Career Services

by Noah Jones on 8/13/2025

Pascal Sikorski is a current student working towards a double major in computer science and mathematics, with a minor in philosophy. Sikorski works for the School of Science and Engineering’s Mecharithm Lab, doing assistive and environmental robotics research. He is also doing research through the Intelligent Machines and Materials Lab at Oregon State University, and is a member of the SLU International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) team. In his Intelligent Machines and Materials Lab role, he is working on a robotic arm that can pick apples without damaging branches or breaking any other part of the tree. These types of autonomous robots are expected to eventually fill labor shortages within agriculture across the country.

Earlier in Sikorski's college journey, he completed research driven by data analysis, worked as a computer science mentor, completed a fellowship with Caltech, worked as a teaching assistant, completed research with Taylor Geospatial Institute, and was part of SLU’s esports team as a player and coach. He also led a project focused on understanding human intent from speech and applied it to robotic movement. This project helped him receive the Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national award given to college sophomores and juniors interested in science, engineering, and mathematics research.

Career Services connected with Sikorski through their Assistant Director, Cori Israel, who taught him in CORE 3500: Self in the World, a class focused on vocational discernment and creating a purpose-filled life in solidarity with others. CORE classes are another way SLU helps guide students through their professional journeys, and are another way that Career Services' team interacts with students.

Sikorski’s advice to new SLU students is to be “ambitious” and “take risks.” He also explained that “life can be full of constant learning,” and if students think from that perspective, they can do much more than they may think possible.

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Abby Van Vooren

by Noah Jones on 4/4/2025

Abby Van Vooren is a student studying marketing with a minor in entrepreneurship through the Chaifetz School of Business. During Van Vooren’s time at SLU, she has been involved as a research assistant under Dannielle Joy Davis, Ph.D., and is a peer mentor for her Ignite Seminar. She is also part of the SLU Women’s Club Soccer Team as a player and social chair, a Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship ambassador, a manager for Saint Louis University Women's Basketball, and a Junior Achievement volunteer.

In Van Vooren’s research assistant role, she developed educational presentations and resources for local nonprofits, helping to bridge gaps in accessibility. She also helped with preparing course materials for other students. In her peer-mentor role, she serves as a resource for students working on activism and research projects by providing in-class presentations, guidance and feedback. This summer, Van Vooren has also accepted a position with the International Institute St. Louis, where she will gain hands-on experience in the community. These experiences have, and will, allow her to continue using business as a tool for social change.

Van Vooren has interacted with Career Services through their Scholarly Undergraduate Research Grants and Experiences (SURGE) program, which helped her find her research assistant position. She also came to Career Services to have her resume reviewed, explaining that “having a polished resume gave [her] more confidence when applying… and it played a key role in securing [her] current opportunities.”

Michael Poirier

by Noah Jones on 2/28/25

Michael Poirier is a current student pursuing majors in public health and psychology with minors in criminology and criminal justice. At Saint Louis University, Poirier has been involved as co-president of Billikens Against Cancer, grant writer for Billiken Bounty, election commissioner for the Student Government Association, and coordinator for Oriflamme First-Year Experience. He also gained experience as a research manager with the Department of Health and Clinical Outcomes Research at Saint Louis University, a public health and social justice intern at Health Literacy Media, a researcher of helminth infections in Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire through Washington University in St. Louis' Summer Research Program, and as a behavioral health intern with the City of St. Louis Department of Health.

Much of Poirier’s research was conducted through our Scholarly Undergraduate Research Grants and Experiences program (SURGE), led by Experiential Learning Coordinator Margaret McGuire. Throughout his research experiences, he witnessed the impact of data-driven decisions and analyzed the proper use of resources to find sustainable interventions. Poirier gathered data through survey tools to gauge perceptions and hesitancies surrounding vaccination, analyze community beliefs and knowledge, and complete psychometric testing. Poirier's work has been disseminated through two peer-reviewed manuscripts, and he has presented at four academic research conferences. He explained that these experiences “profoundly shaped where [he is] today by solidifying [his] passion for public health research and strengthening [his] skills in data-driven decision-making.”

