Career Chats

This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Princeton. Career Chats provide an opportunity to network in a low-pressure environment, and are a good match for students interested in learning about:

  • How alumni navigated their Princeton experience 
  • What working in a particular job or field is really like
  • Tips to prepare for and land internships and jobs

Alumni have 30-minute time slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Alumni participating in Career Chats are listed below by industry.

In order to participate, you must fill out a form indicating which alumni you would like to speak with and a member of the Center for Career Development team will follow up to connect you and the alum contact so you can begin your conversation.

Arts (Visual, Performance, Fine)

Jason Gold '81
Senior Architect, Richard H Lewis Architect

Jason is interested in speaking to students about careers in architecture and his experience navigating underrepresented career opportunities within Princeton.

Alex Volckhausen '93
Freelance Stage Manager

Alex is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: LGBTQIA.

Jennie Scholick ‘09
Director of Education & Training, San Francisco Ballet

Jennie is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: women, education, nonprofits, and visual, performance, and fine art.

Tula B. Strong '15
Performing Arts Professional and Choreographer

Tula is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Black and/or first-generation students, and careers in entrepreneurship, and performing arts.

Emily Redfield '17
Development Officer, Major Gifts, The National Gallery, London

Emily is interested in speaking to students about careers in museums and her experience working outside of the United States.

Katie Frorer '18
Actor

Katie is interested in speaking to students about careers in acting and entrepreneurship.

Joanna Wendel '19
Development Associate, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

Joanna is interested in speaking with students about careers in nonprofit organizations and performing arts.

Business/Consulting

Antonio (Tony) Rodriguez '79
Retired, former Chief Operating Officer, Warner Brothers

Tony is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: first-generation and/or international students, and careers in business, consulting, finance, media and entertainment, and nonprofit organizations. Tony is also interested in speaking about navigating international career opportunities.

Youngsuk Chi '83
Chairman, Elsevier

Youngsuk is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, Black, first-generation, international, LatinX, LGBTQIA, and/or veteran students, and careers in business, communications, education, entrepreneurship, media and entertainment, and nonprofits.

Lyle Andrews '93
APAC Head of Recruiting, Apple, Inc.

Lyle is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: first-generation and international students, and careers in business, engineering, and media and entertainment.

Marisa Femenia '01
Executive Vice President, Bain Capital

Marisa is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, Black, first-generation, international, LatinX, LGBTQIA, and/or veteran students, and consulting.

Jennifer Edelstein Scott '09
Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Jennifer is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and women in leadership roles.

Dana Schmitt ‘12
Perfumer, Givaudan

Dana is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: women-identifying students, and careers in business, healthcare and science.

Shane Blackman *14
Director of Product, Noom, Inc.

Shane is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: graduate students, careers in technology, and startups.

Aaron Katz '16
Product Manager, Thule

Aaron is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: international students, and careers in entrepreneurship, sustainability, engineering, and design.

Justine Mauro '17
Senior Manager, Strategy, Maiden Home

Justine is interested in speaking with students on topics related to business and women in leadership.

Elvia Ahmed '17
VP, Consumer Practice, Raines International Inc.

Elvia is interested in speaking with students on topics related to business, consulting, K-12 education, and women in leadership.

Yuni Sumawijaya '17
MBA Candidate, MIT Sloan School of Management

Yuni is interested in speaking with students on topics related to business and finance.

Furman Hayes '17
MBA Candidate, Harvard Business School

Furman is interested in speaking with students on topics related to business and nonprofits.

Robin Li '17
Sr Manager, Global Product Commercialization, Indeed

Robin is interested in speaking with students on topics related to business, consulting, and tech.

Lexi Quirk '18
Associate, 645 Ventures

Lexi is interested in speaking with students about careers in entrepreneurship, technology, business, consulting and communications.

Myesha Jemison '18
Management Trainee, McMaster-Carr

Myesha is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and research.

Kate Elfers '18
MBA Candidate, MIT Sloan School of Management

Kate is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and consulting.

