Congratulations, Grads: A Commencement Collection
Commencement time is approaching for the class of 2024, and with it comes a lot of complex feelings— Elation you’ve achieved something great! Relief your classes are over! Panic about what comes next!?
To help ease your mind and let you know a smooth graduation is definitely doable, we’ve assembled Pulse@ChathamU stories from the past few years on everything Commencement, from traditions and exit interviews with seniors past to recent alumni profiles (to help show you post-graduation success is right around the corner). Read on, and best of luck to all our graduates!
Traditions and “So long, Seniors” Interviews
Read up on beloved Chatham traditions like Capstone projects and Lavender & Multicultural Graduation, or peruse the advice left for us by exiting seniors in recent years.
Everyone knows about caps and gowns, but why do graduates wear them? It’s a tradition going back to Medieval times.
No two capstone projects are the same—that’s part of what makes them such a crucial part of the Chatham curriculum. If you’re looking to learn more about this semester-long senior project, check out our attempt to de-mystify the capstone and unpack its advantages.
Held in addition to the campus-wide commencement ceremonies, Multicultural and Lavender Graduations seek to provide a safe space to celebrate students of color, international students, and students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We sat down with Juan Mendizabal, associate director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and head of this year’s program to learn more about this unique Chatham tradition and the importance of celebrating our students.
In this one-of-a-kind student profile, we turn the lens on our resident student-profiler and senior Communications major, Abbi Kneuss. Click the link to learn more about Abbi’s creative philosophies, Chatham adventures, and future goals.
Feeling overwhelmed as the end of the semester draws near? Check out five things Abigail Kneuss ‘22 has learned to remind herself of from a college career full of sudden changes to virtual settings, endless research essays, and countless cups of coffee.
As the spring semester comes to a close and we prepare to send our 2021 graduates out into the world, we caught up with three seniors to celebrate their time at Chatham and see what’s next for them.
Recent Graduates
Because if they can do it, so can you! Gain inspiration from our “Recent Grad 101” series and other interviews with freshly graduated alumni.
Alyssa McCormick ’22 spent a summer studying centuries-old poison ivy plants at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
We chat with Nasir Alexander ’19, MSAT ’21, who’s not only an accomplished athletic trainer but also a member of Chatham’s inaugural all-gender undergraduate class.
After earning her Master of Biomedical Studies at Chatham, Rachel Estadt is now returning to complete her Master of Physician Assistant Studies.
Join Kerrie O’Donnell, Doctor of Physical Therapy ’17, as she tours across the country as a traveling physical therapist for musical cast members.
2019 alumna Delaney Gordon now spends her days coming up with social media strategy for National Geographic! We caught up with Delaney to learn more about how she landed such a cool first job and how her time at Chatham helped inform her career path.
Recent Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy graduate, Jessica Listhaus is using her capstone work—and that of her peers—to influence her ongoing occupational therapy work at the New York City Department of Education and in her own private practice.
From California to Pennsylvania, Melany Arriola has found a number of ways to utilize her Bachelors of Science in Sustainability. Through her search for interdisciplinary degrees in Sustainability, she found Chatham’s program and discusses the highlights of her time here.
Before heading to medical school, Sabina Spinger (MSBIO ‘18) wanted to take some time to better prepare herself. Thats how she found Chatham after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016. Learn more about how Sabina found a tight knit community when she needed it the most.
After working as a vet technician and furthering her love for animals, Alysha Slater decided to pursue a Master of Science in Biology to give her a foundation of research to later pursue a PhD in Ecology. Alysha tells us how Chatham faculty gave her the confidence and connections she needed, and how she fell in love with life at Eden Hall.
From the start of her Masters of Sustainability program, Jen Sabol has been immersed in forest ecology research. Recently, that research helped her win first place in the Oral Presentation category at the Student Symposium on the Environment at Westminster College. We caught up with Jen to learn more about her work, her post-graduate plans, and her hopes for the field of sustainability.
In our latest Recent Grad 101, interior architect and Chatham alumna, Laura Conner gives us a look into her day-to-day life as a lead designer at an architecture firm in North Carolina. Click to read about the impact of Chatham’s interior architecture program on Laura’s career and her advice for students looking to chart their own unique path.
Carolyn Skowron graduated from Chatham in 2020 just after she survived a traumatic car accident. As a result, she wrote and published her first book, Unbreakable, where she explores her own mental health struggles, how she combats them, and how she hopes to shatter the stigmas around mental health.
Double alumna and recent graduate Cat Giles ‘15, MSUS ‘17 recently founded her very own sustainable candle company: Forgotten Glass. We caught up with Cat to learn more about her sustainable candle-making strategies, her entrepreneurial work with the CWE, and her recommendations for making your career dreams come true.
