alum feature – Career Development Blog

September 9, 2026

Meet Alum Sean Sova ’22, Performing Arts Teacher at Cheverus High School

Name: Sean Sova

Class Year: 2022

Title: Performing Arts Teacher

Organization: Cheverus High School

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

As the Performing Arts Teacher I instruct students in classes such as Theater and Public Speaking, and I direct the shows after school, including an annual musical and one-act play.

2. 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?

When I was applying to JVC, Cheverus was one of my potential placements, but I ended up being placed down in Nashville. I had always thought of a career in education, but working in that field during my JV year really solidified that this was the career path I wanted to go down. As my year of service was ending, I knew I wanted to go back to New England and I saw that Cheverus was hiring for their Admissions department. I had done a lot of work in Admissions at Holy Cross, so I ended up applying and getting the job. Within my first year working there, I was asked to take over the afterschool Drama program, which I happily accepted. As a Theater major, I always thought about a career in the arts, but never thought about combining arts and education until this opportunity was presented to me. Eventually, I made the choice to leave my position in Admissions, but thankfully I was able to stay on part-time and still direct after school, which I did for two years, while working during the school day as an Ed Tech at a local elementary school. Starting this fall, I will be back full time at Cheverus as their Performing Arts teacher, as they are offering theater classes for the first time!

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

At Holy Cross I was involved with Gateways Orientation, Admissions (Tour Guide and Senior Admissions Fellow), Department of Theatre, Alternate College Theatre, and Spring Break Immersion Program.

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

I double majored in Theatre and Architectural Studies. I knew post-grad that I wanted to do a year with JVC and then after that I thought I would go into a career in arts administration. My JV year inspired me and showed me that a career in education is where I could thrive, and I am so grateful to have a career now where I can use both my interests in the arts and education, where I can inspire new students and help them unlock self-discovery through the lens of theater.

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

When applying to Holy Cross, cura personalis really stood out to me. I wanted to go to a school where people would know me as me, not just as a number. Throughout my time there, I am so grateful for all the connections I made and to the faculty and staff members that got to know me. Working as an educator at a Jesuit school myself now, I try to bring cura personalis into everything I do as well. Not only do I want to teach my students, but I want to inspire them and be a person they can come to for all things.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

It is totally okay to have multiple interests and not know what you want to do! When I entered Holy Cross, I thought I was going to be a math major and I did not plan on doing any theater. I thought I had a plan, but instead I decided to take classes that sparked my interest, rather than leading necessarily towards a career goal. It can be so scary to feel like you’re the only person without a plan, but more people are in that boat than you even recognize. A Holy Cross degree and the connections that you make are truly a stepping stone to help unlock more doors in your future, even if they may not be the doors you expected to open. If you told 18 year me that I would be doing these things now, I would never believe it, but my time at Holy Cross helped lay the foundation for it all.

September 9, 2026

Meet Alum Aidan Fahey ’25, Associate Full Stack Engineer I at Origami Risk

Name: Aidan Fahey

Class Year: 2025

Title: Associate Full Stack Engineer I

Organization: Origami Risk

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I write code to engineer a full-stack cloud-native AI SaaS application by writing code end to end to give businesses a single platform for integrated risk management.

2. 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 volunteer at a program called Web Surfing Studios, and the person running it is a Solution Architect at Origami Risk. After volunteering for around 8 months, he referred me to an open position, which lead to me getting hired. I planned on using my experience at Web Surfing Studios to build my resume and portfolio, but the referral was not something I saw coming.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Sons of Pitches, Club Men’s Volleyball, American Statistical Association HC Student Chapter, Intramural Soccer

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

Computer Science and Religious Studies. Picking Computer Science enabled me to choose a career in tech, specifically Software Engineering, which was always what I wanted to do.

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

Logic/problem solving

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Having passion towards what you are trying to accomplish with your career will make it much more fulfilling. The tech job market is daunting, and had I not been so committed to becoming a Software Engineer, I would not have been willing to try to break in. Aside from your coursework, do your due diligence and try to make things, write things, read things, anything that will give you an insight as to whether or not you truly want to study what you’re studying and whether or not you truly want a job in the field you’re targeting.

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

AI is constantly changing the Software Engineer experience. I think that, when used from someone who understands programming well at a fundamental level, AI is a great enabler, and much of my field will shift from having your head down and writing code to reviewing AI written output. What this means, however, is that you truly need to understand what you’re looking at, or else you risk diminishing your own skills and harming the business you work for.

