Posts

Posted on

Meet Alumna Asmani Adhav ’17, Clinical Research Coordinator at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Class year: 2017
Major: Biology (with concentration in GSWS) on the Pre-Medical track
Employer: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Position: Clinical Research Coordinator- Pediatric Oncology/Hematologic Malignancy

What does your job entail?

I’m currently coordinating 14 research protocols, each of which seeks to improve survival outcomes for children with cancer. Specifically, the protocols I work on are geared towards using various therapies and techniques to tackle several different types of leukemias. There are three parts to my position: clinical interaction, regulatory organization, and data entry. Clinical interaction includes processing patient consent documents, enrolling patients onto study, following their progress through the study, communicating required research assessments to patient clinical teams, and shipping samples. Regulatory organization involves making sure that all investigators on a protocol have proper training, addressing queries that are raised by study sponsors, and ensuring that proper record-keeping is maintained throughout the study. Data entry is how all of the relevant health information for a patient on a protocol is de-identified and relayed to the study sponsor.

What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?

I have only been working in this position for 3 months now, and have already learned an enormous amount of information and medical terminology that will help me with my career ambitions moving forward. The physicians I work with on a daily basis are not only experts in their fields, but approachable and willing to teach us as much as we want to learn from them.

How did your Holy Cross education affect your career decisions?

My Holy Cross education exceptionally prepared me for this position because it taught me how to learn quickly, organize large loads of work, and form meaningful connections with people- all skills that I now use daily.
Posted on

Meet Crusader Intern Laura Escolero ’19 at Generation Teach

Tell us about where you are interning and the kind of work you are doing.

I am interning at an academic program for middle school students located in Boston and I specifically teach health and fitness.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

Working at Generation Teach has made me realize all of the training and skill building teachers have to go through in order to be able to teach during the school year. It has definitely shown me that teaching may be one of the most difficult jobs and it is a job where you never stop growing and adjusting your teaching to better reach out to students.

How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?

This experience influenced my goal of working with children in an academic setting and has allowed me to realize what career path I want to follow.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

This internship had a lot of expectations and demanded long hours, which consisted of 9.5 hours daily and on some days of the week, programming was 12 hours long. My advice for Holy Cross students would be to expect to work long hours and have enough available time during the summer to devote to this internship.

 

Posted on

Meet Crusader Intern Alisha Collazo ’18

Sales Intern at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Tell us about where you are interning and the kind of work you are doing.

This summer I worked for Arthur J. Gallagher’s nine week sales-based internship program. Throughout the course of my internship I was able to travel from a week-long training in Chicago, to a client meeting in Manhattan. While stationed in Boston, I met with various carriers, shadowed on conference calls, and sat in on several presentations discussing all four divisions the company has to offer.

Give us an example of how you have applied your academic learnings to your internship?

A concept that was stressed to us during our internship was relationship-building and critical thinking, whether it be establishing a relationship with a prospective client or networking with fellow employees at our company. Through our courses and extracurricular activities, we were taught to be critical thinkers as well as “men and women for others.” Nonetheless, networking and relationship building were not difficult for me when beginning the program as I have already learned through our Jesuit education how to establish meaningful relationships with others. Throughout all of our courses, especially in my math courses, we are always told to “ask more,” while being pushed to think outside the box. This became a key asset to me in terms of critical and analytical thinking as I began to understand both the various plans our carriers offer and how to find the best plan at the best price for our clients.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

Definitely how hands-on my experience has been. For example, on my first client meeting I did not just shadow or take notes, but was given a speaking role at the presentation.

How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?

This experience greatly influenced my career goals. Throughout the program we have been given exposure to insurance, risk management services, and sales. Before beginning the program I had no idea what I wanted to do post-graduation; however, now I can say sales is definitely at the top of my list.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

Be a sponge and take everything in and definitely network. This is an opportunity to have a first-hand experience in a career you are considering or a chance to learn about a career you have never considered. Network with everyone! You never know who you are going to run into again or who may be able to help you in the future. We had an example of an intern who decided the job really wasn’t for her and wanted to pursue marketing. The following year, the company was establishing a marketing division and she was hired through the connections she maintained!

Posted on

Meet Alumna Samantha Moor, Associate Manager, Global Merchandising Outlet Handbags at Coach

Name: Samantha Moor

Class Year: 2015

Title: Associate Manager, Global Merchandising Outlet Handbags

Organization Name: Coach

In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Creating seasonal line assortments through a strategic and creative lens & collaborating closely with cross functional partners.