Sergio Cruz '18
Sr Lead, Account Services, WhyteSpyder

Sergio is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: first-generation and/or Latinx students, and careers in business, consulting, entrepreneurship, and media and entertainment.

Chris Park '18
General Manager, TVSC, LLC

Chris is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American student(s), and careers in architecture and design, and business.

Samone Blair '18
Principal Business Controls Specialist, Discover Financial Services

Samone is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, media, research, and tech.

Daniel Wood '18
Product Manager, Stripe, Inc.

Daniel is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, data science, and tech.

Jake Hamel '18
Associate, Insight Property Group

Jake is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and real estate.

Evan Wood '18
Sr. Strategy and Business Operations Manager, Nuro, Inc.

Evan is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American student(s), and careers in business, consulting, engineering, entrepreneurship, finance, sustainability, technology, and visual, performance, and fine art.

Victoria Scott '18
Product Manager, IBM

Victoria is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: black and/or women student(s), and careers in business, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and technology.

Conservation, Energy and Sustainability

Alexandra Lunt '15
Principal, Armonia

Alexandra is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: women, and careers in business and sustainability.

Annie Karthesier '17
Sr Business Development Manager, GiveDirectly

Annie is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and sustainability.

Sami Walter '17
Renewable Energy Project Developer, Clearway

Sami is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and sustainability.

Quin Pompi '17
Renewables Investment Banking Analyst, KeyBanc

Quin is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, entrepreneurship, finance, and sustainability.

Scott Bechler '17
Sr Market Growth Analyst, Ivy Energy

Scott is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, sustainability, and technology.

Graham Turk '17
Graduate Researcher, MIT

Graham is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, sustainability, and technology.

William Atkinson '18
Research Assistant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

William is interested in speaking with students about careers in sustainability, communications, government, public service, healthcare and science, nonprofit organizations, and research-to-policy topic areas.

Sonia Howlett '18
Agricultural Water Quality Specialist, Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Sonia is interested in speaking with students about careers in sustainability and government.

Stu Pomeroy '18
Associate, Capital & Investments, Modern Energy

Stu is interested in speaking with students about careers in sustainability and finance.

Alexandra Kasdin *18/’14
Natural Resource Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Alexandra is interested in speaking with students about careers in sustainability.

Kristie Falconer '20
Sustainability Consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM)

Kristie is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: black and/or women students, and careers in consulting, sustainability, and nonprofits.

Education (K-12 & Higher Education)

Ann Tashi Slater '84
Self-Employed Author & Professor of American Literature

Ms. Slater is interested in speaking to students about how to develop as a writer. 

Dave Escoffery '95
Director, Graduate and Professional Education, Educational Testing Service (ETS)

Dave is interested in speaking with students about careers in education and seeking alternative academic careers for graduate students.

William Wong '02
Account Executive, ABM Building Solutions, LLC

William is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American students, and careers in advocacy and activism, business, consulting, education, and entrepreneurship.

Rodney Fierce '07
Humanities Teacher, Sonoma Academy

Rodney is interested in speaking with students about careers in K-12 education and teaching.

Anna Kamen '15
MPP and MBA student, Harvard Kennedy School and MIT Sloan

Anna is interested in speaking with students (with a special interest for grad students) about careers in education, healthcare, consulting, social impact and government.

Charlie Argon '17
Ph.D. Candidate, Princeton University

Charlie is interested in speaking with students about careers in research.

Anna Leader '18
English Teacher, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School

Anna is interested in speaking with students about careers in K-12 education and teaching.

Cate Mahoney *20
Middle School Teacher, Convent of the Sacred Heart

Cate is interested in speaking with students about careers in K-12 education and teaching.

Entrepreneurship/Start-Ups

Eli Halliwell '93
CEO, Hairstory

Eli is interested in speaking with students about careers in entrepreneurship, business, and finance.

Amy Nguyen-Chyung *98
Limited Partner, Next Wave Impact

Dr. Nguyen-Chyung is interested in speaking with students about entrepreneurship, strategy, and business school academia.

