Alumni

Adrianna Ratajska graduated from Union College in 2016.

After graduation, I began working for the Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. I plan to stay at the Partners MS Center for at least two years, and then apply to clinical psychology Ph. D. programs, with a focus on clinical neuropsychology.

At the Partners MS Center, I am responsible for administering tests of cognition, vision, and leg and arm function, as well as managing clinical and research trials. My education at Union provided me with a broad foundation in psychology and allowed me to develop the skills necessary to succeed in my current research position. The variety of classes, engaging professors, and opportunities for research made my experience in the psychology department at Union truly unique.

If you would like to contact Adrianna you can email her at ratajska.adrianna@gmail.com.

Elise DiMeo graduated from Union College in 2014.

Elise worked as an English Teacher at a public school in Madrid, Spain for a year and is currently employed by a small private school in the Greater Boston area teaching Spanish.

If you would like to contact Elise, you can email her at Elise_DiMeo@stsebs.org.

Elizabeth Nailling graduated from Union College in 2014. She is currently a lead wilderness therapy instructor at Trails Carolina in Lake Toxoway, NC.

Liz is currently applying to Masters in Social Work programs to attend in the Fall of 2016 or the Spring of 2017

If you would like to contact Liz, you can do so by emailing her at eliz.nailling@gmail.com.

Nandrianina Rarivoson graduated from Union College in 2014. After graduation, she went to work for The New England Center for Children as a home base teacher.

If you would like to contact Nandri, you can do so by emailing her at rarivosonn@gmail.com.

Victoria Velazquez graduated from Union College in 2014. She is currently a graduate student at LIU Brooklyn pursuing her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling. Victoria is graduating in January 2017. She is also interning at The New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center.

If you would like to contact Victoria, you can do so by emailing her at vvictoria7892@gmail.com.

Jillian DeBono graduated from Union College in 2013.

After graduation, Jillian immediately started her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University and achieved her M.Ed in 2014. From there she returned to the Boston area and taught in a few schools. Jillian is currently a teacher for St. John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester.

Because of Union, Jillian feels she is able to pull out so many resources and tools given to her by the amazing professors. “I can’t imagine being as prepared as I am now without those courses”!

If you would like to contact Jillian, you can do so by emailing her at jkdebono@gmail.com.

Madeline Levine graduated from Union College in 2013.

My name is Maddy Levine and I am currently an Education Manager at a Success Academy Elementary school in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. In this role, I am on school leadership and oversee all special education and assessments throughout the school. It entails tracking student academics to ensure they are receiving the level of support they need, as well as communicating with families about academics and special education.

Prior to this job, I did a year of service in Boston called Match Corps where I taught small groups of middle school students reading and writing and was an administrative assistant to the Dean of Students. It was an awesome way to get into a school and be able to wear a bunch of different hats.

Studying Psychology at Union gave me the tools to become a life long learner. Within the classroom is where I became invested in people and why and how we work. I took educational and developmental psychology as well as a few education classes in sociology that I found really struck my passion. Writing my senior thesis was another huge learning experience that I take with me, especially as I may decide to pursue graduate school in the future! I wouldn’t have half the people skills and work ethic needed in my job if not for Union and the professors (especially the ones in the Psychology department).

Alex Napp graduated from Union College in 2013. After graduation, I joined Teach For America. I was placed in Bridgeport, Connecticut where I taught first grade at a high-performing charter school for two years. As a new, inexperienced teacher, I relied on so much that I had learned in Union’s psychology classes to supplement the training Teach For America provided.

Professor Bizer’s Social Psychology class taught me about communication, self-esteem, and the impacts social situations can have on a person. I reflected on this as I navigated difficult parent-teacher conferences and taught my class of six-year-olds that spitting wasn’t okay even if everyone else was doing it. I reflected on Professor Hart’s Love and Death seminar when helping several of my students cope with the loss of a parent. I also reflected on the studies from Psychology of Memory and Thinking and Developmental Psychology when teaching my students to read, add, and tie their shoes. I felt so incredibly fortunate to have a psych background that I could draw upon in the classroom.