What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?  

I was always interested in fashion & the arts but I am also a very analytical and business orientated person so I wasn’t quite sure what industry I wanted to go into. While looking for internships for my rising senior year summer and talking to previous HC interns as well as alums in the industry, I applied to the Coach internship through the Holy Cross Summer Internship Program. I was studying abroad at the time so it felt harder being so disconnected to figure out my first step in my career path. Merchandising seemed like a good fit as the job is both creative and analytical and I was offered the Coach internship position. I had a great experience and worked with a great team. They asked me to come back and help during my Winter break and then offered me a full time position at the end of senior year.

What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was involved in several clubs such as Spud, Business Program, HC for a Cure. I also interned for O’Keefe Investment management, a financial planning firm started by an HC alum in Worcester, during my senior year.

What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I majored in Economics and minored in Art history. I think both of them combined is very applicable to merchandising – both business/strategic and creative. Economics especially is relatable to every industry so studying economics allowed me to explore other options before choosing fashion.

What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

Work ethic!

What advice do you have for students on campus today?

My advice for job/intern searching would be to do as much research as you can – both on the company and talking to people about their careers and experiences.  Holy Cross has an amazing network of alums and a great career service center so just take advantage of all the resources available! Other advice is work hard, stay positive, and make sure you’re doing something you’re passionate about!

Posted on

How Do I Get A Job Or Internship?

By Casey Rooney ’18

This question comes up often in the Center for Career Development by students in all class years. The trick is that there is no one path for every student to take in order to secure a job or internship. While each path is different, here are some guidelines to help you with your search!

  1. Networking. Having a strong network is one of the most important tools when searching for a position. You must build this network over time by attending alumni events, creating a LinkedIn profile, and engaging with employers. When the time comes leverage this network! 
  2. Search and Apply. Be on the lookout for internship and job deadlines throughout the semester! Use Crusader Connections as well as other search engines to find the position that is right for you. Come by Hogan 203 to get your resume and cover letter looked at before submitting! 
  3. Interview. If invited for an interview do your research! Know about the company and the individuals that will be interviewing you. Schedule a mock interview with Career Development to help prepare. 
  4. Thank you. Be sure to send a thank you note or email to anyone you met with within 24 hours of the interview! This important step can set you apart from the other candidates. 
  5. Negotiation. If offered the position be prepared to negotiate benefits and salary. Stop by the Career Development Center and talk to a counselor for guidance!
Posted on

My Alumni Job Shadowing Experience at Amazon Robotics

Full Name: Victor Sanchez
Class Year: 2020
Major: Mathematics
Shadowing Visit Site: Amazon Robotics

Describe your visit and what did you gain from the experience?

When I first arrived at Amazon Robotics, Chad (HC Alumni) brought me into his office and gave me an overview of his position at Amazon Robotics. Then we talked about how he made his way to the position he was in now (Senior Director IT). Afterwards, Chad gave me a full tour of the Amazon Robotics office and warehouse (where they actually build ALL of the robots, and do all the testing and everything). Then I followed a schedule Chad had set up for me, to meet people in all different positions at Amazon Robotics. So I was able to meet people in all kinds of fields, such as computer engineers, electrical engineers, cybersecurity, business analyst, IT, etc. Within these meetings I was able to get a sense of all of these different possible careers, and was able to discuss with them on how they got to their position today and what sort of things they do on a day to day basis in their career. From this experience, I was able to get a better sense of the workforce, better understand many possible career paths I would like to take, create relationships with people in many fields that I am interested that I can now refer to if I have any questions about the specific career. Additionally, it gave me motivation, because the work environment there seemed so enjoyable. And it reassured me that I do want to go into the fields of engineering, mathematics, or CS. Lastly it made me realize the many possible career paths I could take with my specific major (mathematics).

How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans/goal?

This experience was perfect for my future career plans because it solidified/reassured that I want to be a Mathematics major. It made me enjoy the field that I want to go into even more because actually seeing these robots in action was a surreal experience. I told myself “I 100% want to do something like this for the rest of my life.”

What is some helpful advice your alumni host shared with you?

My alumni told me that there are so many jobs out there that I could possibly do, to not limit myself because of my specific major. As well as to do what I want/enjoy because you have to remember you are going to be doing this for the rest of your life. So just think to yourself, do I see myself doing this for the rest of my life?

Why would you recommend the Alumni Job Shadowing Program to other students?