Throughout these experiences, Career Services assisted Poirier with his resume and personal statements, helping him market his experiences and skills to display that he is an ideal candidate for a position. Poirier’s advice to new students is to actively reach out to professionals and faculty members with confidence. “Employers want the ideal candidate to walk through the door, and there's no reason why it can't be you!”

Jeevan Reddy Gujjula

by Noah Jones on 12/2/24

Jeevan Reddy Gujjula is finishing his final semester on the way to receiving a master’s in supply chain management. During Gujjula’s time at SLU, he completed on-campus volunteering, held on-campus employment positions, and completed two internships.

Gujjula volunteered with Campus Kitchen SLU (CKSLU) during his first semester, contributing to the community by preparing meals for those in need. Through this opportunity, he built meaningful connections, enhanced his network, and developed his leadership skills. In his second semester, he accepted an opportunity as an educational statistics researcher for the School of Education. This experience exposed him to research methodologies that contributed to his academic and professional growth. He also completed internships with Storage Scholars and Dollar General. His internship experiences aligned very closely with his degree, allowing him to take the theory he learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world scenarios. He spent time managing projects, creating operational improvements, and developing data-driven strategies.

Throughout his journey, Gujjula utilized SLU Career Services by having them review his resume. He also attended several career fairs where he built relationships with recruiters and hiring managers, leaving him with many potential opportunities and confidence about his future after graduation.

Gujjula’s advice to new students is to focus on building meaningful networks, both within SLU and with industry professionals. He explained that attending career fairs, networking events, conferences, and industry-related events can significantly help in developing strong connections. Also, being proactive on LinkedIn can help one form relationships that “can be instrumental in shaping [one’s] future career.”

Clara Reyes

by Noah Jones on 10/31/24

Clara Reyes studies music and Spanish with a minor in African American studies at SLU. During her time at the University, Reyes has exemplified what it means to be an active and involved student.

Reyes is the community outreach associate for SLU’s Micah Program. The Micah Program is centered around social justice and service, and in her role, she does alumni relations, recruitment and programming. Her time with the Micah Program has also led to other valuable experiences, including her current part-time position at L'Arche St. Louis, experiences at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services' St. Elizabeth's Hall, and experiences at International Institute of St. Louis.

At L’Arche, Reyes is a part-time direct support provider where she spends quality time with clients and helps them complete daily tasks. She has worked at L’Arche for a while now, has previously been a volunteer, and completed a summer internship. At St. Elizabeth’s Hall, Reyes volunteers by doing art, cooking and playing bingo with the residents. Earlier in her college experience, she also volunteered at the International Institute, which inspired her to pursue a degree in Spanish, as she saw the need for bilingual tutors and translators at after-school programs. On top of the professional experiences she has gained, she also spent two semesters studying abroad at SLU-Madrid.

SLU Career Services assisted Reyes during her first year by offering guidance in her exploration of opportunities she could pursue. She also met with us to review and help with her resume before she applied to her first internship with L’Arche.

Reyes’s advice to new SLU students is that they should not only focus on coursework, but they should also seek out experiential learning opportunities. She also recommends that students seek out service opportunities to ”build relationships with the communities that [they] are serving.”

Aryana Yazdi

by Noah Jones on 6/16/2025

Aryana Yazdi is a Spring 2025 graduate with a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering. Before graduating, Yazdi accepted a full-time systems engineer position with Bausch + Lomb Surgical, an eye health organization that helps protect the vision of millions around the world. Yazdi previously interned with Bausch + Lomb doing research and development. Through this experience, she learned how to produce verification and validation plans, learned about architectural documents, tested products, and even practiced eye surgery on a cadaver. She will continue this work in her full-time role, but will now be working with the operations management team.

