English Alumni Working in Government and Policy

Sean Sylver '05

I currently work as a Regional Planner in the Bureau of Waste Prevention for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in Boston, MA. My position demands that I administer a variety of programs for my department and other state organizations and also manage grants to businesses and municipalities. I arrived at my current position after a two-year stint in the Master's program at Tufts University's Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. My experience as an English major at Stonehill developed my skills as a writer and communicator, and those skills were particularly useful during my time in graduate school, even when the classes focused on math and engineering. Writing and critical thinking skills were both coveted and appreciated by my team members at this level as we attempted to collectively solve a variety of problems. I also found it very useful as a Stonehill student to "see the big picture" and experience subjects and take opportunities that weren't necessarily within the confines of my major. When I set out as a grad. student and later as a professional, I found that broadening my horizons as far as possible as a college student made it easy for me to relate with people from all walks of the professional sphere. Along the same line, I began developing a list of contacts when I was a junior at Stonehill, people who have since helped me on the path to grad. school and a variety of internships. These people have seen it all and have given me pointed guidance that has allowed me to succeed in a variety of capacities, through which I have developed more contacts, and thus uncovered more opportunities. I think if a student has a strong relationship with a good mentor, it can open so many doors that aren't often visible in the day-to-day bustle of going to class and handing in papers.