At �鶹��Ƶ, success is around every corner</h1> <article> <h1>At �鶹��Ƶ, success is around every corner</h1> <p>mreed — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:10:32 +0000</p> <span>At �鶹��Ƶ, success is around every corner</span> <span><span>mreed</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-02-10T10:10:32-05:00" title="Monday, February 10, 2025 - 10:10">Mon, 02/10/2025 - 10:10</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When Jesse Cruz ’25 joined the <a href="/node/54566">Ashby Business Scholars Program</a> last year, it opened his eyes to a new way of kicking off his career journey. Even for those who aren’t business majors, the organization provides countless opportunities to all Obies joining the workforce.</p> <p>“It completely changed my approach to applying and interviewing,” he says. “I realize now utilizing the alumni from �鶹��Ƶ is a path that has the highest success. I’ve met a ton of alumni now and they have all been incredibly supportive, some even telling all of us in Ashby, ‘Talk to me, get a line of communication going, we’ll refer you into the company and get you a better shot.’”</p> <p>When Jesse begins working at Synchrony–a consumer financial services company–after he graduates in May, he’ll take this networking knowledge with him into the business world. As a <a href="/node/3371">math</a> and <a href="/node/3236">computer science</a> double major, he’s also excited to apply his �鶹��Ƶ coursework to his new position.</p> <p>“Majoring in math was an expansion of not only analytical thinking but also just a new perspective on how to view the world, which I thought was very awesome,” he says. “I think the class that changed a lot of my perspective on things in general was called Linear Optimization, and it was taught by <a href="/node/5971">Bob Bosch</a>.”</p> <p>Jesse explains that this course taught him how to apply logic, organization, and problem-solving skills to a wide variety of situations, both academic and professional:</p> <p>“There is a lot of room for me to explore that in my new job. In my internship last semester, Synchrony did these things called IP sprints where we were able to work on our own skills and interests, and so during that sprint I actually worked on optimizing something related to my work and they gave me opportunities to explore that more.”</p> <p>He also emphasizes that this skillset is transferable and an “important tool regardless of field,” encouraging his fellow Obies to explore all their interests to give their careers flexibility.</p> <p>In addition to Ashby and an invigorating curriculum, Jesse credits the accomplished faculty for creating a valuable and enriching experience at �鶹��Ƶ.</p> <p>“My professors have made a significant impact on my education, especially coming from my high school where I felt like a little fish in a big pond,” he says. “I had a phenomenal experience with having such a strong line of communication with my �鶹��Ƶ professors, and any time I struggled or was confused about something, there was always an outlet for me to go talk to them.”</p> <p>Jesse looks forward to continuing the skill development he began during his software engineering internship at Synchrony. He returns to the company as a full-time employee this July, and is excited to use software development and mathematical modeling to create innovative solutions that transcend industries. </p> <hr> <p><em>If you’re excited about everything the future has in store, check out <a href="/node/4521">Career Exploration and Development </a>to learn how �鶹��Ƶ can help you turn your passions into a fulfilling career.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-02-11T12:00:00Z">Tue, 02/11/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Danielle Frezza</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Fourth-year Jesse Cruz reflects on all the ways �鶹��Ƶ College has helped him as a student and young professional: “The most valuable thing you’re getting from this education is learning how to work hard and think very openly.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3955">Ashby Business Scholars</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4150">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4153">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2403">Career Exploration & Development</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Accelerating beyond �鶹��Ƶ College into a finance career</h1> <p>mreed — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:52:16 +0000</p> <span>Accelerating beyond �鶹��Ƶ College into a finance career</span> <span><span>mreed</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-10-04T10:52:16-04:00" title="Friday, October 4, 2024 - 10:52">Fri, 10/04/2024 - 10:52</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As a double major in <a href="/node/3371">mathematics</a> and <a href="/node/3386">economics</a> with a minor in <a href="/node/84821">statistical modeling</a>, and a leader on the �鶹��Ƶ Women’s Soccer team, Samantha began her journey into private equity while at �鶹��Ƶ College. Initially entering �鶹��Ƶ with different academic interests, she soon discovered a passion for math and economics through the college’s interdisciplinary curriculum. In the spring of her sophomore year, she enrolled in Principles of Finance, which explored the intersection of quantitative analysis and the tactical application of social science. </p> <p>Her involvement in the <a href="https://osfic.squarespace.com/">�鶹��Ƶ Finance Club</a> introduced Samantha to the principles of investing firsthand, which was a catalyst for exploring a career in business and finance through �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/node/54566">Ashby Business Scholars Program</a>. The Ashby Business Program provides students access to additional finance-focused resources and connects them with a broad network of Obies working in the industry. </p> <p>Through