Allegheny College
09/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2024 08:33
Gator Alumni Apply Lessons Learned at Allegheny to Rewarding Careers in Nonprofit and Government Sectors
Allegheny College's Blue and Gold Weekend welcomed alumni returning to campus, celebrating not just memories but also the impressive careers they've built since graduation. Among the attendees were seven notable graduates whose careers in health science and education, conservation, law, and community development, are making a tangible impact. Each returned to campus to reconnect with the place that helped shape their professional paths, and to share how their Allegheny experience fueled their unique successes.
Grace Proper '22, Nutrition Education Program Supervisor for Adagio Health
Global health studies,political science
As a nutrition education program supervisor at Adagio Health, Grace Proper works to improve the health and wellness of underserved communities across Pennsylvania. She leads programs that focus on food access, nutrition education, and healthy eating initiatives for schools and community organizations.
"The most rewarding part of my career is that I not only utilize the skills I learned at Allegheny, but I've also grown so much as a person in my career," Proper says. "I've learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses, and I've been put into so many different situations that have allowed me to take on challenges and grow both personally and professionally."
She credits Allegheny's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning as pivotal in shaping her ability to approach health education from both a scientific and a community-centered perspective. "I've been able to implement a lot of what I learned at Allegheny into my current job, such as social determinants of health, health policy and law, and food insecurity, so I'm using my degree in so many ways I didn't think I would."
Freddy Smith '20 - Dirt, Gravel, & Low Volume Roads Technician at the Lawrence County Conservation District
Environmental science & sustainability, Spanish
Freddy Smith has turned his passion for the environment into a career as a Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Roads (DGLVR) Technician at the Lawrence County Conservation District. He works to improve road infrastructure while minimizing environmental damage, focusing on "environmentally sensitive maintenance of roadways and reconstruction of impacted streams and waterways due to in-stream barriers like small roadway culverts and bridges that are undersized for bank requirement for streams," says Smith.
"Allegheny is good at preparing students for multidisciplinary thinking, and that's a lot of what I do in conservation work," Smith says.
Smith attributes his career pathway skills to Allegheny's network of support and career development, which gave him the confidence to pursue a career in conservation. "I struggled at times and had to seek out the help of my mentors here, and so the opportunity to talk about that pathway to students who are likely going to experience some of the same types of challenges that I experienced is really rewarding for me."
Royse Bachtel, '18, Staff Attorney, KidsVoice
Political science, communication & media, history
As a staff attorney at KidsVoice, Royse Bachtel advocates for abused, neglected, and at-risk foster children in the Pittsburgh region. She represents youth in the child protective services system, ensuring they have a safe, stable, and healthy home environment. Her work involves both courtroom advocacy and collaboration with community organizations to address the needs of her clients.
"Allegheny prepared me for law school, but more importantly, it instilled in me a sense of social responsibility," Royse says.
Royse credits her time at Allegheny with helping her develop the empathy and communication skills that are essential in her role as an attorney for vulnerable children. "Allegheny also gave me the speaking skills, research, and critical thinking skills to get me where I am today, without Allegheny I don't know where I would be."
Renna Wrubleski '21, Community Development Director for the City of Meadville
Political science, community and justice studies
Renna Wrubleski is making an impact close to home as the community development director for the City of Meadville. She oversees initiatives aimed at improving the city's infrastructure, housing, and public spaces while fostering economic growth.
"Allegheny was so instrumental in what I'm doing right now," Wrubleski says. "I think that it really opened me up to making connections and building relationships, which I think attending college does in general, but with Allegheny being a small liberal arts college with a focus on holistic development of students, the experience really helped me really grow as a person and not just as an academic."
One of the most fulfilling aspects of Wrubleski's role is further fostering the relationship between the city of Meadville and the College. "I work with President Cole or Andy Walker through my job and that is something that I love because I think that's a really important partnership, and we're really proud of cultivating and strengthening it."
Cate Hovey '18, Behavior Analyst at the Monarch Center for Autism
Psychology, education studies, music
Cate Hovey works as a behavior analyst at the Monarch Center for Autism, where she helps children on the autism spectrum improve communication, social, and adaptive skills. Her role involves creating individualized treatment plans for children and working closely with families and educators to support development for a high-needs population of students ranging in age from 5 to 21.
"The psychology program at Allegheny was foundational to my understanding of human behavior," said Hovey. "My professors encouraged me to explore all the different branches of psychology, which led me to pursue a career as a behavior analyst."
Hovey also mentioned the value of her Bonner experience while at Allegheny, which gave her a foundation in service and giving back to those in need. "The Bonner program gave me the opportunity to become more involved in community service in ways I wouldn't have otherwise."
Lottie Mateyak '23, Health Science Research Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh
Lottie Grant is making strides in health science as a former research fellow and now lab technician at the University of Pittsburgh, where she focuses on cutting-edge research in regenerative medicine and ovarian cancer.
Her advice to students looking to enter the field of cancer research is "don't be afraid to be wrong," Mateyak says. "You can spend your whole life idling and trying to make the perfect choice, or you can go forward with what feels right and then if it turns out to be wrong, you just take the next step. You can't start walking if you don't take the first step."
Lottie also emphasized the importance of campus resources, particularly the Center for Career and Professional Development, which helped set her up for success. "I had no experience in making a resume or writing a cover letter, and they really helped me to figure all of that out and I wouldn't be where I am without their guidance," Mateyak says.
Madeline Ackley '20, Associate Director at Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center
Biology, global health studies
Madeline Ross serves as the associate director at the Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center, where she leads programs designed to improve healthcare access and workforce development in underserved areas.
"Initially, I came to Allegheny thinking I wanted to be a physician's assistant, but throughout my time at Allegheny, I came to realize that was not the career path I wanted to excel at," Ackley says. "With help from various professors, I started down the path toward public health, which made me pursue my masters in public health and further my career from there."
Madeline attributes her leadership skills to Allegheny's emphasis on experiential learning, communication skills, and professor mentorship. "Employers have been really impressed by my communication skills, which I developed through things like my senior comp and various classes that were discussion and critical thinking based."
Ken Kutzer '18, Program Manager at Adagio Health
[Link]Ken Kutzer plays a key role in advancing public health as a program manager at Adagio Health, where he oversees government, foundation, and corporate grants as well as the implementation and oversight of grant-funded programs and projects. His work ensures that underserved populations have access to critical healthcare services.
"My career has allowed me to pursue opportunities in a variety of sectors, industries, and services, and I am fortunate to have been able to work in collaborative settings with experienced colleagues in leadership roles," Kutzer says.
Kutzer praised the mentorship he received at Allegheny, which helped him find his passion for public health. "My time at Allegheny definitely made me a more flexible person! I entered Allegheny with a "one track" mind when it came to my post graduation goals, but when I left, I was more open to different, sometimes unexpected, career options because I had extensively consulted with professors, advisors, and career services before making the decision to go to graduate school," Kutzer says. "My advice to students is to talk to your professors, advisors, and career services about your goals. They are more than willing to help you in any way they can."
The Allegheny Legacy: Building Future Leaders
As Blue and Gold Weekend commenced, alumni were able to reflect on how their time at Allegheny College laid the foundation for their professional development. Their collective successes across various fields-from law to healthcare to community development-are a testament to the value of a liberal arts education and the College's commitment to fostering well-rounded, socially conscious leaders.
"I always joke that if it were professionally or financially responsible to get another bachelor's at Allegheny, I would have stayed for another four years because I loved my experience so much," Bachtel says.
For these alumni, coming back to campus wasn't just about reconnecting with old friends-it was about recognizing how their college experience continues to shape their lives and careers today.