During Yazdi’s time at SLU, she also worked with the Department of Biomedical Engineering as their faculty assistant and as a student ambassador for the SLU School of Science and Engineering. In her faculty assistant position, she helped with day-to-day operations and managed the department's social media presence. In her student ambassador position, she helped provide perspective and new students a glimpse of what it is like to be a School of Science and Engineering student at SLU. She was also the vice president of SLU’s Biomedical Engineering Society, public relations chair for the Society of Hispanic Professionals and Engineers, secretary and treasurer for Active Minds, a Madrid peer mentor for study abroad students, and was part of the School of Science and Engineering’s mentor network.

Yazdi utilized our services to prepare for interviews, receive advice, and garner resources. Aryana explained that Career Services played a crucial role in “preparing [her] for success.”

Yazdi’s advice to new SLU students is to “make the most of the resources at SLU,” “stay proactive,” and “do not hesitate to seek support whenever needed.”

Hunter Baldridge

by Noah Jones on 5/9/2025

Hunter Baldridge is currently a park guide for the National Park Service in Washington D.C. In 2022, Baldridge received his master’s degree at Saint Louis University-Madrid in Political Science and Public Affairs and will pursue a Master of Public Administration at American University this coming fall. He also has previous experience as a political affairs intern with The Borgen Project and as a refugee services employment support specialist for Catholic Charities of Oregon.

During Baldridge’s time at SLU-Madrid, he interned as an English teacher with Fundación Sanders and helped bridge the digital divide by teaching computer and English skills to local students. He also interned with the Civil Liberties Union for Europe on their Media Freedom Campaign, where he researched restrictions on media freedoms in some European countries. This work focused on governmental control and a lack of alternative media sources. This campaign was eventually brought before the Council of the European Union.

Baldridge utilized SLU-Madrid’s Career Services department during his time as a student. He received counsel from the director of Career Services at SLU-Madrid, Patrice Burns, and her guidance specifically helped him land his teaching position with Fundación Sanders.

Baldridge’s advice to new students is to “discover what interests you by trying as much as you can while you are in school. Intern with different organizations, volunteer, and make connections with professionals in your field as well as your fellow students because they will be your colleagues one day. Overall, get as much as you can out of the time you have, and always remember you are your biggest advocate!"

Hope Stratman

by Noah Jones on 2/4/25

Hope Stratman, a recent SLU graduate, is currently an intensive mobile treatment social worker with the Center for Urban Community Services in New York. In this position, Stratman and her team service a caseload of 27 clients who have “fallen through the cracks” in various social systems, such as homelessness services, mental and medical healthcare, and the criminal legal system. She and her team aim to help their clients find stable housing, improve their physical and mental health, and lead a fulfilling life in the community.

During Stratman’s time at SLU, she received her bachelor’s, then a master’s in social work, with a minor in psychology. She completed an internship with SLU’s Center for Counseling and Family Therapy, an internship with Community Alliance and Omni Behavioral Health, and worked as a house monitor at a residential center for the Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry, whose goal is to help women reintegrate into the community after incarceration. She completed practicums at the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery and Parkway School District, fulfilled a year of service through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, where she developed a love for New York; completed research focused on substance use and misuse, adverse childhood experiences, incarceration; and had many jobs around campus.

One of Stratman’s campus positions was with Career Services as a career ambassador. Stratman explained that Career Services helped her find direction early on through career quizzes and counseling. She continued to utilize our services throughout her college journey, receiving assistance with volunteering opportunities and applying for full-time positions.

Stratman’s advice to new SLU students is to utilize “the resources available to you.” She explained that while the array of resources can be overwhelming at times, students can start by talking with their resident advisor’s, professors, and upperclassman friends to find supportive resources, and “9 out of 10 times,” students will get matched up with a program that is eager to help.

Daniella Soriano

by Noah Jones on 1/9/25

Daniella Soriano, a recent graduate, has started a position as a business technology analyst at Accenture Federal Services. In this role, Soriano assists with implementing business operations and technology solutions to assist federal clients.

