Offer Accepted: Many Seniors Already Know What’s Next

Special Education/Sociology Double Major Earns Spot in Boston College Master’s Program

With a double major in special education and sociology, Caroline Green has a passion for helping others. In her four years at Stonehill, that passion deepened not only through her coursework but also through experiences in which she was lifted and in which she was able to lift others.

“I think my experience working in the Academic Advising office and serving as a first-gen ambassador are going to be the most helpful in my post-graduation life,” says Green, who will this fall will begin pursuing her master’s degree in Boston College’s School of Social Work. “The mentoring and life skills I learned will never be forgotten.”

While here, Green was the recipient of a Class Leadership Award and had the opportunity to participate in the Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience, working for a summer on a research project titled Functioning Among Autistic Adolescents with Co-occurring Attention and Learning Disorders. “I worked alongside professors Margaret Pierce and Ken Branco and am incredibly grateful for their guidance.” 

In addition, Green was a member of Stonehill’s NCAA Division I women’s softball team and Lambda Epsilon Sigma, the College’s academic honor society. She says the most prominent leadership experience at Stonehill was being a first-gen ambassador as part of Stonehill’s First-Generation Scholars program. “I was able to not only navigate my experience as a first-generation student but also assist others in the same situation,” says the Brockton native. “I will carry that with me forever.”

Health Science Major Credits Doctorate Program Placement to Career and Academic Mentors

As she prepares to begin her Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at MGH Institute of Health Professions, health science major Rachel McCarthy is appreciative of a team of mentors and advisors that gave her the knowledge and courage to pursue her dreams.

“The support I got from [career advisor] Karlie Garden was especially helpful,” says McCarthy. “She gave me the confidence to present myself effectively to graduate programs.” On the academic side, Katherine Harris, chair of the Health Science Department, was what McCarthy calls her lifeline. “Knowing I always had someone in my corner made a huge difference in my confidence and success at Stonehill.”

McCarthy, who hopes to pursue a career in pediatric rehabilitation, says one of her most valuable experiences at Stonehill was the opportunity to complete an internship at the Neurological and Physical Abilitation (NAPA) Center in Greater Boston.

“This opportunity strengthened both my practical skills and my passion for working in pediatric rehabilitation,” says McCarthy, who is from Nahant, Massachusetts. 

Another valuable experience was serving as president of the Pinky Swear PACK Club, a national organization that supports children battling cancer.

“Serving as president taught me how to manage a team, delegate tasks effectively and stay organized while balancing academic responsibilities,” McCarthy said. “It also helped me grow more confident in public speaking, decision-making and event planning, all skills that will be incredibly important as I move forward into graduate school and my future career in health care.”

Leadership and Networking Opportunities Help Solidify Future Speech Pathologist’s Path

The academic journey taken by psychology major and speech language pathology (SLP) minor Caitlin Prior gave her both a broad foundation of knowledge and an extensive circle of peers and mentors.

“The Stonehill experiences that will be most helpful in my life after graduation are the lessons and mentorship I received from professors, as well as the peer relationships from clubs and courses I gained through a wide array of courses,” says Prior, who in the fall will begin pursuing her master’s in SLP at Regis College. “The professors from the Psychology, SLP, Healthcare and Education departments were particularly helpful. I was able to meet so many other students who are passionate about these fields who come from diverse backgrounds, all with amazing skills and knowledge.”

She singles out Professor Robin Goldberg, director of Stonehill’s Communication Sciences & Disorders Program, as a particularly important mentor in her journey. “Professor Goldberg was a role model, a mentor and an advocate,” says Prior, who is from Milford, Massachusetts. “Her knowledge and wisdom are inspiring, and any student would be lucky to learn from her!”

During her time at Stonehill, Prior completed an internship at Jackson Speech & Language Services. She was also elected as secretary of the Speech-Language Club, served as a psychology peer mentor and was nominated for and accepted into the Student Alumni Association. “All these experiences taught me leadership skills and allowed me to become more immersed in my college community.”