I truly recommend the AJSP to other students because it is really helpful. Doing the AJSP is a win-win situation because at the end of the visit you for sure know something, either you are interested in that field and would like to learn more about it. Or you will walk out of there and think I DO NOT want to do that for the rest of my life, and that’s one career off of your possible careers list. With that being said, it truly does help you decide what field you want to get in. Lastly, you are able to network with people in your potential field. So if you build and maintain a relationship with these people it can give you a reference to go to when you have a question about the field, and who knows, they might like you enough and help you get a job once you graduate!

Posted on

Meet Emily Zeno ’19 Intern at New York Sound & Motion Productions Inc.

Meet Emily Zeno ’19 Intern at New York Sound & Motion Productions Inc.

Tell us about where you are interning and the kind of work you are doing.

This summer, I have been interning at New York Sound & Motion Productions–a video production company located in Springfield, Massachusetts–which produces more than 500 video projects annually for clients from a variety of different industries. The company is responsible for many of the local commercials you see on TV in the area, and I have had the opportunity to both write commercials and assist in production on the days of the shoots for them. The main project that I have had the opportunity to work on is a documentary about stress and anxiety for a health industry client. From assisting in shooting the interviews, to taking notes on them, to forming the story arc of the documentary as a whole, and finally to sitting in in the editing room, I have been able to be a part of the production process of this documentary from start to finish. It is very gratifying to have the opportunity to see a project come together from its inception to its final state.

Give us an example of how you have applied your academic learnings to your internship?

Holy Cross has sharpened both my analysis and synthesis skills which proved to be very helpful when I was going through hours of interview footage and deciding what quotes and perspectives best contribute to the story of the documentary as a whole. These two skills were also crucial in choosing what order the clips should be presented in so that the final product flows as organically as possible, and my experience writing essays at Holy Cross has greatly helped me with this.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

I have been most surprised by the amount of responsibility that I have been given in producing the documentary. I have been able to work directly with the client as well as many of the people we have interviewed, and I have had the chance to contribute a lot of input on how the project should be structured. I have had much more hands on work than I could have ever expected, and it has been a really great and immersive learning experience.

How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?

In the future, I want to write for and produce television shows, and this internship experience has allowed me to see first-hand what the production process is like from start to finish. It has also taught me the importance of creating a story in all of the video projects that we produce, which directly connects to the storytelling that is done in TV.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

The advice I would give to other Holy Cross students who will be interning at some point during their college career would be: to always ask questions when you are unsure about something, and to never sit around and wait to be told what to do next after you’ve completed a task or assignment because taking initiative will help you stand out to employers.

Posted on

Meet CrusaderIntern Rebecca Stanton’18

Meet Rebecca Stanton’18 Research Assistant Intern at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse

Tell us about where you are interning and the kind of work you are doing.

My internship is held in New York City at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. My tasks mainly involve conducting extensive research and literature review for one of the organization’s on-going reports. This report is on early prevention programs and my job is to research and analyze the effectiveness of current programs and write overviews. These overviews will be analyzed and referenced in the report. Also, I am completing data entry for a report that will evaluate each state’s insurance coverage for substance use services. Additionally, I have been given the opportunity to write a blog post on opioid addiction and the elderly. Therefore, I have been researching the most recent data on this topic and its significance.

Give us an example of how you have applied your academic learnings to your internship?

As a psychology major, I have taken a substantial number of courses on mental health and courses that reference addiction. Therefore, I understand the majority of terms that are being used at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse and the organization’s mission statement. In my courses, psychology and others, I have conducted research and written research papers. At my internship, I have been using these writing and research skills that I have developed from my courses and help from my professors. For example, I have used my background knowledge of Psychology Statistics to evaluate studies and understand to what extent they are effective.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

The most surprising aspect of being an intern is how much responsibility I have been given. Before starting the internship, I expected that I would be writing and researching, but what I did not expect was the extent to which I felt part of a team. I frequently have meetings with my supervisors and research associates about the on-goings reports and find that my tasks are valued and appreciated.

How did this experience influence or connect to your future career plans / goals?

I plan to go into the healthcare sector, specifically as a Nurse Practitioner, and my experience thus far has reaffirmed my plans. What I have learned from my internship is the prevalence of addiction and the responsibility that healthcare professionals share in tackling this problem. From the extensive research I have done, I now have a better understanding of what influence I could potentially have in minimizing addiction.

Any internship advice to pass on to other Holy Cross students?

