: My internship with the Media Institute for Social Change was one of my most life-changing experiences.
Sadaffe Abid ’95: Circle helps women executives and entrepreneurs develop the capacity to exercise leadership.
Allison Fisher '14: introduced me to a multitude of perspectives concerning the environment around us.
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.
The Hollings award will help Erin Jones ’17 develop her deep love of oceanography by providing academic funding, contacts, and a paid research internship.
Insun Yoon '09, My research experience inspired me to become a compassionate and competent dentist.
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.
When her advisor suggested computer science, Vickie Victor ’18 said no way. But she tried it anyway — and landed a summer internship at Google.
Emma O’Leary ’16: Biochemistry fulfills my need to be intrigued, confronted with complex questions, and participate in independent research.
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.
Liz MacLauchlan ’13: I learned about teaching and managing a classroom through my tutoring and work as a teaching assistant in the Chemistry Department.
Evan Towle '97: The anthropologist knows that every family will make its own meaning and grieve in its own way.
Barsha Dash '14: Pursuing internships outside MHC to amass technical skills and build connections which proved pivotal for acceptance to graduate school.
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.
Grace Ehlers '11: At work I synthesize/contextualize material, historical, financial and cultural sets of information into one reference point every day.
Tenaya Vallery '10: my undergraduate research experiences at MHC were pivotal to my acceptance to Yale.
Ruilin Fan ’17 and Margaret Stanne ’16: how working in MHC's Archives and Special Collections has impacted their lives.
Fanny Fennimore '14: experiencing a new culture, I gained insight into changed & unchanged aspects of South Africa's economic, social & political history.
Helena Valvur ’18: the experience of working in a lab has taught me to be independent and confident in my own abilities
Victoria Schmidt-Scheuber ’12: Academic rigor, guest speakers and supportive atmosphere inspired me to continue onward to graduate school.
Aubry K Hildebrant '07: Medical Family Therapy presented a unique combination of social science, medicine/healing and understanding other people's stories.
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.
Kim Cameron-Dominguez '04: I was moved by the questions that anthropology requires that we ask of and about ourselves.
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.
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.
Kelsey Shramma '12 is a third year graduate student, recently published in Nature Chemistry
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.
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.
A biology and film studies double major, Anqa Khan ’17 is gaining an intersectional understanding of public health through her research and internships.
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.
Yaaminey Mubayi '90: I wanted to study Asian Art, Comparative Religions, languages and Cultures and chose South Asian Studies as a major.
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.
Shannon Seigal ’19 has combined her interests in environmental sustainability and social justice and taken advantage of every opportunity.
For Aderike Ajao '16, career exploration at MHC leads to a summer internship in New York City at banking giant Barclays.
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.
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.
Rebecca Malcolm-Naib '87: the dance program at MHC nurtured and launched my multi-faceted career in dance.
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.
Margaret Murdock ' 18 :One of the most critical parts of research is being able to communicate what you learn and discover.
A Zin Oo '06: a rigorous curriculum, deeply engaged faculty and an extremely diverse student body pushed me beyond the many learning opportunities here.
Michelle Johannes ’93 is an expert in the physics of energy in the lab — and on the volleyball court.
Mai-Anh Ha ’13: my graduate level specialization at UCLA and was inspired by my chemistry courses and lab experience.
Samantha Neally ’19: I learned not only about plants, but also about how indigenous communities are impacted by globalism, tourism and other issues.
Sarah Hastings '15: my house has grown from a non-linear network of human interaction, books, coursework, resource flows, and online inspiration.
Catherine Dietrich ’12: my work has benefited greatly from the skills I gained in higher level biochemistry classes and my undergraduate lab experience.
Alison Bory '97: my desire to explore dance as a physical, creative, and intellectual endeavor has determined the course of my professional life.
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.
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.
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.
Ellen Chilemba ’17 continues to explore ways to help Malawi women rise out of poverty through Tiwale, the community-based organization she founded.