During her time at SLU, Soriano received her Master of Business Administration. During her studies, she completed the embedded Data Analytics Practicum, working as an MBA consultant for Nestlé Purina North America. In this role, she assisted in a data analysis project where she gathered consumer insights, collected data, and analyzed e-commerce environments. She also completed a marketing internship with Purina. This experience helped her improve her data analysis, data visualization, marketing, teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills.

At SLU, Soriano also served as the 2024 One-Year MBA Cohort Class Representative, participated in Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship’s GEOLaunch as Team Lead, and was a graduate assistant at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. In her role as class representative, she organized events, fostered a sense of community, advocated for peers, and acted as a liaison between faculty and staff. In her team lead position, she participated in the Venture Capital Investments Case Competition and the Iowa State University: Mind to Market Case Competition. In her role as a graduate assistant, she assisted with day-to-day operations, helped with recruitment, met with prospective students, and worked on process improvement projects.

While in school, Soriano utilized Career Services by getting assistance with her resume, participating in mock interviews, and attending career fairs. Career Services' partnership with Accenture Federal Services also led Soriano to her current role through their Meet-The-Employer events and Coffee Chats. These events provided Soriano with a better understanding of the company and facilitated her progress through the interviewing process.

Soriano’s advice to new students is to “be curious, ask questions, and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you, whether through conferences, professional development, or any exciting extracurricular activities that interest you. Attend career fairs, network as much as you can, and be proud of your accomplishments while at SLU. Be passionate about learning, continuously grow your skillset, and seek advice from your professors. Everyone at SLU, including alumni, faculty, and staff, is willing to help you. It's reassuring to know that the community wants you to succeed.”

Lauren Favell

by Noah Jones on 9/26/24

Lauren Favell graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s in medical sciences. Favell is pursuing a master’s in biomedical engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and she recently worked as a biologics analytical research and development intern at Merck. Through this internship, Favell has been offered a full-time position as a scientist after graduation.

At SLU, Favell volunteered and held various roles in her sorority, Kappa Delta, and she was the vice president of the recruitment team for the Panhellenic Executive Board. In this role, she led training sessions for recruitment counselors. This experience helped her grow her organizational leadership skills and provided her with experience in a teamwork setting. At SIUC, she is staying just as involved as a graduate assistant and a volunteer in a neuroengineering research lab that studies mechanosensitive ion channels on cell membranes. This volunteering opportunity led her to acquire the technical lab skills required for her internship. Favell explained that while technical skills are important, employers also want to know that you work well with other people.

Favell’s interest in biomedical engineering began when she decided to take some engineering courses during her senior year at SLU. She was very interested and had natural talent in these classes. Biomedical engineering, then, seemed like a natural way to combine her medical science background with her newfound interest. She also discussed her experience with Career Services during her time at SLU and explained that they assisted with formatting her resume. She also attended career fairs that allowed her to connect with recruiters and employers in the area.

Favell’s advice to new SLU students is to seek out research and internship opportunities early in their college journeys, explaining that these opportunities are beneficial no matter what one’s career goals are. She said this because “the job market can be very competitive, and any type of experience can give you a leg up compared to other applicants if you know how to leverage it on your resume and in an interview.”

Brittany Sowards

by Noah Jones on 8/29/24

Brittany Sowards graduated from SLU with a bachelor's, then a master's degree in occupational therapy, and a minor in interprofessional experience. Since 2021, Sowards has been working at Cornerstone Pediatric Therapy, a home health company that provides occupational, physical, and speech therapy across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.

Sowards is currently a pediatric occupational therapist, lead occupational therapist, graduate school liaison, lead expansion liaison, and is part of the hiring team. Some of her responsibilities include evaluating patients, validating documentation, recruiting and interviewing therapists, assisting with the onboarding of new therapists in her county, organizing fieldwork experiences, and working with students and universities to form relationships with students and alumni in the field.