the Ashby Program, she met alums working in various fields across the Northeast and Cleveland, including a private equity firm in New York, The Riverside Company. In the summer of her junior year, Samantha interned as an analyst for Riverside’s growth equity and debt fund, Riverside Acceleration Capital (RAC). RAC focuses on high-growth, software-as-a-service B2B companies. During her internship, she was able to apply the quantitative, research, and problem-solving skills that she developed in the classroom. Samantha enjoyed the collaborative and results-oriented environment and is excited to return to RAC as a full-time analyst following graduation. </p> <p>Reflecting on her journey, Samantha says, "All of my experiences at �鶹��Ƶ have led to this opportunity. The liberal arts thinking, practical finance experience, and the powerful Ashby business network truly opened the door for my position at Riverside."</p> <p> </p> <hr> <p> </p> <p><em>Ready to make an impact with your education and career? Explore <a href="/node/468170">financial economics</a> at �鶹��Ƶ to learn how you can change the world, one finance class at a time.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Samantha Gilfond ’25 accepts private equity analyst placement at Riverside Acceleration Capital</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-10-03T12:00:00Z">Thu, 10/03/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Samantha is excited about her next steps after �鶹��Ƶ as she joins Riverside Acceleration Capital.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3925">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3955">Ashby Business Scholars</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4147">�鶹��Ƶ Finance Club</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=468171">Financial Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/finance" hreflang="und">Financial Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Playing a Critical Role in Child Development</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 15:34:12 +0000</p> <span>Playing a Critical Role in Child Development</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-03-31T11:34:12-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - 11:34">Wed, 03/31/2021 - 11:34</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Taylor majored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology">psychology</a> at �鶹��Ƶ College and interned at the New England Center for Children, a Southborough, Massachusetts-based facility that provides comprehensive services for children with autism. While at the center, Taylor was instructed on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a form of therapy that focuses on improving specific behaviors, such as social skills, communication, and reading, as well as fine motor dexterity and domestic capabilities. ABA was applied in Taylor’s one-on-one work with autistic children under the age of nine. She taught everyday life skills such as tying shoes, participating in group activities, and object identification.</p> <p>Today, Taylor works as a teacher at Bright Horizons, an early childhood education center in Westborough, Massachusetts, that emphasizes early childhood education. She attends to the needs of children ages four years and younger, creates a weekly curriculum to enhance their development, and documents and evaluates their progress. “I knew I wanted to work with children in some way, but I didn’t think I would love teaching as much as I do until I started working here [seven years ago],” she says. </p> <p>Taylor says children in the age group she teaches have a desire to investigate and learn, which makes the path to keeping them inspired and engaged less difficult. However, learning how to handle challenging behaviors has been one of her biggest hurdles. “We see a lot of things such as biting. Although this is a typical behavior for young children, we have to teach them that this isn’t OK and that there are other ways to channel their anger or frustration,” she explains. </p> <p>Another challenge was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many educators, Taylor says the early stages of the pandemic required she and her colleagues to relearn how to interact with their students. </p> <p>After Bright Horizons was forced to shut down, once a week teachers conducted Zoom check-ins with their classes and read to the children. The center reopened five months later to provide childcare to working families and so teachers could offer better development skills. </p> <p>Taylor encourages �鶹��Ƶ students who are considering a career in early childhood education to “not be afraid to try it. [Working with this] young age can seem daunting but it is such a fun, exciting age. I also hear a lot of people are afraid of becoming an early educator because they don’t want to be considered ‘just a babysitter.’ We are just as much educators as the teachers who teach school-age children. These ages are so critical to development and we need more people who love to see children grow and become the best they can be.”</p> <p>As she progresses in her career, Taylor hopes to one day serve as an educational coordinator, where she can assist other teachers with learning and advancing in their own careers.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-03-31T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/31/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Being an early childhood educator means playing a critical role in a child’s development. The industry needs more people who love to see children grow, says Sela Taylor ’15.