In June 2015, I began a new job managing Teach For America’s recruitment efforts at Cornell University, Hamilton College, and Ithaca College. Once again, I find myself reflecting on my experiences as a Psychology major as I learn to perform in this new role.

Alexandra Aldeborgh graduated from Union College in 2012. She is currently working towards her Masters in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at NYU, expected graduation is 2017.

Alexandra while being enrolled full time at NYU is also working part time as front desk staff at SoulCycle. Previously, she worked as a research assistant at the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center in Providence, RI from 2012-2014.

If you would like to contact Alexandra, you can do so by emailing her at aaldeborgh@gmail.com.

Melanie Kramer graduated from Union College in 2012. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Counseling Psychology at Colorado State University.

If you would like to contact Melanie, you can do so by emailing her at melaniekramer2@gmail.com.

Gabrielle Contelmo graduated from Union College in 2011.

Gabrielle is currently a Property Manager, Administrative/Executive Assistant, and Marketing Coordinator for Metric Corporation.

Alyse Dunn graduated from Union College in 2011. She received her Masters in Global Marketing Communications & Advertising from Emerson College in 2012.

Alyse is currently a Data Manager for Chadwick Martin Bailey, a strategic market research company in Boston, MA.

If you would like to contact Alyse Dunn, you can do so by emailing her at alyse.dunn89@gmail.com.

Sloane Sheldon graduated from Union College in 2011.

A year after graduating from Union in 2011, following a research position at the University of California, San Francisco, I began a clinical psychology Ph.D. program at Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in New York City. In addition to conducting psychotherapy with psychiatric patients and adults with developmental disabilities, I specialize in neuropsychology, where I study how the brain affects behavior and cognition. I am particularly interested in working with a variety of medical patient populations. To this end, I worked as a neuropsychology extern at the inpatient unit of the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center last year and now in 2015 I am at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, conducting outpatient neuropsychological assessments. In addition to my clinical work, several of my research projects that have focused primarily on biological factors of cognition have been presented at national conferences. My doctoral dissertation will examine the correlations between electrophysiological activity and cognitive performance.

The opportunities I had at Union provided me with a real advantage as I began my doctoral training. In many of my early clinical positions, supervisors were impressed with the prior experience I had gathered during my days at Union, particularly working at Ellis Hospital’s Mental Health Clinic and, as a result, granted me greater responsibilities and opportunities. In terms of research, many of my classmates came from large universities where they collected data for their advisor’s projects. At Union, I was encouraged to envision my own project and execute it from start to finish. This complete experience has not only helped me create my own projects for my master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation, but also enabled me to assist professors and supervisors in additional research projects.

I love what I am doing on a daily basis, am excited about the career that lies ahead of me, and might not be where I am today if it were not for my early training and nurturing from the faculty at Union.

Kseniya Zhuzha graduated from Union College in 2011.

After graduating from Union, I received a 1-year fellowship from the First Reformed Church of Schenectady to volunteer at the local YWCA as an employment readiness coordinator. It was a valuable experience for personal and professional growth as well as much needed break before going on to graduate school. The following year I began the doctoral program in counseling psychology at Auburn University, AL, and I am currently a student there. After receiving my degree, I intend to practice psychotherapy. Specific field is to be determined. I am very happy where my career is taking me, and Union College most definitely helped me get there.

I began college with undeclared major, but small class sizes and ability to work closely with professors helped me find my path. After learning about my interests, my adviser George Bizer, Ph.D., connected me with research opportunities and discussed with me professional development. Professors in the psychology department were very helpful in talking to me about careers in psychology and assisted me greatly in the graduate school application process. Faculty investment in students is one of the things I love most about Union. If you are a current or prospective student, I encourage you to take full advantage of it. I would have never been where I am now if it wasn’t for my professors.

Picture caption: APA Convention 2015, Toronto, ON.

Jamie Luguri graduated from Union College in 2010.