Chris Chaney '07
Founder and Managing Partner, C4+

Chris is interested in speaking with students about entrepreneurship, gaming, esports, technology, finance, and consulting.

Sankalp Gosain '11
General Manager & COO, Moonpod

Sankalp is interested in speaking with students about careers in entrepreneurship, business, and social impact.

Shriya Sekhsaria '18
Founder & CEO, Lumhaa: The Memory Jar Company

Shriya is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, international, and/or women students, and careers in business, communications, education, entrepreneurship, finance, media and entertainment, social impact, and technology.

Finance

Yung Lim '87
Managing Partner, RDG Funds LLC

Yung is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Black, first-generation, international, LatinX, LGBTQIA, and/or veteran students, and careers in finance, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations.

Kin Chung *97
Vice President of Credit Innovation, MPOWER Financing

Kin is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, first-generation, and/or international students, and careers in finance and business.

David Fritz '12
Investment Officer, The World Bank Group

David is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: international students, and careers in finance, investment banking, startups, government and public service.

Chris Perron '17
Associate, Sixth Street Growth

Chris is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, finance, and technology.

Sara Diressova ‘18
Macro & Multi-Strategy Analyst, AQR Capital Management

Sara is interested in speaking with students about careers in data science and finance.

Aryaman Jalota ‘18
Trader, Verition Fund Management

Aryaman is interested in speaking with students about careers in consulting and finance.

David Hallisey ‘18
Sr Associate, Pamplona Capital Management

David is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, finance, and healthcare and science.

Ify Ikpeazu ‘18
Financial Partnerships, Stripe, Inc.

Ify is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and finance.

Oscar Guardado ‘18
Investment Analyst, Virginia College Savings Plan

Oscar is interested in speaking with students about careers in business and finance.

Government

Jackie Cremos '14
Financial Institution Policy Analyst, Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Jackie is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: first-generation and/or international students, and careers in finance, technology, and government.

Briana Payton ‘17
Commissioner, Youth Engagement Committee Co-Chair, Executive Committee Member, Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission

Briana is interested in speaking with students about careers in government and social justice & advocacy.

Hannah Kraus ‘17
Masters Candidate, University of Michigan

Hannah is interested in speaking with students about careers in government and social justice & advocacy.

Natalie Fahlberg ‘18
Mission Operations Engineer, Anduril Industries

Natalie is interested in speaking with students about careers in government and engineering.

Marcus Akiti '18
Communications Officer, U.S. Marine Corps

Marcus is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: black and/or veteran students, and careers in communications, engineering, government and public service, and technology.

Keeley Walsh '19
Program Assistant, Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Keeley is interested in speaking with students interested in careers in government and public service.

Health & Human Services

Elena Martinez '11
Ph.D. Candidate, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

Elena is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: LatinX students, and careers in government, sustainability, nonprofit organizations, social impact, public service, healthcare, and research.

Briana Christophers '17
M.D.-Ph.D. Student, Weill Cornell Medicine

Briana is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: LatinX and/or first-generation students, and careers in medicine, advocacy and activism, and social impact.

Monica Seng '17
Associate Product Manager, Nomad Health

Monica is interested in speaking with students about careers in healthcare and business.

Taylor Myers '17
Research Assistant, Wellesley College

Taylor is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including:  first-generation and/or women students, and careers in education, healthcare and science, nonprofits, and technology.

Vikram Pothuri '17
MD Candidate, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Vikram is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including:  Asian and Asian American students, and careers in healthcare and science.

Hyewon Kim '17
Scientific Communications and Engagement Manager, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour

Hyewon is interested in speaking with students about careers in healthcare and research and work outside of the U.S.

Jeffrey Chen '17
MD Candidate, Vanderbilt University

Jeffrey is interested in speaking with students about careers in health and the medical school application process.

Meredith Mihalopoulos '18
MD Candidate, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital

Meredith is interested in speaking with students about careers in health and the medical school application process.