September 9, 2026September 9, 2026

Meet Alumna Emily Primavera ’23, Registered Nurse at UMass Memorial Medical Center

Name: Emily Primavera

Class Year: 2023

Title: Registered Nurse

Organization: UMass Memorial Medical Center (Marlboro Campus)

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Caring for multiple acutely ill patients from admission to the discharge process.

2. 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?

After Holy Cross, I immediately entered an accelerated master’s program for nursing and earned my MSN,RN at Johns Hopkins University. My weekly meetings with Cameron Smith in the Career Center and events held by the Pre-Nurse Practitioner Club were very helpful in the application process for school. After passing my nursing licensure exam, I attended nurse hiring events for different hospitals in the greater Boston area and connected with both Holy Cross and Hopkins alumni who were nurses at hospitals I was interested in to learn more. Ultimately I decided the Medical-Surgical floor at UMass Marlboro was a good fit for me because it allowed me to continue growing the foundational skills I had learned in school and offered within a nurse residency program and offered room to grow within the UMass system and explore multiple different nursing specialties!

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

I was the co-chair of both Dance Marathon and the Nurse Practitioner Club, I worked on campus at the Jo, a peer mentor, and I was a tour guide!

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

I majored in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy and a GSWS concentration on a pre-nursing track. Taking both humanity and science courses allowed me to understand the ways in which social factors could impact an individual’s health or access to healthcare, which led me to want to work in a smaller community hospital that doesn’t have as many resources as the larger city campuses.

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

Time management is something I use every shift, knowing how to prioritize different tasks and how to efficiently but also effectively provide patient-centered care. I don’t know if this is considered a skill, but also the importance of prioritizing mental health is something I learned at Holy Cross. I can’t provide the best possible care for my patients if I am burnt out and knowing how to care for myself on days I’m not working or knowing when to get help during shifts is super important.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Take advantage of all of the resources on campus! Try new things and activities, take classes that may be a little out of your comfort zone if they sound interesting, and definitely utilize the Career Center (seriously cannot thank Cameron enough for all of his support and help throughout the years)!!

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

PLEASE do not use AI to cheat through nursing school because in your career there will be instances when patients are critically ill and knowing what to do or recognizing a decline in status can save someone’s life.

April 13, 2026

Meet Alumna Ines de la Fuente ’25, Deals Associate at PwC

Name: Ines de la Fuente

Class Year: 2025

Title: Deals Associate

Organization: PwC

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

I help companies maximize value from business deals by analyzing the companies being bought or sold, preparing for deal close, and supporting how businesses are integrated or separated post transaction.

2. 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?

A mix of planned and unplanned experiences led me to PwC. Being involved in business clubs at Holy Cross, including Women in Business and the Finance Club, exposed me to consulting and encouraged me to network with alumni to learn more. I became particularly interested in consulting because of its people-oriented nature and the variety of work across different projects and industries. PwC’s sophomore summer internship program, Start, gave me the opportunity to explore that interest early on. Through that experience, I gained exposure to its collaborative environment and range of work, which showed me how quickly you’re exposed to different business challenges and how no two projects are the same, constantly providing new opportunities to learn.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Office of Admissions Tour Guide, Student Program for Urban Development (SPUD), Finance Club, Women in Business, Spring Break Immersion Program (SBIP)

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

I majored in Economics, which helped me understand decision-making around how resources are allocated to meet different needs and how those decisions impact interactions between businesses, governments, and individuals. I learned that behind every decision or plan, there are trade-offs, competing priorities, and real impacts on people. I wanted to be closer to that process and support decision-making in practice, and I saw that reflected in the advisory work in consulting.

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

One key skill I developed at Holy Cross was a strong appreciation for teamwork and community. The environment really emphasized building relationships and working closely with others, which translates directly to consulting since it’s such a people-driven business. Another skill I developed was adaptability which has helped me quickly adjust to teams, business needs, and industries.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

My advice would be to focus on developing your soft skills, especially how you listen to and learn from others and how you build genuine relationships. Be kind, be curious, be engaged, and be someone people can rely on. The technical skills will come with time and are important, but your ability to connect and contribute to a team or a client is what really sets you apart.