Jiaxi Song ’12: I pursued independent research that prepared me to work in a highly interdisciplinary research field.
Nana Dufie Addo ’05: I co-founded the Ghana-US Alumni Network and was awarded “Next Generation Leader’ by the African Leadership Network.
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.
Carolyn Lau ’15: My lab courses prepared me for graduate-level research.
Anuja De Silva ’03: my interest in polymer and material science led to graduate school and my career in the semiconductor industry.
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.
A woman in the heavily male fields of physics and engineering, Shehzeen Hussain ’14 wants to solve community energy problems using both.
Rain Ross '2000: Studying at MHC, gave me a breadth of experiences that have given me choices in my professional and personal goals.
Emily McGranachan '12: The Spanish department fostered my passion for social movements in Latin America in a way that only language acquisition can.
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.
Laura Congreve Hunter '17: Processing astronomical images is how raw images taken by telescopes becomes useful information for astronomers
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.
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.
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.
Clarissa Leight '18: As an intern, I met astronomy researchers and presented my findings at 2016 Division of Planetary Science conference
Allison Palmer '85: I encourage all my students, regardless of their major, to take at least one art history course and study abroad.
Mary A. Francis ’86, Chevron’s chief governance officer, said critical-thinking skills fostered at MHC have proved valuable in her professional life.
Tracy Whelen '14: Geography has also allowed me the independence to chart a course through the projects that interested me.
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.
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.
Claire Ricker '95: I advise against devaluing your history degree & encourage students to explore opportunities besides traditional history-oriented paths.
Allison Fisher '14: finding a rewarding career path after an unexpected beginning
Allyson Laforge '16: I am bringing back multiple skills to Mount Holyoke, including a deeper understanding of material culture and public history.
Elodie Munezero '16: "When it comes to the industry, you’re never going to be able to do only what you like."
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.
Elizabeth (Zab) Johnson ‘94: A blended major combined my love of music and science and set me on an interdisciplinary path.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yingxi (Lucy) Gong '13: The museum staff was not only my daily colleagues but also mentors — they trusted and supported my work and interests.
Lydia Young '75: MHC helped her become a strong leader in a field with few women
"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"
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
Kiana Lussier '13: I wondered how many luciérnagas, fireflies, I could spot in the forest in one minute.
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.
Zilin Cui '11: I learned how to engage with Spanish speakers on a cultural, intellectual and professional level, and became a true world citizen.
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.
Lily Corman Penzel '15: I learned how to effectively search databases, find elusive information and compile it into clear, succinct arguments.
Gabriella Gonzalez '16: Language is one very important part of communication, but there is more to it.
Lauren Parda Kusek '2014 FP: my student research of Roman and Northern Renaissance collections informed my work in the non-profit world.
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.
Beyond the classroom: Javeria Kella ’19 discusses her internship with Gbowee Peace Foundation in Liberia.
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.
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.
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.
Maria Correa FP '16 shares her responsibilities and challenges as the Community Advisor of a Language Living Learning program.
My-Linh Nguyen ’13: my chemistry and french background allowed me to connect with my scientist colleagues at the Embassy.
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.
Alessandra Geffner-Smith '14: As a MHC student, I gained the academic foundations of my field and the confidence to make valuable professional connections.
Sara Rashid ’15 and Aladrianne Young ’16 reflect on their work at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum.
Debbie Fazen ’04: my independent research with Professor Gomez and the skills I gained were vital to my success as a Regulatory Affairs specialist.
"I’m investigating potential gender and racial discrimination in disciplinary action in the National Job Corps."
“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
Nooria Puri: history provided me with the necessary framework to understand a spectrum of subjects, and contemporary issues.
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.
R. Aleida Montejo ’03: my fluency in Spanish, French and Italian allows me to support my business in sometimes unexpected ways.
Anne Marie Bedford ’60: I had the drive and endurance to pursue extremely demanding graduate studies because of confidence instilled in me by MHC.