Marketing Major Got Social Media Director Job Offer After Sophomore-Year Internship

Stonehill has an excellent reputation for connecting students with careers or graduate school placements before the end of their senior year. But marketing major Shannon Storlazzi was an extreme example: She secured her career in her sophomore year.

For nearly two years, starting as an intern, the Braintree, Massachusetts, native has been director of social media for the Northeast Generals, a Tier II junior ice hockey team that competes in the North American Hockey League and is based in Canton, Massachusetts. 

“I’ve been working with the Northeast Generals since spring semester sophomore year and have balanced work and school ever since, so my time management skills have grown tremendously,” says Storlazzi, who has two sisters who also attended Stonehill.

Storlazzi credits courses such as Marketing Strategies and Policy & Strategy as being particularly valuable in giving her a strong foundation of business knowledge. And she says her three years as an orientation leader provided a number of other skills that are valuable in the workforce. “This role has made me very comfortable around new people, developed my public speaking skills, made me more considerate of other people and overall taught me how to be a leader,” Storlazzi says. Other campus groups with which she has been involved include the Commuter Council Executive Board, where she served as public relations coordinator.

A Constellation of Mentors and Advisors Helped Management Major Land Position at TJX

Nearly every student at Stonehill has at least one professor or advisor whom they consider the key to their success. Management major Zach Dangel, who has secured an allocation analyst position at multinational off-price department store corporation TJX, has six.

Dangel credits Renee Bernier, assistant director of Career Development, with helping him secure his first internship. Professors Youjeong Huh and Jenn Swanson provided him with valuable insights into international business. Professor Suzanne Edinger provided “a foundational understanding of how individuals and groups behave in organizations.” Professor Denis Malin’s extensive industry experience helped inspire his career goals. And Professor Hilary Gettman allowed him to identify his negotiation style. “Moreover, throughout her Managerial Negotiation and Decision-Making course, I learned about effective negotiation tactics/strategies consistent with my individual style that could allow me to be successful.”

Dangel, who is from Needham, Massachusetts, gained additional attributes through his time as executive public relations coordinator for the Stonehill Student Government Association executive board. “The experience was instrumental to my development as a person and as a professional,” he says. “Most notably, it allowed me to practice decision-making, collaboration and navigating different people and viewpoints — very important skills for the workforce.”

Dangel’s securing a position at TJX was a full-circle moment for him. As a child, he’d accompany his grandmother on shopping trips to TJX stores, fascinated by the ever-changing product assortment and unique business model the company’s stores offered. “I wanted to understand the operations behind these one-of-a-kind stores where every shopping experience was completely different than the last,” he says. With his internship and analyst position, that understanding is off to a good start.

Fully Immersive Stonehill Experience Leads Accountant to Deloitte and Notre Dame

Being able to launch a career at one of the world’s leading accounting firms and begin a graduate degree program at one of the world’s leading universities at the same time takes the idea of a “twofer” to a new level.

When accounting major Caleigh Fitzgerald totes up the Stonehill assets that helped her secure a position at Deloitte and a seat in the University of Notre Dame Master of Science in Accountancy program, it covers a lot of ground.

It includes a semester abroad in Seville, Spain, that she credits with helping her gain a broader perspective and practice her Spanish (she will graduate with a minor in the language).

It comes further into focus with an internship and alumni mentor. “My internship at Deloitte was very helpful for setting up my life after graduation,” says Fitzgerald, who came to Stonehill from Braintree, Massachusetts. “I had the opportunity to connect with Stonehill alum Jim Holmes, who talked to me about the company and connected me to recruiters.”

All the while, she says, she was grateful for the support and knowledge received during the course of her studies. “My advisor and other accounting faculty want to see students succeed, and it shows in how open they are to listening to students and helping them discover what path for their career would best fit them.”

The final piece is her involvement with the Stonehill community. “Being the executive treasurer of Stonehill’s Student Government Association has let me further my knowledge in terms of accounting and grow in my communication and leadership skills,” Fitzgerald says. “Also, being a First-Year Experience student teacher¬ — and getting to be a person who first-years can come to for advice while they navigate their transition into college — has been nothing short of rewarding.”