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2413">Social Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sela Taylor ’15</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Sela Taylor</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Hectic and Gratifying Life of a CNN Producer</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:06:34 +0000</p> <span>The Hectic and Gratifying Life of a CNN Producer</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-03-17T15:06:34-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - 15:06">Wed, 03/17/2021 - 15:06</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Matthew Kendrick’s passion for shooting and editing video led to a position as an associate producer with CNN political commentator Fareed Zakaria. Today, he reflects on his experiences and offers advice to students who have hopes of working in the broadcast journalism industry.</p> <p>The job of a major network host can appear effortless. That’s because behind each segment there’s a lot going on—deadlines, research, pre-interviews, fact-checking, finding appropriate visual material. The long hours and constant grind isn't for everyone. Kendrick ’14 saw it as an amazing opportunity.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>On the job at CNN. Photo credit: Courtesy of Matthew Kendrick</figcaption> </figure> <p>“I always wanted a career that would challenge me intellectually, that required creativity, and a bit of style. [Something] that took me out into the wider world in a way academics or think-tanks wouldn’t. I got extremely lucky to find such a good fit at the right time in my life,” says Kendrick of his position at CNN, even though the road to the broadcast journalism industry wasn’t exactly a straight path. </p> <p>Kendrick, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" target="_blank">history</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" target="_blank">East Asian studies</a> major, went to South Korea on a Fulbright scholarship to teach English in several rural elementary schools after graduating from �鶹��Ƶ. He intended to pursue an academic career, but his attention turned to video after meeting British documentarians working in Seoul. After enrolling in a master’s program in history and documentary film at Syracuse University, Kendrick fell in love with shooting and editing video. He applied for documentary and news production internships in New York City, and landed a position as an intern at CNN and worked his way up to production assistant to booker to associate producer of the <em>Fareed Zakaria GPS</em>, a weekly foreign affairs program.</p> <p>“Three extremely talented and experienced producers at CNN—Dana Sherne, Jessica Gutteridge, and Nida Najar—took me under their wings early on,” says Kendrick about his on- the-job education. “They taught me everything I know about organizing and executing edits that are informative, compelling, and beautiful all at once. Having a keen eye for the right visuals and the patience and perseverance to find that perfect shot or make that graphic just a little bit better can be the difference between a segment viewer’s flip away from [the program] and one that they seek out online to retweet.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>On location with CNN. Photo credit: Kendrick</figcaption> </figure> <p>“In the same vein, I learned so much from my mentors about writing clearly and concisely, how to fastidiously fact-check oneself and one’s colleagues, and how a cooperative can-do attitude elevates any piece beyond what could be produced on one’s own. Which gets to a more fundamental lesson for every journalist about listening more than one speaks and seeking to understand before seeking to be understood.” </p> <p>A typical week for Kendrick involved spending hours widely reading to generate pitches for guests and segment topics for the upcoming show. He liked to focus on East Asia, since his language skills gave him an advantage in scouring Chinese and Korean outlets for good stories. Kendrick, who was raised in Chile, had developed an interest in foreign affairs journalism when he was younger. He honed his Mandarin and Spanish language skills at �鶹��Ƶ and gained Korean language skills after graduation. </p> <p>Once a rough outline for the week’s program was generated, writing and production tasks were divided. For interviews he produced, Kendrick would call potential guests and conduct a pre-interview—a longer, more detailed conversation that he can draw on to help the host craft the most germane interview possible on air. </p> <p>For segments that were delivered by the host straight to camera, Kendrick worked with CNN’s reporters in the field and topic experts for facts, working through several drafts of each piece. All of the pieces at GPS went through a peer-led fact-checking system, where his work was reviewed and critiqued by other producers and production assistants and vice versa, Kendrick explains. The final stop was CNN’s “row,” a group of senior network editors who signed off on all copy before it went on air.</p> <p>During the process, Kendrick also worked with a production assistant to locate and license the visual material necessary to tell each story, which he considered the most challenging and time-consuming aspect of the job. Taping usually began Thursday morning, when Kendrick was responsible for managing the recording system and guiding the host through interviews or reads he produced. Afterward, each segment was rushed into editing, where he “worked like mad” through the end of the next day to stitch everything together and get it down to time. But even then, breaking news often required producers to come into the office Sunday morning for a live segment or two, says Kendrick. The grueling scheduling made rare moments of social impact all the sweeter.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, with Kendrick. Courtesy of Matthew Kendrick</figcaption> </figure> <p>“It didn’t happen every day or every month, or even every year, but when you got that story you’ve been fired up about through the gatekeeping hurdles—through a rigorous fact-check, a crazy edit, and just over the finish line to air—and you generated some discussion and got people’s minds moving, and maybe, just maybe, contributed to some concrete action that could actually make a difference in the lives of your subjects or audience, I was tempted to feel like what I did for a living might actually matter in the high-brow, philosophical sense that Obies tend to care about, and that’s pretty great.”