I am now a community support specialist at Thresholds, which is an organization that offers healthcare, housing, and other services to people living with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. 

As a community support specialist, I provide direct service to members through outreach. I manage cases, intervene in crisis situations, counsel, and advocate for my clients. I also collaborate with providers and refer clients to resources.

Currently, I am a research patient coordinator at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), which is the largest medical center in the world. In this role, I recruit and assess both acute and chronic stroke patients at hospitals within the Texas Medical Center and collaborate with a speech-language pathologist.

On a day-to-day basis, I administer cognitive examinations, conduct MRI scans, and analyze behavioral and neuro-imaging data. I hope to continue working as a patient coordinator for a few years before pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology.

There are many opportunities that would not have been available to me if I had not attended Grinnell. From building soft skills such as writing and communication to providing research opportunities both inside and outside of classes that enhanced my technical skills, Grinnell prepared me extensively for this position. I will always cherish the Grinnell professors and staff for their dedication to providing me with such an enriching education.

Passions and Possible Paths

I’m interested in pursuing a career working to reduce racism in health care and obstetrics, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with all that. My internship at the Redleaf Clinic showed me one possible path I could follow.

There’s also a public health program at the University of Minnesota that focuses on mothers and infants and maternal health care. I’m very passionate about that.

Making It Real

I have some appointments with CLS (Careers, Life, and Service) scheduled to help me sort it all out, and I’ve spoken to some of my professors about possible opportunities. Just taking that first step of making those appointments, I think, is going to be helpful going forward.

The professors truly care about my success, and the open curriculum allowed me to create my own path and discover what major was best for me. I know they’re going to be there for me this year, and I want to be able to continue that connection even after I graduate.

I am now the housing program assistant at the Iowa City Housing Authority! I manage cases for families who participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) rental assistance programs. I also assist with quality control in affordable housing initiatives and provide administrative support.

Throughout my time at Grinnell, I had a lot of great experiences. I conducted two research projects, traveled abroad, and engaged in deep, rigorous studies. I know this will serve me well in my professional life, and I will definitely cherish the time I had at Grinnell.

Now, I am an associate teacher at LEEP Dual Language Academy Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. I co-teach a bilingual second-grade classroom of 18 students. 

On the day to day, I plan lessons, create small group instructions and parent communications, differentiate instructions based on unique student needs, and build communities and procedures.

Before beginning my Ph.D. program in chemistry at the University of Michigan, I spent the summer backpacking through Spain and completed a 500-mile pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago. 

For students hoping to pursue a Ph.D. or medical school after Grinnell, please know that Grinnell's Chemistry Department is exceptionally strong and prepares you well. Not only did I develop the required research and academic skills, but I also developed the confidence and communication skills to excel in a Ph.D. program. I am very grateful for the many opportunities Grinnell offered to me.

Eventually, I hope to teach and conduct research at a small liberal arts college, as well as continue backpacking across the world.

I am currently a research support associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Picower Institute. I am very grateful for all the experiences I've had at Grinnell and am excited about the future!

I'm still at Grinnell College... but now as an admission counselor!

I am so excited to continue my work in admission. I love meeting prospective students and families and take great pride in helping others navigate the college search process.

Grinnell prepared me thoroughly for this role. It provided me with the connections I needed, equipped me to take initiative and ownership of my projects, and empowered me to continue exploring my passions.

I am now a graduate student at the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work, where I hope to get a sports psychology certification with hands-on experience in athletic counseling.

Thanks to Grinnell's flexible curriculum, I truly found my strengths and interests. For example, as a student-athlete mentor (SAM) at Grinnell, I realized my passion for helping athletes through their mental struggles. I also learned a lot from my professors and peers through many one-on-one interactions. 

I am very grateful for all that Grinnell has provided me and am excited for the next chapter of my life.

I am so excited to now be pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Kansas!

I cannot thank my research advisor, Professor Stephen Sieck, my major adviser, Professor Mark Levandoski, and all my professors, coaches, friends, and family members enough for their endless support of my love for chemistry. I spoke extensively with Professor Sieck and briefly with Professor Swartz about post-grad opportunities, and they helped me narrow down my prospects. I never expected to develop such a strong passion for research, but I am incredibly grateful for all my undergraduate laboratory experiences that have enhanced my desire to explore research as a career path and further my education. I cannot wait to get started!

When I was first applying, I was aware of Grinnell’s high success rate in sending students into healthcare, which was important to me in terms of achieving my post-grad goals.