Colonel Lina Rivero Cashin ’88 credits her dual-degree in math and physics for helping her enter the space operations career field
discusses her internship at the Academy of Television and her plan for career success in the future.
Kristina Varade '02: ... when academic curiosity becomes a professional reality.
Songqiao Yao '11: wins a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a master’s in geographical research at the University of Cambridge.
Lindsey Scannell '07: my Pugh Grant funded my primary source research at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives in Paris.
Maimuna Ahmad ’09, CEO of Teach for Bangladesh, shares how her organization is transforming the lives of children and their teachers
Lila Reid '15: Mount Holyoke gave me the opportunity to fuse my interests in dance and teaching through a career-oriented and practical approach.
Mengyuan Tang '16: I will continue to pursue my passion in law school to fight against corruption, especially in international law.
Aurora West Seamon ’17: My critical social thought major equipped me to teach a diverse group of learners and field questions about American culture.
Julia Berazneva ’04: MHC was a critical stepping-stone from my academic interests to a career bettering the lives of the poor and marginalized.
Katherine Bracher ’60: Every night I sketched comet Arend-Roland and took pictures in the observatory dome and was hooked!
Led one of the earliest collaborative research groups that involved faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students
"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
Ellie Schwetye ’04: inspired by female-focused, female-driven and female-created theater traditions.
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
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.
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.
After an internship in Pakistan leading to a thesis, Natasha Ansari ’13 coauthored a book on economic altruism and microlending with mentor Shahrukh Khan.
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.
Deborah M. Piroch '89: I cannot recommend international internships highly enough before graduation.
Michelle Bennett '06: Cultural Anthropology helped me learn to navigate two different cultures and inspired me to pursue a masters degree.
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.
Katia Vais Bienenfield '02: I now run a grant-making program for Holocaust survivors and Nazi victims in the greater NYC area and globally.
Catherine Allgor FP '92: my training as an MHC history major gave me knowledge, confidence, and courage.
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.
Abigail Daane '04: Professors at MHC showed me it was possible to balance career and family.
"High Rocks is an alternative education program in Rural Appalachia where I did workshops to inspire, educate, and empower young women"
Jane A. Flegal '09: How do science—and scientific uncertainty—and human values influence decision-making in highly contentious areas?
Sophia Spector '15: my italian major helped me discover my true passion and prepared me for my career.
Claire Schwartz '16: I created maps of mars missions for NASA using ArcGIS and MatLab, which I learned in my planetary science class
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.
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.
Loren Robertson '06: At MHC, I majored in Dance and minored in Film, now I run a videography business in California.
AnneElizabeth Konkel ‘14: the difference between reading accounts of the Taliban in the classroom & talking face to face with a former Taliban negotiator.
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.
Sarah Hayden '15: it helped me realize how much I would like to continue my studies about Latin America and the environment.
Katharyn Fletcher ’09: my double major in chemistry and german studies inspired me to pursue post-graduate research fellowships in Hamberg.
Tea Gongadze '12: at MHC, I developed sophisticated analytical skills and prudent judgment necessary to address firm`s financial and strategic concerns.
Emily Harcourt ’09: because of my student research experience working the chemistry lab, I work comfortably with different techniques across disciplines.
Gina Ciralli '14: my classes and professors at Mount Holyoke certainly inspired my interest in art and helped me gain the necessary internship experience.
“Interning is like test-driving. It allows students to choose or eliminate future career options without risking longtime commitment.”
"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."
Cristina Ghenoiu ’04: analyzing the latest breakthroughs in the scientific and medical world is part of my every day job, and exhilarating!
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.
Kristin Colvin Young '97: They can say no, and from the start, I relied on my love of Dance.
Margaret Stevens '14: Solar cell research at MHC led me to the electrical engineering Ph.D. program at Tufts University.
Raheal Boadi-Yeboah ’11: my chemistry background from MHC has been helpful in my doctorate courses at the University of Buffalo.
Aviva Elzufon '10: through my Spanish major I developed the ability for critical, concise, well-written work throughout my post-graduate career.
