Tag: Career Community: Science

Name: Sarah Rocha 

Class Year: 2024 

Title: Medical Assistant 

Organization Name: Boston Bone and Joint Institute 

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

As a medical assistant in an orthopedic office, I assist with rooming patients, help providers with injections, fit durable medical equipment (DME), and perform suture removals. 

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 graduating from Holy Cross, I planned to take two gap years before medical school to gain more clinical experience, and I wanted to find a place that would not only give me hands-on experience but also encourage growth in my knowledge of patient care and the medical field. Since orthopedic surgery is a specialty that interests me, BBJI stood out as the perfect fit. One of the biggest reasons I chose BBJI was because of Suzanne Miller, one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country. As a female aspiring to work in a heavily male-dominated field like orthopedics, having the chance to work alongside a successful female surgeon was an incredible opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. 

Another reason BBJI appealed to me was the unique dynamic among the medical assistants. Unlike most practices, where MAs often pursue it as a long-term profession, at BBJI, all the MAs have similar goals, whether it’s to become an MD, PA, or PT. Being surrounded by like-minded people who are all working toward careers in healthcare was really important to me. On top of that, the concept of rotations with different providers fosters continuous learning. Every provider has their own style, and working with each one offers new insights, whether it’s how they like injections or how they prefer their patients to be roomed. The providers are also eager to teach as long as you show interest, which creates an environment focused on learning—something I always look for.

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

I was involved in SPUD (Student Programs for Urban Development), where I volunteered as a Portuguese translator at a free healthcare clinic in Worcester. I was also a member of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Science Ambassadors, XChrom, and Best Buddies. 

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

I was a biology major, and my interest in the sciences solidified my plans to pursue a career in healthcare and eventually go to medical school. Studying biology gave me a strong foundation in understanding the human body, which directly aligns with my passion for patient care and my long-term goal of becoming a physician. The major also helped me develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that I now apply in my current role as a medical assistant. 

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

One of the most valuable skills I developed at Holy Cross was learning how to stay calm when facing something new and unfamiliar, which I gained during my organic chemistry class. Rather than panicking, I learned to trust that I had the tools to figure out a solution. I use this skill all the time now as a medical assistant at BBJI, where I’m constantly faced with new situations and learning opportunities. Even if I haven’t seen a specific situation before, I know I can handle it, whether by checking my Google Drive for information or asking someone with more experience. I always feel confident that the problem can be solved. 

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

My biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid of failure or making mistakes. When things don’t go as planned, you have two options: 1) you can panic, which might lead to a downward spiral and affect your future performance, or 2) you can reflect on what went wrong, use it as a learning opportunity to address a weakness, and then move forward with the motivation to improve. If you’re making mistakes, it means you’re learning, and that’s the most important part.

Name: Shauna Conway (maiden name Crehan)

Class Year: 2004

Title: Founder & Executive Leader

Organization Name: Strategic Growth and Innovation (SG+I)

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

I lead an advisory strategy firm that partners with organizations to navigate the complexities of digital innovation, data management, AI strategy, and cybersecurity—driving sustainable growth, mitigating risk, and achieving transformative business outcomes.

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 journey into technology and strategy was both intentional and serendipitous. During the summers in high school and my first two years of college, I worked at law firms and the Concord District Court, where I developed a strong foundation in analytical thinking and understanding complex systems. My junior year, a friend across the hall in Mulledy introduced me to an opportunity at Thomson Reuters, where I was exposed to the world of technology and data, sparking my interest in how information could drive business decisions. In my senior year, I attended a career fair and met representatives from FactSet. I was intrigued by their consulting training program, which required quick learning, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate complex solutions effectively. I joined FactSet after graduation, where the analytical rigor and client-facing nature of the role aligned with my strengths and passion for problem-solving. Throughout my career, I’ve found that roles are a good fit when they inspire learning, offer opportunities to add value, and present challenges that drive growth. This mindset has guided my journey, ultimately leading me to pursue leadership positions where I could shape strategy and drive innovation.

