By Chelsea Brumagen '13
The School of Liberal Arts welcomed alumni to campus earlier this semester to share experiences in their professional journeys as part of a panel discussion with current students.
The panel included Jessica Aubin ’06, a Ph.D. student in political science at SUNY Albany, Julie Clancy ’07, Assistant to the Head of School at Emma Willard, Paul Cummings ’01, urban planner for The Chazen Companies, Laura Darling ’07, co-founder of Darling & Wesdorp PLLC, Maureen Fairlie ’76, President of Snappy Solutions, Inc. and Shannon Woods ’96, attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc.
Each member of the panel spoke about what they did after graduating from Siena and how they ended up in their current positions. For current students, the idea of entering the workplace can be confusing which is why School of Liberal Arts Assistant Dean Allison Schultz organized the panel. Her goal is to help students understand how their skills will translate as they begin their careers. “The skills and competencies of whatever degree you take in the liberal arts program is absolutely marketable, it’s just a question of how you want to market it,” Schultz said.
All six panelists shared advice for marketing themselves in the workplace.
Maureen Fairlie ’76 spoke about the activities she was involved in at Siena. “All those experiences played a role in my life, I just didn’t realize it," Fairlie said. “Everything you’re doing right now – it all has meaning.”
Pamela Townsend ’14 took Fairlie's message to heart. “I learned that even though you might be majoring in a specific subject, your interests in life influence what you end up doing,” Townsend said after the panel.
Other advice included getting your foot in the door in any way possible and learning to work with and respect all personality types. The panelists also suggested asking questions and making connections, improving upon weaknesses, learning to listen, managing emotions, staying positive and networking.
In addition to the panel, the School of Liberal Arts offers an Alumni Mentors Program to juniors and seniors to assist with the transition into the professional world.