“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.”
Erica Metzger Hare '98: after graduating from MHC, I worked for several years in management consulting before obtaining my MBA in Economics and Management.
Mojun Zhu ’11: my strong science research background helped me better understand the fundamental aspect of medicine as it relates to clinical practice.
Dawn Zhang ’09: I built the skills in my scientific training to help my team synthesize information and advise senior management on strategic priorities.
Laura Breitenfeld '17: Raman Spectroscopy is just the beginning.
IR student liaison Julia Kellerbauer ’18 adds a touch of home at work.
Caitlin E. Scott '07: the many opportunities at MHC for undergraduate student research are an early introduction to graduate level research.
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.
Evgenia Sokolova '01: My passion is creating linkages at the water-renewable energy-food nexus, enabling small business opportunities and economic growth.
Mei Lum ’12, new owner of her family store — one of the oldest shops in the neighborhood — keeps community and family traditions thriving.
Felicity Emerson ’17: I have grown into a strong, confident and competent individual and aspiring scientist after four years living and learning at MHC.
Sarah Watkins '15: I work to recruit students from around the world and help students in rural Michigan access a college education.
Social entrepreneur Ellen Chilemba ’17 is showing the women of the world's poorest country how to lift themselves out of poverty.
Laura Swanbeck '08: with the generous support of my professors, I turned what I considered a strange film obsession into an unconventional career.
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.
Alex Adame '04: My MHC experiences continue to inspire me to strive for the ideals of social justice, community, and close collaborative relationships.
Alexandria Decatur '16: take math courses and gaining some research experience, whether it is through an internship with a professor or writing a thesis.
Lisa Brunie '06: by engaging people in our communities and together promoting environmental awareness, we can make a real difference.
Julia Godinez 17: Camping outside, I had the privilege of truly bonding and connecting with my students.
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.
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.
Eliza Skakel ‘13: I was exposed to an academic environment, process, and professionalism that I had not previously encountered.
Carrie Phelan Thomas '74: you can take your history degree and move into any one of thousands of career areas.
Sabrina Smith ’17 seeks alumna advice, opportunities, and experience during her internship at the Mount Holyoke College Joseph Allen Skinner Museum.
Naomi Rodri '15: like historians, theatrical professionals constantly question what a play means and how it can be understood in its historical context.
Mengjia Wan '14: during my study abroad in Tokyo, I listened to Japanese people's views on Japan's society, culture and foreign relations.
Erica Berman ’05: In the theater department, I explored my artistry, gained confidence in my storytelling abilities and expanded my artistic world view.
Kelsey Shramma '12 is a third year graduate student, recently published in Nature Chemistry
Mount Holyoke Alumnae Make Meaningful Contributions Behind the Scenes: Melissa Holmes ’90
Sarah Hastings ’15 is turning her passion into purpose, and she's doing it by building an ‘environmentally-conscious’ 190-square-foot dwelling.
Nelia W. Dunbar ’83: My professor's curiosity, love of fieldwork, and self-confidence gave me the enthusiasm to go on really exciting adventures.
Ashley Kosa ’15: my chemistry background was integral to my internship in art conservation and restoration.
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.
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
Dr. Ashfia Huq '96: Making lithium ion and other batteries better using neutron scattering.
Alexis Holliday ’16: I connected with the communities I was serving by communicating with lawyers, immigration officials, and youth in their own languages.
Crystal Nguyen ’05: the people I met at MHC including my advisor have been supportive and helped me at every step of my career.
Ye Li '11: one of my proudest achievements during my undergraduate journey is my thesis in Spanish.
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.
Stacey Owens '06: After creating my own major, I could not stop creating, and still do in my career as a TV Producer.
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.
Mount Holyoke’s new master’s in teacher leadership program seeks to change education from within.
Emily Wells ’15 discovered a “treasure chest” of knowledge about early American life after winning the envied Historic Deerfield Summer Fellowship.
Alaine Johnson '10: To immerse myself in another language, culture, and in literature that was socially and politically significant was truly powerful.