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

While at Holy Cross, I focused on building strong community ties. In Student Government and as a Student Affairs Judicial Liaison, I played a key role in making the campus smoke-free, promoting health, and fostering good community membership. I also contributed to constructing the first on-campus student apartments, aligning closely with my work on the ‘Civitas Branching’ Mosaic—a collaboration with Worcester residents to create a lasting symbol of partnership and connection. This experience fostered cultural understanding, teamwork, and civic engagement, which are integral to my professional life today. During my senior year, we also formed the Off Campus Student Union (OCSU), creating connections between Holy Cross students, City Hall, local police, and the community. Though my time with Mock Trial was brief, it still provided invaluable experience in teamwork, quick thinking, and communication—skills that I continue to leverage.

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

I majored in Economics, which provided a critical framework for understanding market forces, decision-making, and problem-solving. The rigorous education in economic theory and data analysis, paired with a liberal arts approach to learning, shaped my ability to assess problems from multiple perspectives. This adaptability and strategic thinking have been crucial in how I approach technology investments and business growth throughout my career.

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

Holy Cross honed my analytical thinking and collaboration—skills essential to my role today as I work closely with clients to craft strategies and drive change. Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and early work experiences also taught me resilience and a strong work ethic, both vital for leadership in a constantly evolving tech landscape.

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

Be bold—take risks, and don’t fear failure; every mistake is an opportunity to learn. Let your values guide you, making an impact in line with Holy Cross’s mission of leadership and service. And go after what excites and challenges you—true growth happens when you step into the unknown.

Name: Sarah Boehm

Class Year: 2011

Title: Associate Director for Education and Outreach

Organization Name: Center for Nanoscale Science, Pennsylvania State University

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

I manage the educational and professional development portfolio for a large materials research grant that consists of roughly 20 faculty and 35 graduate students and postdocs.

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?  

With both the encouragement of Holy Cross faculty and the knowledge of career opportunities that a higher degree would afford me, I decided to pursue a doctorate degree in Chemistry. In graduate school, I attended the American Chemical Association’s Leadership Development Institute where I met a future colleague at BASF who introduced me to the company and their Leadership Development Program for new PhD scientists. This connection helped me to gain acceptance to the rigorous program that consisted of three 8-month rotations across the US in various roles. One of my rotations involved technology scouting and university collaboration development in Boston, where I learned about roles in academia for scientists outside of the lab. This experience ultimately reinforced the fact that I enjoy working in the academic setting and led me to seek out opportunities to utilize my skills beyond industry. Networking and relationship building led me from one position to the next, directing me to my current role where I find fulfillment mentoring students and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

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

Cheerleading, Chemistry research, Chemistry lab teaching assistant, Physics Workshop tutor, Physics grader

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

I was a chemistry major with a physics minor. As an undergraduate I was fairly certain that I wanted to work as a scientist and learned that obtaining a PhD would provide me with the career growth opportunities that I was interested in. I truly started to explore my options in graduate school where I learned about the varied roles PhD chemists play in industry, academia, policy, government, and beyond. Having a degree in chemistry expanded my options and allowed me to shift careers from industry to academia because I have the critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills necessary to be successful.

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

Holy Cross was a safe space for me to learn to ask for help. It’s not always comfortable and it takes confidence. In all my roles since graduating I have needed to gather resources and identify collaborators to build effective teams. I recognize that I need help in areas outside of my expertise and bring in people with varied and complementary skill sets to round out the team. Building confidence in my own abilities is also key to feeling comfortable acknowledging my limits and knowing when to ask for help.  

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

There are three main components in any job, internship, or graduate research lab – your boss, your work/project, and your coworkers. Before committing to any new endeavor, assess how you feel about each component. Will you be supported by your boss? Will you get along well with your coworkers? Will you enjoy the work? I suggest that you should feel positively about at least two of the three to be happy and successful in that role.

Name: Alberto Correia

Class Year: 1978

Title: Vice President of Technical Services

Organization Name: Proveris Scientific

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

My focus is customer support. The functions that report to me include:  marketing; field and in-house services and sales of specific product lines.

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

I was a chemistry major and one of our instruments broke down. I went to the vendor to obtain the part we needed and met an alumni who offered me an internship in the laboratory from there I worked my senior year and two weeks before I graduated I started a full time position.

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

The company was based on chemistry and had a customer focus that was unmatched.

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

Junior year I was working 3-4 nights in the laboratory at Waters. Senior year a spent every other week traveling across the USA lecturing for Waters. My professors were great as they allowed friends to tape the lectures and fed-ex them to the hotels I was staying at so I could keep up.