Emily Pauls '18
MD Candidate, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Emily is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including:  first-generation students, and careers in advocacy and activism, healthcare and science, nonprofits, sustainability, and visual, performance, and Fine art.

Michelle Greenfield '18
Veterinary Student, Cornell University

Michelle is interested in speaking with students about careers in healthcare and science and media and entertainment.

Law

George Bustin '70
Senior Counsel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLC

George is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Black, first-generation, and/or international students and careers in law, international law, and international relations.

Ronald J. Levine '74
General Counsel, Herrick, Feinstein LLP

Ron is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian-America, Black, first-generation, international, Latinx, LGBTQIA, women, and/or veteran students and careers in law and advocacy and activism.

Leslie Margolis '82
Managing Attorney, Disability Rights Maryland

Leslie is interested in speaking with students about careers in law, advocacy and activism, education, social impact, and nonprofit organizations.

Dina Brewer '88
Managing Partner, Princeton Law Partners, LLC

Dina is interested in speaking with students about careers in law (corporate and criminal), finance, private equity, business, startups, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations.

Kristin Vassallo '97
Deputy Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey

Kristin is interested in speaking with students about careers in law, government, public and service.

Ashley L. Oliver Kappel ‘99
Attorney, Kappel Law LLC

Ashley is interested in speaking with students about careers in law.

T.J. Dammrich ‘01
Founding Partner, Mercer Oak LLC

T.J. is interested in speaking with students about careers in law.

John Duffy '05
Vice President - Associate General Counsel, Corporate and Real Estate, Tiffany & Co.

John is interested in speaking with students about careers in law, business, real estate.

Katherine C. Reilly '05
Assistant U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Katherine is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: women and careers in government and public service and law.

Jillian Hewitt '11
Attorney, Susman Godfrey LLP

Jillian is interested in speaking with students about careers in law and working in a trial-focused litigation boutique.

Shannon Togawa Mercer '11
Associate, WilmerHale LLP

Shannon is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American and/or international students, and careers in law, startups, technology, business, national security, corporate law, and cybersecurity.

Jessica Zou '16
Staff Attorney, Children’s Rights

Jessica is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American and women, and careers in law and social impact.

Harrison Shure '18
JD Candidate, UPENN Law School

Harrison is interested in speaking with students interested in law.

Media/Marketing/Communications

Kimberly Ho Schoelen '81
Principal Consultant, Kimberly Ho Schoelen Marketing Programs & Communications Consulting

Kimberly is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, and/or first-generation students, and careers in manufacturing, professional services, technology, nonprofit organizations, business, entrepreneurship, communications, and consulting.

Rebecca Chatman '94
Vice President and Coordinating Producer, NBC Olympics at NBC Olympics

Rebecca is interested in speaking with students interested in media and entertainment, communications, and production.

Brian Rokus '99
Political Coverage Manager / Supervising Producer, CNN

Brian is interested in speaking with students interested in media and entertainment, communications, and politics.

Maya Wesby ‘18
Social Media Strategist, Edelman

Maya is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: black students, and careers in communications.

Taylor Pearson '18
Sr Account Manager, Trident DMG

Taylor is interested in speaking with students interested in media and communications and business.

Colton Hess '18
Creator Community Lead, Good Party

Colton is interested in speaking with students interested in media, nonprofits, and advocacy & activism.

Nicholas Wu ‘18
Congressional Reporter, POLITICO

Nicholas is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American students, and careers in communications.

Diana Ortiz ‘19
Communications Manager, Microsoft

Diana is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: first-generation, LatinX, and/or women students, and careers in communications and technology.

Nonprofit & Social Impact

Donald Burnes '63
Founder, Burnes Institute for Poverty Research

Donald is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Black, first-generation, international, Latinx, LGBTQIA, and/or veteran students, and careers in education, advocacy and activism, social impact, nonprofit organizations, consulting, healthcare, government, and public service.

Jenny Korn '96
Research Affiliate and Founding Coordinator of the Race+Tech+Media Working Group, Harvard

Jenny is interested in speaking with students about careers in academic research with a focus on topics related to the intersection of race, gender, interviewing, activism, and email management.