</p> <p>After four years with CNN, Kendrick decided to step back late last year to support his partner, Nina Axiotakis ’14, during her medical residency at Georgetown University. In the future he would like to continue working in foreign affairs, “but with a more granular focus on human rights. My work on North Korea, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong over the last few years was particularly impactful, and I hope to elevate and center the stories and voices of victims of state violence and genocide in my future work.”</p> <p>Kendrick says he is grateful to each of his �鶹��Ƶ mentors for their patience and guidance, some of whom are reflected in his career: Associate Professor of History <a href="/ellen-wurtzel" target="_blank">Ellen Wurtzel</a>, who mentored him throughout his time at �鶹��Ƶ; Professor of East Asian Studies <a href="/sheila-miyoshi-jager" target="_blank">Sheila Miyoshi Jager</a>, who changed the way he viewed American foreign policy in East Asia and set him on the path to live in South Korea; Professor of History <a href="/renee-romano" target="_blank">Renee Romano</a>, who pushed students to improve their communication skills; and Senior Lecturers in Chinese <a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/kai-li" target="_blank">Kai Li </a>and <a href="/fang-liu" target="_blank">Fang Liu</a>, who provided “a world-class Mandarin education,” and introduced him to Chinese calligraphy and classical literature that continue to enrich his life. </p> <p>For students who are seeking a career in on-screen journalism, he offers this advice: </p> <p>“The thing I wish I had brought more of to the table is simple production experience. Brush up on your skills in Premiere or Pro Tools and use winter term to report and record a short documentary or podcast about something that means a lot to you,” he says. “Prove that you’re an enterprising and creative journalist and you see through what you start. �鶹��Ƶ for internships at publications and productions that you admire, and work as hard as you can to learn what gives them that special touch. Make mentorship connections. I don’t like the term networking because I feel it implies a shallowness and transaction-oriented nature to the relationship. What I have found works best in the industry are relationships based on mutual trust and appreciation.</p> <p>“For foreign affairs in particular, I can’t recommend learning another language enough. �鶹��Ƶ’s Mandarin classes are particularly good. And find a way to spend a year or more in a country that speaks your target language by hook or by crook. If you can do some reporting in-country, all the better. And practice, practice, practice. Hone your writing, production, and language skills to be the best they can be.”</p> <p>Kendrick's history thesis on Papal-Mongol diplomacy was awarded high honors, and is one of the models Wurtzel continues to use with current honors students. He also served as cochair of the Student Honor Committee and president of the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/2013/7/8/GEN_0708132007.aspx?id=414" target="_blank">men’s rugby club</a>—“Go Gruffs.”</p> <hr> <p><strong>LIFE LESSON: </strong><em>“When I was 18, I worked as a whitewater raft guide in Colorado during the summer. The key to rafting safely is being able to read the water from far upstream and make a plan for getting through. But sometimes a plan is just a guess in a fancy dress, and a level head and some creativity are all that can really save you if things go wrong.”</em></p> <hr> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Matthew Kendrick ’14, former associate producer, shares his experiences and future plans</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-03-17T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/17/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=181496">Journalism</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/sheila-miyoshi-jager" hreflang="und">Sheila Miyoshi Jager</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/ellen-wurtzel" hreflang="und">Ellen Wurtzel</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/fang-liu" hreflang="und">Fang Liu</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/journalism" hreflang="und">Journalism</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Matthew Kendrick ’14 (back row, center) on the set of the Fareed Zakaria GPS talk show.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Matthew Kendrick</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Transition From Student Senate to Washington, D.C.</h1> <p>ygay — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 19:25:09 +0000</p> <span>The Transition From Student Senate to Washington, D.C.</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-12-08T14:25:09-05:00" title="Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - 14:25">Tue, 12/08/2020 - 14:25</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Makhmudov and his family immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan and settled in Georgia when he was a child. ‘‘As you can imagine, there weren’t a lot of Uzbek Americans in suburban Georgia,” he says. “I was very attuned to the differences and similarities between people when I was growing up.’’</p> <p>The scale of a presidential race magnifies the challenges and complexities of working with everyone from farmers in Iowa to small-business people in Wisconsin. The politics of it still comes down to the seemingly simple task of coalition building with a diverse group of people, explains the politics major.</p> <hr> <p><strong>What is your current role with the Biden campaign?