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

I was a  chemistry major and all of the positions I have held were related to knowledge of chemistry. 

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

The chemistry knowledge was critical, but as important was the life lessons that a Jesuit education instilled in me: loyalty; ethics; hard work.

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

Follow your passion. I am 65 years old and never worked a day in my life. I go to work to have fun and make an impact. No amount of money is worth following a path that you do not enjoy.

Name: Michael Pettinati

Class Year: 2013

Title: Data Scientist

Organization: Biofourmis

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

I develop algorithms using large datasets to improve upon and support patient health.

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

I went to graduate school for a PhD following holy cross. I attended Ga Tech. I spoke at length with my academic and research advisors (professors Royden and king) about this decision. I had the opportunity to visit these schools upon acceptance and interview with the professors I would be working with. It was these visits that cemented that I wanted to be at ga tech.

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

I was involved in the recruitment office my freshman year, and. I worked in food services my first year on campus. I provided tutoring through the computer science department when I was at holy cross. I was a TA and RA for the computer science department as well. I participated in research over the summers with Professor Royden. I was also a member of the honors college and did a senior thesis with professor Royden.

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

I was a double major in mathematics and computer science. My work at holy cross was the foundation for my graduate school work, which lead my first job in industry.

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

Holy cross gave me a solid foundation as a programmer, and I write scripts everyday at my job. Also, Holy Cross gave me my first experience doing research. I learned to approach problems from different angles. I understood how to ask questions that have value, learn what has been done to answer those questions and do the work to help answer those questions.

6. What advice do you have for students today?

Although it’s very cliche, I think it’s important to know that failures are only the end if you let them be. There is no single assignment, test, denial, etc. that prevents you from continuing to study and work on things that interest and excite you.

Name: Helen Tucceri

Class Year: 2015

Title: Senior Software Engineer

Organization: True Fit Corporation

Name: Joseph Wihbey

Class Year: 2016

Title: Mechanical Engineer

Organization: Sikorsky

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

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

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

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

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

6. What advice do you have for students today?

Name:  Dr. Kathleen D. Dejwakh

Class Year: 2009

Title: Computer Engineer, Data Management Team Lead, CERES Science Team

Organization:  NASA

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

I oversee the production of publicly available data products, generated from data collected by NASA and NOAA Earth observing satellites, that constitute a twenty-year and ongoing climate data record of Earth.

2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decided it was a good fit for you?
I suppose that you could say that this is my first “real” job since graduating from Holy Cross, since I was in graduate school and engaged in a brief post-doctoral opportunity for so long (2009-2017). When I think about it, each transition made sense, but it was mostly serendipity that got me here.

Attending a graduate school so close to a NASA center, (NASA Langley Research Center), was certainly lucky. As I found that I needed supplemental income, I planned on finding an internship type of opportunity, transitioning out of my graduate program in computer graphics. Since I wanted to expand my concept of the types of imagery I could work with, I applied for and obtained a position as a NASA DEVELOP participant, working with Earth observation data. Comparing this more academia-like experience to a previous industry internship that I’d had, I became certain that I wanted to work in a sector that had more direct benefit to humanity and the environment. So, I applied for a civil service position at NASA and was selected.

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

I participated in several clubs and activities while on campus: S.P.U.D., liturgical ministry (lector coordinator), Sailing Club, Bishop Healy Multicultural Club, and Math/C.S. Student Advisory Council.

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

I majored in Computer Science simply because I enjoyed the classes. I really didn’t have a career goal in mind, at the time. The part-logic, part-creativity involved in creating programs felt really satisfying. It just so happened that it is a hot market for software engineers out there.

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

First off, I would say that I employ mindfulness and empathy day-to-day. Practicing the motto and spiritual cultivation at Holy Cross strengthened in me the importance of being kind to myself and understanding of others, and the bigger picture. Secondly, I use those core Computer Science classes of algorithms, data structures, and programming. They’re the backbone of software engineering! What can I say.

6. What advice do you have for students today?

I think the best career for someone would be not just what they enjoy, but what they’re good at. To figure that out, you probably have to cast a wide net in school. Don’t be afraid to do that, change with time, cross things off of your list, and envision a career-path that may play to multiple strengths at once or in sequence. Sometimes…you even have to create a niche for yourself. There are no rules.