While Sowards was in school, she received many awards, including the Spirit of The Billiken Award and the Professional Excellence in Leadership Award. She was also part of Alpha Eta Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Order of Omega Honor Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). She also completed many internships, the vast majority in the field of pediatrics.

Sowards explained that Career Services “opened many doors” for her and helped her showcase her experience and skills. She frequently came to Career Services for assistance and even visited for resume revisions after she had graduated.

Sowards' advice to new students at SLU is to “take yourself seriously” because those around will do the same. She also explains that people can find the right position by “doing, exploring, and learning.”

Mónica Bates

by Noah Jones on 7/3/24

Mónica Bates, a Spring 2024 graduate, received her Master of Public Health - M.P.H., Maternal/Child Health and Global Health, and has recently accepted a position with the City of St. Louis Department of Health. Last month, she joined the communicable disease team as a program representative!

Bates’ best piece of advice to new college students is to network early, and she spent much of her time at SLU doing just that.

Bates belonged to the Maternal and Child Health Student Interest Group (MCH SIG), the Student Outbreak Response Team (SORT), and the Student Association for Public Health (SAPH), where she connected with many other Master of Public Health students.

Bates also participated in many research projects, which included several external projects. Two of the organizations she collaborated with were the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, an organization focused on increasing access to basic hygiene items, and International HELP, an organization with the goal of ending death from preventable diseases.

She described the skills and connections she made through these experiences as invaluable and explained that they allowed her to gain valuable insights and opportunities.

Akash Shah

by Noah Jones on 5/31/24

Akash Shah, M.H.S.A., a newly promoted senior consultant at Deloitte, is a proud alumnus of Saint Louis University, where he earned a degree in health management and policy and minored in public health and biology.

At Deloitte, Shah focuses on large-scale operations and technology transformations, partnering with health care providers and health plans to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance the quality of care given. SLU provided Shah with the foundational knowledge that prepared him for his previous experiences, including his time as a clinical technician, the master's program he pursued after, and his current role. He recounted that one class, Health Management and Policy 1300 with Kevin Syberg, had an especially profound impact on his career trajectory. HMP 1300 introduces students to the challenges faced in health care systems, the inner workings of private and public systems, the operations of hospitals and clinics, and the role professionals play. Learning about all of this opened Shah's eyes to the state of the U.S. healthcare system as a whole, and inspired him to do his part in creating more equity, affordability and accessibility for patients.

Shah was also very involved on campus during his time at SLU. He served as president and VP of finance for Alpha Iota Omicron, and belonged to the SLU Lions Club and the Indian Student Association.

Shah's advice to new students is to make the most of every opportunity, as no two days in college are the same. He also encourages students to enjoy and cherish their free time and moments with friends “because four years of college will fly by in a blink of an eye.”

Ashlee K. Roberts, Ph.D.

by Noah Jones on 4/18/24

Here is the story of higher-education professional Ashlee K. Roberts, Ph.D., executive director of Student affairs, strategic planning, and initiatives at Stockton University in New Jersey. She leads the division’s planning, resource-allocation, and communication strategies to demonstrate their impact on student learning and success. Roberts also previously worked at the University of Missouri–Saint Louis (UMSL) as associate director for the Office of Student Involvement, at the University of South Carolina as a graduate assistant, and volunteered as a mentor/personal development coach at Mission: St. Louis for over eight years.

Roberts received her Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration from Saint Louis University in 2018 and was part of the Alpha Sigma Nu-Jesuit Honor Society.

Roberts explained how mentors and supportive supervisors positively impacted her professional journey. She also mentioned her positive experiences with and deep appreciation for college career service departments, including setting the foundation for her resume in undergrad, doing a practicum with the office during her master's program, and even serving as acting director for Stockton's Office of Career Education and Development. Robert's advice for students pursuing or thinking about pursuing a Ph.D. specifically is to know the journey "is as much of a learning process as any other part of your education. You are not expected to know everything. Be open to and trust the process.”