</strong></p> <p>I’ve moved over to the Biden-Harris transition team, which is the bridge between the campaign and the incoming administration. It’s our role to ensure that the government is in a position to deliver on the president-elect’s agenda on day one across every agency and department. I’m also excited to play a role on the transition’s policy and agency review teams. After January 20, I look forward to doing whatever I can to help the president-elect deliver on his promises to the American people.</p> <p><strong>Were you always interested in a career in politics?</strong></p> <p>Originally, I thought I wanted to be a judge, but I’m not sure I have the patience or temperament to pursue a life on the bench. Next, I wanted to be a writer, since words have always been the best way for me to understand others and bring to life those experiences and emotions that we often keep private but are in fact shared. I’ve always felt very different from others because of my background. Feeling like I can see and am seen by other people almost feels like being in on an inside secret. Midway through high school, I found politics to be a space to more intimately explore those human connections and tie them to processes and outcomes that make a real impact on people’s lives. I’m obsessed with the idea that where we come from shouldn’t define where we can go and have found politics and policy to be an effective space to make that a reality. </p> <p><strong>Were you involved in any student organizations at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>Yes. The most impactful for me were the <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/oberlin.edu/studentsenate/" target="_blank">Student Senate</a> and the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/baseball" target="_blank">varsity baseball team</a>. In senate, I had the chance to lead an incredibly politically diverse group of students and learn a lot about advocacy and coalition-building. Being a part of both groups forced me to organize my time and get more out of everything I did in the classroom. I was also involved with the <a href="/bcsl" target="_blank">Bonner Center</a> and served as a teaching assistant for courses in the <a href="/politics" target="_blank">politics</a> and <a href="/environmental-studies" target="_blank">environmental studies</a> departments. </p> <p><strong>Who were your mentors at �鶹��Ƶ, and how did they influence you?</strong></p> <p>[Emeritus] Professor Paul Dawson as well as Professor [of Politics] <a href="/michael-parkin" target="_blank">Michael Parkin</a> and [Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies] <a href="/swapna-pathak" target="_blank">Swapna Pathak</a> always had an open door to talk not just about coursework, but the work that I was doing on the Student Senate and more broadly on campus. I also learned a lot from then-President Marvin Krislov and deans Eric Estes and Kathryn Stuart about how to lead in incredibly difficult circumstances. <a href="/nick-petzak" target="_blank">Nick Petzak</a> from the <a href="/fellowships" target="_blank">Fellowships and Awards Office</a> was and remains a good personal friend. </p> <p><strong>Did you perform any internships?</strong></p> <p>My freshman year, I spent <a href="/winter-term/about" target="_blank">winter term</a> with the office of then-Congressman John Lewis. That summer, I was also back in Atlanta doing public policy research at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. For my sophomore winter term, I interned with the Environmental Defense Fund. That summer, I participated in the politics department’s Cole Scholars program, which funded me to intern on a U.S. Senate campaign in Georgia and take a couple of seminar courses on political campaigns. My junior winter term was spent in Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability, where I helped with the city’s work on cutting building emissions. That summer, I interned at the White House, working on the Obama Administration’s Clean Energy Plan. �鶹��Ƶ supported and funded me through all of these experiences and I will always be extremely grateful. </p> <p><strong>You were a very accomplished student, winning a Harry S. Truman Scholarship in 2014 and a Rhodes Scholarship in your senior year. How did these accomplishments help shape your career path?</strong></p> <p>I learned a lot about America’s place in the world and how we’re perceived by the international community, which gave me a perspective on my current work that would have been missing entirely otherwise. </p> <p><strong>What are your future career goals? </strong></p> <p>I anticipate working in the federal government for a few years to help us deliver on our campaign promises. I hope to stay involved in politics and advocacy but am considering a number of directions that look a little different from presidential politics. I would love to find a way to formally incorporate writing into my life. Through the campaign, I also gained a lot of insight into the private sector in meeting public goals and would be interested in working on clean energy development. I also want to play a role in getting more diverse, young people into elected office, particularly from the Asian American community. One thing I’ve learned so far is that things rarely go the way you plan, so I’m keeping an open mind. </p> <p><strong>What are your fond �鶹��Ƶ memories? </strong></p> <p>I used to drive up to Lake Erie in the winter and walk along the incredibly beautiful frozen beach. I also spent a lot of time at the Feve with friends and maintained a streak of going to the Mandarin nearly every Sunday afternoon with my baseball teammates. Over time it’s mostly been the friendships that I made at �鶹��Ƶ that have stuck with me the most. </p> <p><strong>Any advice for students?