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.
Yarrow Axford ’97: My undergrad research at Mount Holyoke College sparked a career in climate science.
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.
Rose Wellman '05: The best classrooms center on collaboration, exchange, and diversity of thought and experience. This was something I learned at MHC.
Tracey Gilrein Kry '04: work, before graduate school- whether in library science or anything else, to make sure the fit is right for you.
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.
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.
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.
Hilary Pollan '12: My Nexus Global/Local Experiences helped me the most in collaborating with diverse groups to improve community health.
Monica Chelliah ‘14 talks about her job as a Web Programming Assistant.
Merita Salihu '15: The cultural component of my studies allowed me to understand people beyond just having the language skills to communicate with them.
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.
Marta Checko '14: Through my year abroad, I developed the language capacity to research German/Polish relations since WWII and defend an honors thesis.
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.
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.
Jennifer Trehey O'Malley '89: I found surgery was not my life's work, but this thing called research I ended up loving.
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.”
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
Lyndsey Ingram ’2001: my internship was the most meaningful and significant thing that happened at the start of my career.
Michelle ‘Misha’ Oraa Ali ’17: My thesis looked at neural signatures in auditory imagery by using poetry, specifically limericks.
Kameliya Atanasova '08: My arabic skills, writing experience in Cairo, and digital media training in the Five Colleges prepared my graduate foundation.
Nondie Hemphill '10: MHC instilled within me the courage to follow my interests and unapologetically enter into the burgeoning field of Space Law.
Fay Gartenberg ‘11: mentorship helped me resolve a conflict between a financially secure career choice and exploring my artistic practice and identity.
Osato Iyore Ayanru ’05: on my Fulbright in Ghana, I studied medicinal plants that traditional healers prescribed to to HIV + patients.
Natercia Rodrigues '06: it has been a priority to learn within the context of a supportive community that values mentorship.
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.
Luong Nguyen ’12: I learned to conduct independent research, program algorithms, and present my ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Sarah Kate Gillespie '94: I love my work and can't imagine doing anything else.
Janet Buhlmann '89: at Pfizer, I work with academic partners helping to translate their discoveries at the bench into novel therapeutics.
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.
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.
Natascha Martens (Nen) '05: through speaking multiple languages I started my professional career in academia and quickly moved to other fields.
Judith Oliver '69 describes her journey as a graduate student and now professor specializing in Art History.
Clare Schweitzer '12: as a double major in dance and mathematics, I found that many threads ran through my two fields of study.
Tiffany A. Goulet '97: I have taught grades 7-12 in MA, CT, Washington DC, Bangladesh, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and China.
Shelly T Hsiao '10: I love practicing medicine and feel confident in my skills because of the solid science education and chemistry research experiences.
Yanni Lai ’14: I found the psychology professors always ready to help students and their valuable guidance continues to inspire me after graduation.
Sonia Mistry '03: Today, I know exactly who made my clothes, and every day I support these workers in exercising their fundamental rights.
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.
Christina Elder ’18 began with a study abroad experience in New Zealand and then returned to that country for an internship studying addiction science.
Rachel Soraruf Medley ’02: Go outside your comfort zone — even rejections can be opportunities in disguise
Iman Abubaker '14: I was introduced to the field of environmental governance and policy and made important connections.
Jude Harzer’s ’87: her paintings explore the familial relationships that shape children.
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.
Ariel Hayat ’15: my passion for music, storytelling, and authentic connection has continued to be a grounding point in my life following graduation.
Christiana Axelsen '03: I was encouraged and challenged to pursue those things that I am truly passionate about with rigor and discipline.
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.
Varsha V Manoj '16: I compiled my internship interviews with women and children participating in SEEDS Model Village program into a short film.
Markeisha Miner '99: At Mount Holyoke, "I learned to speak with the courage of my convictions without drowning others out."
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.
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.
Nora Bond ’14: my study of psychology helped me discover that understanding that people are people, first, is the key to better work.
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