Theresa Martin

by Noah Jones on 2/1/24

Theresa Martin is a technical accounting manager at Edward Jones. In this position, Theresa establishes controls and defines processes for ESG rules and regulations, communicates accounting guidance to stakeholders, ensures accuracy in the interpretation of the firm's accounting policy, and more.

During Martin's time at SLU, she received her Master of Accounting from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University. She also interned with CliftonLarsonAllen, a firm where she worked on tax returns and assisted with audit engagements.

Martin provided two pieces of advice that led to her success. Firstly, one must tailor their communication to who they are working with. Martin shared an anecdote explaining that she “worked with one principal that preferred phone calls... so if [she] needed something, [she] better pick up the phone.” The second piece of advice is that people should be “anticipating questions and coming up with solutions before the questions can be asked.”

Career Services strives to help students find internships, build resumes, and more in hopes of creating similar success, and Martin herself encourages “students to use any and all resources available!”

Lockton Companies

by Noah Jones on 7/28/25

Career Services has a strong relationship with Lockton Companies, the largest privately held insurance broker in the world. Lockton recently hired Liliana Cisneros, a SLU graduate with a degree in political studies and government, as a benefits analyst. They also hired Midhad Hodzic, Jayden Radtke, Caitlyn Kang, Ashleigh Morelli, Jackson Sparkman and Hunter Hollern as interns.

Lockton is heavily involved on the SLU campus. They attended the 2022 Fall Career Expo, the 2024 Chaifetz School of Business Career Fair, Career Services' 2024 Talent Connection event, and took over Career Services Instagram page.

Amanda Benson, the university recruiter at Lockton, feels positive about how Career Services connects them with students and how it leads to high levels of engagement. While career fairs are a common way employers interact with Career Services, Benson explained that recently, she's seen an increased “ROI through smaller events.” She also discussed her experiences with SLU students, describing them as possessing high levels of professionalism, demonstrated through their organization and their ability to handle stress well.

Laura Schrubb, Career Services' employer relations consultant, explained that Lockton is a great partner to our department and to the SLU community. “They are engaged, invested, and always looking for meaningful ways to connect with students. Their consistent presence at both our Career Fairs and smaller, high-touch engagements has led to impressive hiring outcomes.”

Medtronic

by Noah Jones on 3/5/24

Career Services has a strong relationship with Medtronic, a medical device company known for its revolutionary cardiac devices, such as battery-powered and miniature pacemakers. In the photo below, ordered from left to right, are clinical specialists Mallory Grote, Kelly Buescher, Jack Bessey, intern Cati Welby, and associate clinical specialist Michael Nickerson, who are all SLU graduates and Medtronic employees.

This photo was taken when Medtronic's team came to Career Services to interview students in the biomedical engineering (BME) program for their ACE Summer Associate Program. This is a field-based program designed to provide participants with real-world experiences around the delivery of medical technology to clinicians and patients. This program enables students to work alongside professionals who support implant procedures, provide device troubleshooting, launch products, and more. The program is structured so that student participants can gain formal training for the clinical specialist role. Many times, interns become full-time employees through the program, and from these interviews, two students were selected and will begin working with Medtronic in the summer of 2024.

Career Services chatted with Welby, who is doing her internship at Medtronic through the ACE Program, about her experience at SLU and with Career Services. “My time here at SLU has taught me more than I could have imagined: how to work hard and persevere, how to use my resources, how to be confident in who I am, how to be a leader, how to set priorities, how to network, and much more.” Also, during her freshman year, she worked with Career Services to create and edit her resume. She uses “the exact same resume template" she made with Career Services, to this day.

Medtronic is a strong supporter of SLU Career Services. Tom Puszkar, a district service manager at Medtronic, said “we’re approaching our sixth year of this summer internship and it has naturally blossomed into a symbiotic relationship that has us wondering each year what type of talent our new interns will bring to Medtronic.”

On top of providing the ACE Summer Associate Program, Medtronic also gives presentations to members of SLU's Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and participates in Biomedical Engineering Day during National Engineers Week.