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

AI has had significant impact on consulting by making it easier to analyze large amounts of data, generate insights more quickly, and automate routine or repetitive tasks.

April 7, 2026

Meet Alumna Bridget Murphy ’86, Principal at Graham-Pelton

Name: Bridget Murphy

Class Year: 1986

Title: Principal

Organization: Graham-Pelton

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

As part of a team, I provide fundraising consulting services to nonprofit organizations in each sector including healthcare, higher education, independent schools, faith based and social/global impact.

2. 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?

My experience as a Jesuit Volunteer at a Food Bank in California exposed me to the work of their Director of Development. I was inspired by her work and had a “light bulb” moment to pursue a career in professional fundraising. It has provided me with the perfect combination of servant leadership, giving back, helping others and using my communication skills all in one.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Campus Newspaper, Financial Aid jobs on campus including the Dining Hall, the Art Department and the Cantor Art Gallery, Volunteering off campus at a nursing home.

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

I was an English Major. I definitely wanted to utilize my writing and communication skills in a way that would help others in need.

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

Writing and Speaking Up.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

I imagine it’s still hard and daunting to try to pick a career path so early that will be fulfilling as well as provide you with the salary, leadership track trajectory, flexibility, ability to have impact and be creative. I know by following my desire to help others, serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corp opened my eyes to a sector I really had no knowledge of. Perhaps consider volunteering somewhere or doing an internship to see what the company culture is and if it is a fit before committing to taking a position. And, network like crazy using the Holy Cross Alumni, LinkedIn, friends, family, friends of family, etc. to ask for connections, introductions, advice and career guidance.

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

AI has made my industry more efficient and effective. Fundraising is relationship based and that will never change (even though there are Automated Engagement Officers now!). It has expedited our ability as professional fundraisers to be more creative, metrics driven, effective in identifying potential donors, stewarding, etc. It’s like the first FAX machine I ever saw – mind blowing and able to make me more effective in doing my job.

April 7, 2026

Meet Alumna Nikki Rutman ’96, Founder & Chief Intelligence Officer at Duck Cove Consultants

Name: Nikki Rutman

Class Year: 1996

Title/Organization: Sentinel, Managing Partner for Intelligence & Investigations; Duck Cove Consultants, Founder & Chief Intelligence Officer

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Leading the intelligence team at a security consulting firm.

2. 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 a biology major at HC which is not at all relevant to what I do now. I did internships to find my way to my former career in government intelligence which helped me transition to this role in the private sector.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Choir, radio

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

Biology pre-med; neither applies to my career path but the critical thinking skills I developed learning the scientific methoda and the exposure to a liberal arts education showed me the world was my oyster!

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

Critical Thinking is key! Solid research skills and preparing and planning would be the others.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Reduce the time on social media and live! Academically, intern early and often!

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

AI can’t think critically (not yet and hopefully never) – humans must be in the loop so be the human in the loop that let’s AI help you clear your plate so you can think critically and strategically. Let AI handle the mundane tasks that it can’t hallucinate on. Don’t become a prompt monkey and be mindful of cognitive offloading.

April 7, 2026

Meet Alumna Makayla Doherty ’25, Senior Benefits Coordinator at NFP an Aon Company

Name: Makayla Doherty

Class Year: 2025

Title: Senior Benefits Coordinator

Organization Name: NFP an Aon Company

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Consulting internationally headquartered companies with U.S. offices on employee benefits, working with carriers to secure plans that meet client needs.

2. 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 knew I wanted a people-facing role such as HR but wasn’t sure exactly what path to take. A family friend and Holy Cross alum introduced me to the benefits field and connected me with others in the industry. Through those conversations, I realized it was the path I wanted to pursue and he suggested I apply to NFP. Since starting at Holy Cross, I’ve always wanted to do work that helps people and makes a positive impact on their lives. Benefits play a critical role in supporting employees and their families, and being able to contribute—even in a small way—to providing those resources is incredibly rewarding.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Women’s Club Ice Hockey, Business Certificate Program, Campus Rec Employee, and in SPUD

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

I was a psychology major and have always been interested in understanding how people think and act. Up until my senior year, I thought I wanted to go to grad school to become a psychologist, but I was also drawn to the corporate world. Consulting felt like a great fit because I enjoy helping people and my classes at Holy Cross gave me valuable insight into why people behave the way they do. In my role, I work closely with my account team on various projects while building strong relationships with carriers and clients.

