Career Day for Juniors and Seniors Goes Virtual
Each year, Career Day offers the junior and senior classes the opportunity to connect with a group of MFS alumni and parents to learn more about careers and industries of interest to them. This year, Career Day took on a virtual format and the program was split up over two days – February 25 and March 4. A Career Day portal was created for the event complete with promotional “trailers” created by students. The virtual opportunity enabled alumni both near and far to be able to participate and engage with the students.
Each day kicked off with a welcome from Clerk of the Alumni Association Executive Committee Meg Hollingworth ’97. The students then selected their own paths based on which speakers most pertained to their interests. Dana Calvo ’88 (pictured above), as well as 17 additional speakers, hosted sessions where they spoke about their career paths or “life hacks” requested by the students.
Dana’s session focused on her path from her MFS graduation to national and international journalism and then onto producing shows including Made in Jersey, Narcos, and Good Girls Revolt. While an impressive path, she made it clear that it took grit, determination, and confidence to get to where she is today. Her parting message for the students included, “there will be hardships and failures along your paths, but they will teach you and help you move forward in your careers.”
Career Day Speakers:
- Courtney J. Brown ’07 on Business/Getting an MBA
Director of Operations at NFI - Dana Calvo ’88 on Television Screenwriting/Production
Television screenwriter and producer - Erin Coleman ’96 on Careers in Journalism
Anchor and reporter at NBC 10 in Philadelphia - Danielle DeCou Garno ’93 on Careers in Law
A partner at Cozen O’Connor - Jason Litten, M.D. ’92 on The Biotech Industry
Chief Medical Officer at Artiva - Takashi Moriuchi ’92 on Careers in Finance
Co-founder and Managing Director of Estancia Capital Management - Don Orth ’91 on Careers of the Future
Worldwide Leadership Program Manager, Apple Education - Steven Porter ’98 on Careers in Medicine
An anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL - Matt Purcell ’09 on Careers in Engineering
Award-winning industrial engineer and project manager for Disney - Mike Strambler ’92 on Careers in Psychology/Research/Public Policy
An Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale University Medical School - Sarah Van Cleve ’07 on Careers in Business
Senior Manager of Utility Business Development at Tesla
Life Hack Speakers:
- Deb Edmund Colitas ’96 on How to build a resume that will stand out
Founder of Wonder Services and CEO of Digital Network Superstar - Mikki Harris ’93 on How to Use Documentary Storytelling for Social Impact
Multimedia journalist and Assistant Professor at Morehouse College - Karinne Lindner ’97 on How to interview (even on Zoom)
Career coach at For the Love of Work - Adam Mohsen-Breen ’15 on Finding Social Change Internships/Jobs during and after College
Staff assistant at Open Philanthropy in San Francisco - Alyss Vavricka ’08 on Living in NYC
Head of Partner Implementations and Operations at Extend - Cornell Verdeja-Woodson ’05 on Achieving Work/Life Balance
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Headspace Inc. - Bridget Wiese on Top Ten Tips for Personal Financial Management/Banking
Vice President and Senior Store Manager at Republic Bank