After graduating from Union College, I attended Yale University to pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology. The hands-on research training and superb teaching that I experienced at Union not only helped me get into graduate school, it also provided me with many of the skills I needed to succeed there. In 2015, I received my doctorate and am currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Professional at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

James Schwabach graduated from Union College in 2009. He received his Masters in Sports Psychology from Ithaca College as well as his Clinical Biofeedback Certification.

James is currently a Lead Peak Performance Trainer for Apex Performance in Charlotte, NC. Apex Performance is a consulting company focused on providing performance psychology training to athletes, business executives, military personnel, and veterans. Think of James like a personal trainer, but for your mind instead of your body.

If you would like to contact James Schwabach, you can do so by emailing him at jayschwab5@gmail.com.

Reyna Machado graduated from Union College in 2007.

After graduation, she received a Master of Social Work (2010) from Stony Brook University and currently working as a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW).

Reyna has worked for NYC Adult Protective Services for almost 6 years, with the last year being promoted to Social Work Supervisor.

Future endeavors are likely to remain within the realm of the social work profession, including possibly applying to a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) or PhD in Social Work program.

If you would like to contact Reyna, you can email her at reynamachado85@gmail.com.

Matthew Marmet graduated from Union College in 2006. He received his M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Connecticut and his Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Matthew is currently the Educational Experience Coordinator for the Blended MBA Program at Utica College.

If you would like to contact Matthew Marmet, you can do so by emailing him at matthew.marmet@gmail.com.

Greg graduated from Union College in 1992. From there he worked in a couple of psychiatric hospitals both doing research and working with patients.

Greg then went on to get his Clinical Psychology MA at Univ. of Hartford and was also getting his Psy.D., however, he decided to stop after getting the Masters and proceeded to take the opportunity to work in technology. Over the next many years, he was in technology leadership, then business leadership, marketing leadership and ultimately market research.

In 2010, Greg received his MBA and is an executive in a large market research organization. According to Greg, his psychology training has been invaluable in getting to where he is today.

Some of the titles/companies he has had include:

VP, research & consulting — Market Strategies International
VP, telecommunications Research — comScore
Lead Market Research Manager — AT&T
President — EdgeTek Technologies
President & CIO (and co-founder) — Quotopia.com
Information Services Manager — Thomson American Health Consultants
Technology Manager — Lanier Professional Services
Mental Health Worker — Westwood Lodge Hospital
Research Associate — Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

The moral of Greg’s story is that the Psychology degree can lead to research, business, marketing, technology and a slew of other seemingly-unrelated careers.

If you would like to contact Greg, you can do so by emailing him at greg.mishkin@marketstrategies.com.

Hilary Henkind graduated from Union College in 1989. She went on to graduate from Boston University School of Law in 1992 and began working at a law firm in Boston specializing in insurance coverage litigation. She received a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1996. In 1997, she moved to New York to work at Mound Cotton Wollan & Greengrass, LLP, where she has been a partner since 2001. She continues to work in the field of commercial property insurance litigation.

Although her work does not require any particular psychology background, Hilary finds her Union psychology degree to be particularly helpful in raising her three children!

If you would like to contact Hilary, you can do so by emailing her at hplattus@gmail.com.

Michael Sachs graduated from Union College in 1973. He received his Master's degree at Hollins College in general-experimental psychology and his Ph.D., from Florida State University in sport psychology. Mr. Sachs also received a Master's degree at Loyola University (MD) in counseling psychology.

Mr. Sachs retired from Temple University in 2020 where he was a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology. He now enjoys flexible time to work on various projects.

If you would like to contact Dr. Sachs, please do so by emailing him at msachs@temple.edu.

Thomas R. Zentall received his BS in psychology (and a BEE in electrical engineering) from Union in 1963. He received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of California Berkeley in 1969. For the past 45 years he has been at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Zentall conducts research in the area of comparative cognition working with pigeons, dogs, rats, Japanese quail, and humans. He is most interested in understanding the similarities and differences in cognition between humans and other animals.

If you would like to contact Dr. Zentall, please do so by emailing him at zentall@uky.edu.