</strong></p> <p>�鶹��Ƶ has an incredible array of resources available to its students, from incredibly kind and knowledgeable professors to funding from various offices to help students have professional experiences. My advice is to try and take advantage of as much as possible! I miss having those resources available to me and am glad that I kept a busy schedule to be involved in as much as I could. Once you graduate, the luxury of free time to read, write, think, and grow becomes very valuable, so don’t be afraid to lose an hour of sleep and go to that lecture or concert or pursue that research project that you’ve always had in mind. For people that want to go into politics in particular, take advantage of winter term and your summers to intern at a variety of places to see where you might have a real interest in going afterward. </p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-12-08T12:00:00Z">Tue, 12/08/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When he was growing up, Machmud Makhmudov ’15 noticed how communities from different parts of the world created lives that struggled, grew, and thrived alongside one another. That insight served him well as a policy advisor for the presidential campaign and stands to be an impression in his new role with the incoming Biden Administration.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2771">Athletics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/swapna-pathak" hreflang="und">Swapna Pathak</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/michael-parkin" hreflang="und">Michael Parkin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Machmud Makhmudov ’15.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jennifer Manna</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Perfect Career Sweet Spot</h1> <p>ygay — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 18:40:33 +0000</p> <span>The Perfect Career Sweet Spot</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-11-20T13:40:33-05:00" title="Friday, November 20, 2020 - 13:40">Fri, 11/20/2020 - 13:40</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Boeglin, a history major (with a focus in American and Russian history) and philosophy minor, sees her career choice as a great fit. During her role with the presidential campaign, her job was to aggressively drive the campaign's message in the media and communicate to voters President-elect Biden's record, plans, and vision for the United States. “Our team also relentlessly held [President Donald] Trump accountable for his lies, incompetence, and failures,” she says. </p> <hr> <p><strong>Were you always interested in a career in politics?</strong></p> <p>In college, I wanted to be a journalist, but I had a hard time keeping my opinions to myself. A career in political communications, working with journalists every day, has turned out to be the perfect sweet spot.</p> <p><strong>Were you involved in any student organizations at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>Editor in chief of the <em>�鶹��Ƶ Review</em>, 2013 - 2014<br> News editor of the <em>�鶹��Ƶ Review</em>, 2011- 2013 </p> <p><strong>Who were your mentors at �鶹��Ƶ and how did they influence you?</strong></p> <p>�鶹��Ƶ—both the school and the town—is a place filled with brilliant minds, big hearts, and generous spirits. So, I had many mentors at �鶹��Ƶ, and each of them made a unique and lasting impact. I’m grateful for every one of them. In particular, I am indebted to [Emeritus Professor of History] Clayton Koppes, who taught me as much about life as he did about history. </p> <p><strong>While at �鶹��Ƶ, did you perform any internships?</strong></p> <p>Through the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics/cole-scholars" target="_blank">�鶹��Ƶ Initiative in Electoral Politics, Cole Scholars Program</a>, I had the opportunity to intern for mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio. This experience was a formative one and was the first step to a career in electoral politics. After graduation, I went on to serve in his administration. The summer prior, I interned with Planned Parenthood. When I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain my junior year, I interned at a local nonprofit dedicated to serving recent immigrants from Central and South America. </p> <p><strong>Did you further your education after �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>After serving in the de Blasio Administration and working closely with experts focused on advancing equity through public policy and institutions, I was inspired to bolster my own policy bona fides. I went to the London School of Economics and earned a master’s in gender, policy, and inequalities. </p> <p><strong>Any advice for students who wish to have a similar career path to yours?</strong></p> <p>No matter where you want to work or what you want to do with your life, I recommend forging relationships with people who you think are smart, principled, and doing work that aligns with your values. And especially if you want to be a political spokesperson, I’d encourage folks to work for candidates on issues, or for a mission that they truly believe in. It will make you better at your job and it will keep you motivated when you’re inevitably stretched thin or running low on sleep. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-11-20T12:00:00Z">Fri, 11/20/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When she was a student at �鶹��Ƶ, Rosemary Boeglin ’14 thought a career in journalism was in her future. Today, instead of writing the news she helps to create it in her role as a rapid response spokesperson for President-elect Joe Biden.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25406">Philosophy</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/philosophy" hreflang="und">Philosophy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Political spokesperson Rosemary Boeglin ’14.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Boeglin</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>