Strong Mentoring and Chance To Manage $200,000 Investment Fund Pays Off

As he navigated the challenging curriculum of Stonehill’s Finance program on his way to securing a data analyst position with Citizens Financial Group, William Hibbard found his journey was marked by two elements that are at the heart of how Stonehill prepares students for success: mentorship and hands-on learning.

The highlight of his practical learning was serving as director of research for the Skyhawk Investment Group, Stonehill’s student-run investment fund. His responsibilities included overseeing the equity research process, leading research meetings and collaborating with the board of directors to ensure alignment with the group’s strategic goals and initiatives. “I helped manage over $200,000 in assets through the Mary Herlihy Endowment Fund,” says Hibbard, who came to Stonehill from Quincy, Massachusetts. “I played a central leadership role in guiding the group’s investment decisions and mentoring analysts to promote hands-on learning in real-world investing.” 

Equally important was mentorship from Professor Michael Mullen, former chair of the Finance Department and founder of Stonehill College Inspire Finance Initiatives (SCIFI). “Professor Mullen played a significant role in my success at Stonehill College,” says Hibbard, who served as president of the Stonehill FMA executive board. “As a mentor, he has not only helped strengthen my confidence but also been instrumental in my development as an equity research analyst. He consistently challenges students to think critically and ask thoughtful, well-constructed questions that enhance both individual understanding and group learning.”

The results of having these opportunities began to surface even before Hibbard was offered his position at Citizens. He was named Stonehill College “2025 Outstanding Graduating Senior” by the Boston chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI), which provided him with the opportunity to connect with accomplished financial professionals from across the Boston area.  “I’m incredibly grateful to FEI Boston and to Professor Alex Yen for the nomination that made this honor possible.”

Soccer Captain Scores Big in the World of Finance With EY Consulting Post

Whether on the soccer pitch or navigating the academic challenges of being a finance major in the Meehan School of Business, Colby Meyer truly covered the entire field.

During his time at Stonehill, Meyer was an equity research analyst for the Skyhawk Investment Group, captain of the NCAA Division I men’s soccer team, vice president of operations for the Financial Management Association and a representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

“I think the internships I participated in were unbelievably valuable,” says Meyer, who has accepted a position as a business consultant at EY Consulting. “I also think collegiate athletics developed my skills to work effectively with a team, as well as added to my leadership skills. And my experience with the Skyhawk Investment Group was extremely valuable. I learned how to value and analyze companies as well as deliver professional presentations.”

He also says he benefited from Stonehill’s strong culture of faculty mentorship, particularly the support he received from Professor Michael Mullen, former chair of the Finance Department and founder of SCIFI.

“Professor Mullen was very helpful to my development here at Stonehill,” says Meyer, who came to Stonehill from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. “He taught me almost everything I know about financial markets and how to do quality work and give effective presentations.”

A NOTE OF RECOGNITION

We received dozens of responses to our call for senior success stories. To those students not featured above, we offer our heartfelt thanks for sharing your stories and a hearty congratulations on your successes: graphic design major Jennifer Bradford (master’s in marketing master’s); finance major Connor Brien-Berks (Barnum Financial Group); political science and Spanish double major Avery Holzworth (master's in public policy); finance major Timothy Hussey (Shields Health); management information systems major Jack Keeney (master’s in business analytics); management major Sam Kidder (master of business administration); marketing major Michael “Keiran” Leary (TJX); psychology major Amanda M. Marascio (master's in social work); psychology major Isabella Ortiz (master’s in clinical counseling); health science major Lindsey Peirson (doctor of physical therapy); English and communication double major Lauren Rauseo (Columbia Publishing Course); finance major Robert Reyers (Reyers Sport Horses LLC); psychology major Sarah Savasta (doctor of clinical psychology); elementary education and performing arts (dance) double major Mia Shinney (teacher education fellowship).