Emily Liao Master '01
Executive Director, Friends of the Israel Antiquities Authority

Emily is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, and/or international students, and careers in the nonprofit sector, social impact, consulting, media, and visual arts.

Hannah Rosenthal '15
Graduate Support Counselor, Loyola Academy of St. Louis

Hannah is interested in speaking with students about careers in K-12 Education, social justice, advocacy and activism, and nonprofit organizations.

Clare Sherlog '17
Sr Director, CCS Fundraising

Clare is interested in speaking with students interested in consulting, business, and nonprofit organizations.

Paloma Aguas '18
Communications Associate, ACLU of New Jersey

Paloma is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Latinx and/or LGBTQIA students, and careers in advocacy and activism, communications, social impact, nonprofit organizations, government, and public service.

Tobi Jedege '18
Data Scientist, ACLU of New York

Tobi is interested in speaking with students interested in data science, social justice & advocacy, and nonprofit organizations.

Technology & Engineering

Peter Woolford '83
Talent Partner and Market Manager, Kforce Inc.

Peter is interested in speaking with students about careers in business, technology, startups, and entrepreneurship.

Noemi de la Puente '86
Principal Engineer, Trenton Water Works

Noemi is interested in speaking with students about careers in engineering, government, public service, media, and performing arts.

Dan Hart ‘88
Games Software Manager, WGBH Foundation

Dan is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, Black, first-generation, international, Latinx, LGBTQIA, veteran and/or women students, and careers in media and entertainment, nonprofit organizations, social impact, technology, and visual, performance, and Fine art.

Rachel Marek '17
Project Engineer, McNamara Salvia

Rachel is interested in speaking with students about careers in civil and environmental engineering.

Nusrat Ahmed '17
Learning Designer, CAIS

Nusrat is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American, Black, first-generation, international, Latinx, LBGTQIA, veteran, and/or woman-identifying students, and careers in advocacy and activism, business, education, entrepreneurship, finance, social impact, and technology.

Tal Bass '17
Robotics Software Engineer, Asylon Robotics

Tal is interested in speaking with students about careers in technology, entrepreneurship, visual, performance and Fine art, and engineering.

Blake Lawson '17
Sr. Software Engineer, Google

Blake is interested in speaking with students about careers in technology and engineering.

Rachel Xu '17
Staff Software Engineer, Google

Rachel is interested in speaking with students on topics related to the intersections of careers and identities, including: Asian and Asian American and/or woman-identifying students, and careers in technology.

Eric Chiou '17
Sr. Data Scientist, Alloy

Eric is interested in speaking with students interested in data science and technology.

Sofia Gallo '17
UX Researcher, Meta

Sofia is interested in speaking with students interested in data science, accessibility in technology, and research.

Ashley Forte '18
UX Researcher, Audible

Ashley is interested in speaking with students interested in data science and technology.

Nathan Mytelka '19
Software Engineer, Microsoft

Nathan is interested in speaking with students about careers in technology, education, and engineering.

Cindy Han '22
Software Engineer, Netflix

Cindy is interested in speaking with students interested in engineering and technology.

Resources and tips

Prior to conducting an informational interview, it is beneficial to review alumni biographies and prepare questions in advance. We have created some helpful resources that will help guide your conversations with alumni. Review our resource on informational interviews prior to your Zoom or phone conversation.

In order to build a lasting connection and to show appreciation for the alum’s time, we encourage you to send a thank you email within 24 hours of your Career Chat. You can find an example in our Five-Step Networking Guide. We also hope for all students to connect with their alumnus/a within 48 hours of the connection email.

Be sure to: 

  • Follow-up with the alum in a timely manner (48 hours) after we connect you
  • Set up a time to talk over Zoom or conduct a phone call rather than exchanging emails
  • Dress in professional attire
  • Research the alum's background prior to the Career Chat
  • Ask thoughtful questions about their work, education and skills 
  • Take notes about potential leads, next steps and advice 
  • Send a thank you note after the discussion