In our latest Recent Grad 101 piece, we chat with Chatham alum, Maya Carey ‘18, who managed to procure employment in their field of study prior to graduation. Click to learn more about Maya’s work in the field of gender-based violence prevention and their tips for staying healthy and productive in college.
The time immediately following your college graduation can be scary and intimidating, but recent Chatham graduates are successfully kicking off their careers left and right. In our new Recent Grad 101 series, you’ll meet recent Chatham graduates who are taking the next step towards their dreams. First up, Jordyn Gilliard!
On the Job
Though career development starts on day one at Chatham, we figured some extra advice around searching for, landing, and evaluating your first gig after graduation couldn’t hurt!
Whether you’re dusting off a resumé you haven’t opened in years or scrambling to find an internship, there are some things students might not know how to do on their own. That’s where the Office of Career Development can help.
Students can get their headshots taken on Dec. 4 in the Buhl Atrium during an informational session with the Office of Career Development.
A mentorship in college can make all the difference. Luckily at Chatham, there are many ways to find (or be!) a mentor. Check out our stories of these meaningful relationships.
Not sure where to start to land an internship or job? Luckily, the Office of Career Development is here to help with the Job and Internship Mixer. Read on to learn 10 things you can do to ace the mixer and land the job of your dreams!
Building a LinkedIn presence is a relatively easy task that can help ensure your career prospects soar post-graduation. We caught up with the Career Development team—Kate Sheridan, Lesli Somerset Talley, Kate Labriola-Gorentz, and Hannah Hepler—to learn more about how students can maximize their LinkedIn experience.
Catch this Q&A with Director of Career Development, Kate Sheridan & Career Development student employee, Julia Rayburg for their expert resume advice!
Graduating college can be exciting and exhilarating, it can also be horribly intimidating and anxiety-inducing. If you’re feeling a little rough around the edges in advance of this major life transition, check out our list of helpful advice from an alumna who was once in your shoes.
Chatham Connect is an online network of Chatham students and alumni, created to forge connections within our Chatham community, from professional connections to mentorship to simply chatting with fellow Chatham-ites! Read on to discover success stories from real students and alumni.
Senior to Senior Series
And of course, what would a Commencement collection be without shouting out this year’s seniors? Senior student employees interviewed their classmates for this series on their time at Chatham and what they hope will come next.
We’re sending off our 2023-2024 Senior to Senior correspondent Lirit Gilmore with a fond farewell in this special Q&A!
Jess Taney is a cell and molecular biology major with a fondness for research and the community she’s found on Chatham’s volleyball team.
Meet Jolie Phan, a human biology major and student in the IDP program working toward her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. Jolie talks candidly about problem-based learning, cheerleading, her involvement with the Asian Student Association, and her impactful friendships at Chatham in this senior to senior profile.
Komal Kaur ‘24 is a Political Science and Women and Gender Studies major. In this senior to senior interview, she speaks about her identity as a first-gen college student, her experience studying aboard, and her meaningful work with the ASA.
Sustainability major and food studies minor Sara Parker ‘24 clues us in to her love of bugs, favorite places in Pittsburgh to eat, and what’s so special about Eden Hall Campus in this Senior to Senior interview.
Social work and criminology double major Carly Snow talks about her love for Pittsburgh, her field placement, and memories from Chatham in this Senior to Senior Series feature
Mathematics senior Delaney O’Shea talks about volleyball, teaching, and being a transfer student in her Senior to Senior interview.
Graduating senior Kate Woerner speaks about her time at Chatham as an RA and education major in this installment of the Senior to Senior series.
For our last Senior to Senior interview of the ’22-23 academic year, we interview the interviewer— Marketing and Communications student employee and recent Chatham grad Eliza Moore!
Learn how Cole Couchman managed his busy lifestyle in this series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other members of the Class of 2023!
In this series where Eliza Moore interviews other members of the Class of 2023, Tara Neikirk shares her accomplished experience at Chatham University.
Learn about the ever-changing life of Ricky Alaimo in this series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other members of the Class of 2023!
Learn about the inspiring life of Leo Liotta in this series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other members of the Class of 2023!
Learn about the artistic life of Katie Crouch in this series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other members of the Class of 2023!
Senior Rylee Napolitan shares their experience in this interview series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other students from the Class of 2023.
In this Senior to Senior interview installment, Eliza Moore talks to Hannah Perry, who found her passion in psychology and criminology through her coursework at ChathamU.
Chatham students lead busy, creative lives— just ask senior Lilly Kubit, who shares her experience in this interview series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other students from the Class of 2023.
Liz Ruszkoski describes her Chatham experience as a transfer student in this interview series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other students from the Class of 2022/23.
Jack Schmiedlin talks his Chatham experience and the changes that any student might experience throughout their college years in this new interview series where senior Eliza Moore interviews other students from the Class of 2022/23.