For students interested in an internship, the best advice I can give is to be open-minded. There are going to be things that you find to be exciting and intriguing and others that you find to be tedious. However, an internship is meant to be a learning experience and there is always something you can take away from it.

Posted on

Meet Edgar D. Rodríguez ’16, Legislative Correspondent/Aide to Congresswoman Norma J. Torres

Name: Edgar D. Rodríguez ’16
Title: Legislative Correspondent/Aide
Organization Name: United States House of Representatives; Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35)

In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I am responsible for managing the Congresswoman’s entire mail correspondence system between constituents and her office, as well as, using constituent input (among other avenues) to help advance her legislative agenda by proposing and drafting bill ideas.

What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross?

My original plan was to return to my hometown (Pomona, CA) and work in the community expanding access to healthcare, specifically for U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents. However, after participating in the Washington Semester program in the fall of 2016 and receiving a job offer, I decided to stay in D.C.

How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?

While I truly enjoyed my internship on the Hill—especially since I was interning for my representative—I still had plans to return to my community. It wasn’t until the Congresswoman asked me to join her on the campaign trail the week leading up to the general election that I began contemplating the idea of staying in D.C. after graduation. Driving the Congresswoman around to multiple campaign stops in California and Nevada and seeing first-hand the issues that she was advocating for and how it related to the work she was doing in D.C., made me realize the possibility of doing the same in Washington. Immediately after returning from California, the Congresswoman offered me the position to stay and help her accomplish the work she advocated for on the campaign trail.

Rarely do you find D.C. staff working for their home representatives. I saw the need to stay here and work for my home representative and advocate for my community because I am from there and I understand the local issues.

What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was involved quite extensively during my time at Holy Cross through the Student Government Association. I was the assistant to the SGA Director of Student Life my freshman year, a two-term Senator, and eventually Director of Diversity. Concurrently, I was also involved in the Pre-Business program, co-founded the RSO Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A. de Holy Cross) my sophomore year, took part of several service trips, was appointed to a couple of Presidential committees under the Office of Diversity, and founded the new center for students of color, among other things.

What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?

I came to Holy Cross seeking an Economics Accounting major. However after my first year, that quickly changed to Political Science. While my major did not directly affect my career decisions, I have greatly benefitted from its instruction in my current job.

What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?

The two greatest skills that I developed at Holy Cross are the same ones that I utilize today on a daily basis. The first is the ability to manage people. Aside from handling a legislative portfolio for the Congresswoman, I also have the wonderful opportunity to manage our internship program. Understanding the weakness and strengths of people and knowing how to utilize them to the benefit of an organization is something that took quite a bit of trial and error during my time at Holy Cross. The second skill is perhaps more common: the ability to multitask and take on different projects at the same time. For a very long time, I was the type of person that always took more than they could handle simply because I wanted to do it all. Learning to understand your capacity as a leader and how to effectively manage multiple projects early on has truly helped me balance my innate feeling of wanting to take on a lot and doing a good job at it.

What advice do you have for students on campus interested in the Communications / PR field?

I think students always fall short of pursuing their passions and, more often than not, pursue what makes them feel secure and not what challenges them. My advice for students is to try to escape the fear of judgement.

Pursue what makes you grow. There are passions out there that you may discover along the way, passions that you never knew you had. And that might not only impact your life in a positive way, but the lives of those around you as well.

Posted on

Meet Leyda Frias ’18 Intern at Part of the Solution (POTS)

Meet Leyda Frias ’18 Intern at Part of the Solution (POTS)

Tell us about where you are interning and the kind of work you are doing.

This past summer I was working at Part of the Solution (POTS), a non-profit in the Bronx, NY. At POTS, I worked with the legal clinic, where we prevented evictions. Some of my major assignments for the summer include, making six month and year follow up calls to recipients of an emergency fund, aid in the preparation for fair hearings and eventually I was even able to complete my own intake for new incoming clients. I was also fortunate to shadow lawyers and legal advocates in housing court and administrative court.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

My favorite part was directly interacting with clients, whether it was during intakes or just simply helping them write a letter to their landlord. It was rewarding to see that I was making at least a small difference in their lives.

What has surprised you about being an intern?

I realized that too many people in these communities do not know how to properly read their leases, which hinders them from knowing all their rights and what a landlord can and cannot do.

College of the Holy Cross
1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610
© 2025 College of the Holy Cross All Rights Reserved.

YouTube Instagram LinkedIn