Northeastern University

Alumni Spotlights

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SOCIOLOGY ALUMNI

Noelle Minter

Noelle Minter

1 co-op: Bronx County District Attorney's Office- Intern- Fall 2004
1 co-op/ international study program: Up With People WorldSmart Leadership Program- Fall 2005

Independent Research Project- Spring 2006- advised by Professor Will Holton Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, minor in Urban Studies and Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude)

I was a Sociology major my entire time at Northeastern and never questioned my decision/ path. I always felt comfortable drawing connections between my major and other academic disciplines.

My first co-op at the District Attorney's Office in Bronx, NY was a great experience. I had the opportunity to read a lot of legal briefs and witness the court experience. I once had the chance to sit at the prosecution's desk during a week-long trial.

I worked in two main units: the investigations/ racketeering division and auto/arson/ and economic crimes. As a result of this unpaid internship I improved my writing skills and became aware of the problems in the senior citizen community.

My following co-op experience was for Up With People. I traveled with an international group of students to Japan and throughout Western Europe. From this I was able to expand my perspective and develop an awareness of international relations.

Since my graduation I have worked over a year for Encore 49, a non-profit residence for formerly homeless and/or mentally ill elderly in New York City. I plan to go back to school for a master's degree in gerontology, to study aging and the aging process.

The best thing about co-op in the sociology department is the variety of opportunities available and the unexpected places they took me.

HUMAN SERVICES ALUMNI

Alisa Abrams

Alisa Abrams

Human Services and Psychology 2004, is currently working for Lynn (MA) Department of Social Services.

Suzanne Clarke Allen

Suzanne (Suzie) Clarke Allen

Human Services 2003, is at Andover Youth Services satellite office in West Middle School, where she created "The Zone".
"Human Services means wonderfully caring and involved educators working to make a difference in people's lives."

Neil Anderson

Human Services and Education 1994, currently at John Hopkins Institute for a Civil Society gaining a certificate in Non-Profit Management Culminating in an MBA.
"Midway through my freshman year, I transferred into the Human Service Program. This was the best decision that I ever made."

Antonio Arrendel

Antonio Arrendel

Human Services 2001, brought 10 years of work related experience to Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP). Antonio Arrendel is the Manager of Training & Curriculum Development for the MVP Program, a partnership between Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society and the University of Central Florida's National Consortium for Academics and Sports.

Mistie Conner

Mistie Conner

Human Services major and Spanish minor 2006, works for Polk Community College as an Academic Advisor with their Educational Talent Search. While at NU, she took advantage of the possibilities and worked as a Service-Learning Coordinator and Peer Tutor. She served as an Americorps member for 2 years, through which she worked with Stand Up for Kids and Room to Grow.

Erin Credle

Erin Credle

Human Services 2003, is currently working at the Bay State Banner as an Office Manager and attending Suffolk University for Public Administration.

Jaclyn Digesere

Human Services 2006, is presently in the Rutger's MSW program. Her specialization is health, mental health, and aging. She has been placed for internships in the field of developmental disabilities and for my second year placement I am interning at a community mental health center in Bayonne, NJ. I love it there!

Meghan Gaffny

Meghan Gaffny

Human Services 2003, Instructor at Harvard Bridge to Learning to Literacy and Graduate Student at the Harvard School of Education.
"I recognize that the Human Services Program at Northeastern shaped my education and career."

Amanda Johnston

Amanda Johnston

Human Services 2006, works as a program coordinator for a state funded program working with parents involved in Connecticut's Department of Children and Families. She works directly with clients and their children in tackling tough issues in a supportive environment.

Dustin Latimer

Dustin (Dusty) Latimer

Human Services 2004, is a MSM Outreach Coordinator for AIDS Action, where he worked during his NU career.

Katlyn Marple

Katlyn Marple

Human Services and History 2006, will be working at the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children at Boston Medical Center National Office where she did her internship.

Melissa Madzel

Melissa Madzel

Human Services 2002, after NU she worked with City Year New York but left in 2005 to get her MSW at the University of Pennsylvania. Now she is working at Safe Horizon in NYC in the Development and Marketing Department as an Account Manager for Corporate Sponsorships, where she coordinates a program to raise awareness about the impact of domestic violence on the workplace.

Lauren Mills

Lauren Mills

Human Services 2005, graduated from Columbia School of Social Work will be working at Pax: Real Solutions to Gun Violence as a Program Associate.

Susan Palladino

Human Services 2004 is currently attending Simmons College to gain a Masters in Social Work.

Karen Pierce

Karen Pierce

Human Services 2005, signed a two year commitment to join the Peace Corp and was stationed in Kenya. Now soon to be re-entering the country she is considering her options.

Jesenia Tejada

Jesenia Tejada

-2 Co-ops (Latino/a Student Cultural Center & Bottom Line)
1 internship (Department of Social Services)
2 service learning trips to Mexico with Lori
1 Dialogue of Civilization in Spain

-(Major): Coming in as a freshmen I had no idea what I wanted to major in. I really thought that I would do something like computer engineering or some type of business.

After trying a few courses, and especially with the help of this one course called-Exploring Careers, Choosing a Major-I declared Human Services. I have been very pleased with the many opportunities that this major has brought me. I've had a lot of leeway to be able to do the things I love.

-(Co-op): Both of my co-ops have been great experiences in many ways. My very first co-op was at the Latino/a Student Cultural Center. This co-op didn't necessarily have a lot to do with my major (I was seeking direct services with teens). However, the staff at the LSCC have always been very wonderful and extremely helpful.

Going in for the interview, I was informed that I had been selected as one of their LaCLA (La Comunidad Latina en Accion) scholarship recipients. As their Administrative and Special Projects Assistant, I took part in facilitating many of their annual cultural activities: Cocinar Con Gusto (Cooking Series), Vale Tio Tour (tours the city of Boston and stops at local restaurants), as well as writing and editing their Fall 2005 Newsletter.

This co-op allowed me to meet more Latinos on campus as well as becoming my second home away from home. They are very welcoming to anyone and for whatever help you may be looking for (you don't have to be Latino/a to seek their services). After that co-op experience, I returned as a workstudy for every semester after that.

My second and last co-op at Bottom Line was the perfect opportunity for me to work with Boston high school seniors. I was a College Access Counselor and I helped 44 students with their whole college application process (creating and narrowing students' college list, evaluating their admission chances, brainstorming and revising essays, completing and packaging their applications, as well as preparing them for the financial process).

The students were wonderful and it was amazing to see the connections and bonding that I was able to make with so many of them. At BL I was able to take a sneak peak at what one of the duties of a high school counselor would look like.

Overall, I have been extremely pleased with the co-op experiences through NU.

Tracy Walters

Tracy Walters

Human Services 2004, has completed her MSW at Boston College. Her placement was at Bowman Elementary School in Lexington, MA.