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

Holy Cross’s tight-knit community taught me the importance of collaboration and how to work effectively with others. Whether in classes or extracurriculars, I was constantly working with people and learning how they operate. Collaboration is central to my job—whether with coworkers, clients, or carriers—and understanding how each works helps me support them effectively.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

My biggest advice is to take advantage of every opportunity, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet.

7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?

The people I’ve spoken with about AI feel job security remains strong—everyone needs insurance, and many aspects still benefit from human explanation. Right now, we’re exploring ways AI can make our work easier, like drafting emails or cleaning up meeting notes. For someone entering the workforce, it’s a great time to learn about AI, understand how it applies to your industry, and seek trainings that help you stand out, even though the field is still evolving.

April 7, 2026

Meet Alum Demetrius Wilson ’18, Independent Fine Artist

Name: Demetrius Wilson

Class Year: 2018

Title: Independent Fine Artist

Organization Name: Demetrius Wilson Studio

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Painter in the Fine Art World

2. 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?

Just before Covid hit I managed to get into the Boston Art scene. Covid showed me I wanted way more so I decided to move to NY and pursue a MFA.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

MPE, BSU, Fashion Club

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

Fine Art — it allowed me to work relentlessly towards my goal of being an established fine artist

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

Strengthened my ability to not just talk but communicate effectively with my words.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Pursue your goals but develop structure so that you aren’t banking on hopes with no foundation.

March 11, 2026

Meet Alumna Danibel Caceres ’20, Academic & Career Advisor at Fitchburg State University

Name: Danibel Caceres

Class Year: 2020

Title: Academic and Career Advisor

Organization Name: Fitchburg State University

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

Career advising for all students and academic advising for pre-major students until they declare their major.

2. 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 worked as a Peer Career Assistant at the Center for Career Development. I really enjoyed my position and worked there for about 3-4 semesters.

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Just my work study position as a PCA.

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

I majored in Psychology with the intention of getting masters in counseling and obtaining a LMHC. After working in the social work field for a 1.5 years and doing therapeutic family sessions, I realized it may not be for me. I decided to use my skills and experiences to apply for a position in higher education.

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

How to market myself via resumes, cover letters and in interview settings.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

It’s never to early to start going to the Center for Career Development. You should familiarize yourself with the office and utilize ever resource they have to offer from resume and cover letter reviews to mock interviews and alumni shadowing.

March 9, 2026

Meet Alumna Shane Bridges ’25, Consulting Analyst at Kraft Analytics Group

Name: Shane Bridges

Class Year: 2025

Title: Consulting Analyst

Organization Name: Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR)

1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?

KAGR provides data-driven recommendations to inform pricing and marketing strategies for sports and entertainment companies. Some of my responsibilities include data analysis, industry research, and notetaking / presenting work in meetings with clients.

2. 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 am lucky to have had opportunities to work with Campus Rec for three years as well as the Worcester Red Sox through the Academic Internship Program (AIP) as a Business Analytics intern. Both of these experiences, with their fun and energetic work environments, fostered my interest in the sports industry. I didn’t know what type of work I wanted to do after college, but really enjoyed the multidisciplinary course work at Holy Cross. Consulting seemed like the perfect balance for me of quantitative and qualitative work, and I’m still benefitting from doing a little bit of both!

3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?

Dance Ensemble, Club Swim, and the Office of Campus Recreation.

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

Mathematics, with minors in Statistics and Education; I’ve always been passionate both about math and helping others understand the subject, but wasn’t dead set on one over the other. I’d spent years analyzing “clear cut” quantitative data, but it wasn’t until my senior year at Holy Cross that I was introduced to qualitative research through my Education minor capstone. That class opened my eyes to a completely different approach to data analysis that I hadn’t fully understood previously. In my work now I have already analyzed both quantitative survey data and expert interviews, so having a well-rounded skill set to pivot between research types has been helpful.

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

Active listening and oral presentation skills.

6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?

Two things:

Take as many different types of classes as you can; I especially recommend dance and acting classes where you can put yourself out there and add more movement into your school week! You may discover a new interest (or several!) and can learn a lot about yourself and what you’re capable of.

Don’t stress too much about the job search process (if that’s even possible). There were many times where I felt behind as more of my peers secured post-grad plans, but now I’m almost six months into a job I look forward to going to every day! You will find something that’s right for you in due time.