Student-Alumni Networking
February 10-15, 2025
Break Through, Susquehanna’s annual student-alumni networking conference, connects you to alumni who have been where you are and want to help you as you move toward graduation and beyond. Whether you are in your first or last year at Susquehanna — or somewhere in between — Break Through has something for you.
In addition to the Break Through conference held on campus each year, you can take a Career Trek to visit alumni working in major cities. From both options, you’ll get tips on everything from making the most of your college experience to making friends after graduation and landing your first job.
Take advantage of these free networking opportunities, open to all majors in all class years. And who knows? It could lead to an internship or even a job!
Break Through Schedule
All sessions on Monday through Thursday will be held virtually. Saturday’s sessions will be held on campus in the Charles B. Degenstein Campus Center.
Careers in Accounting | 11:15 a.m. | Zoom
- Emily Murawa ’13, Senior Audit Manager, KPMG
- Matthew Palmerin ’17, Compliance Officer, S&P Global
- Caleb Coker ’23, Staff Accountant, Weis Markets
Management in Action | 11:15 a.m. | Zoom
- David Foster ’11, University Relations Team Lead, Dimensional Fund Advisors
- Joe Shannon ’08, Vice President, Brand Management, American Express
- Isabella Schwabe ’23, Associate Brand Manager, International, The Wendy’s Company
Nonprofit Management | 12:30 p.m. | Zoom
- Kate Allebach Umstead ’17, Senior Membership and Governance Officer, The Oversight Board
- Krista Vandetty ’18, Senior Manager of Operations, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture
- Christina Martin ’18, Senior Communication Specialist, Change.Org
Careers in Music | 3 p.m. | Zoom
- Tyler Austin ’12, Director of Bands, Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Old Dominion University
- Alex Belohlavek ’14, Director of Choral Activities at Northwest Community College Mississippi
- Emily Barr ’13, Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Aaron D. Himes ’11, Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music Education, Westminster College
Women in Business | 7 p.m. | Zoom
- Ella Moores ’22, Senior Marketing Associate, Troon
- Danielle Boutwell ’16 Dougherty, Manager, Deloitte Consulting
- Cesaltina Fernandes-Baker ’17, Manager, International Reinsurance, Prudential Financial
Careers in Advertising | 8:45 a.m. | Zoom
- Chris Balbi ’12, Director of Marketing and Operations, Meesha
- Lauren Gooch ’19, SEM Specialist, Tower Marketing
- Ella Moores ’22, Senior Marketing Associate, Troon
Careers in History | 11:15 a.m. | Zoom
- Brian Richards ’06, Senior Museum Curator, New York Yankees
- Amanda Hawk ’08, Public Services Manager, MIT Libraries, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Jane Seibert ’21, Director of Consignments and Marketing, Cordier Auctions
Careers in Sales | 11:15 a.m. | Zoom
- Rachel Sweger ’17, Category Consultant, The Hershey Company
- Samantha Balsamo ’22, Sales Planner, Paramount
Nontraditional Jobs for Journalism Majors | 1:45 p.m. | Zoom
- Brett Marcy ’98, President, Apollo Communications
- Sarah Johnson ’12 Kettle Ross, Director of Enrollment, Cengage Group
- Allison Conway ’13, Senior Marketing Associate, Sanctuary Wealth
- Andrew McRoberts ’93, Lead Product and Technical Manager, Northstar Travel Group
Career Applications for German Majors | 1:45 p.m. | Zoom
- Leah Leahy-Brown ’16, Technical Content Writer, Medidata Solutions
- Erin Wetmore ’20, Account Executive, Vault Communications
Careers in Psychology | 5:30 p.m. | Zoom
- Morgan Markle ’20, Care Manager, Lancaster County Office on Aging
- Matthea Mitchell ’24, Master’s Degree in Social Work Candidate, Bloomsburg University, and Survivor Advocate, Bucknell University
Telling Your Client’s Story: Making the Most of a Career in Public Relations | 7 p.m. | Zoom
- Megan Annechiarico ’19, Account Supervisor, Sharp Think
- Noa Albilia ’19, Account Manager, Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylisat
- Gracie Orosco ’23, Marketing Communications Coordinator, Pecora Corporation
Careers in the Green Economy | 8:15 a.m. | Zoom
- Calli Lambard ’23, Administrative Assistant, Office of Sustainability, West Chester University
- Hannah Emmons ’23, Community Programs Coordinator, Patapsco Heritage Greenway
Working Internationally |11:35 a.m. | Zoom
- Olivia McGaw ’22, English and Foreign Languages student, Alicante University, Former Teaching Assistant in Spain
- Kira Davis ’15, Manager, US Immigration Law Clerk, Vialto Partners
All events will be in the Shearer Weber Dining Room (SDR) and Benjamin Apple Meeting Rooms (BAMR), unless otherwise noted.
12 p.m.
Lunch with Emerging Alumni Award Presentation | Evert Dining Room
- Samantha Virgil ’15 Motayne, Vice President, People Team, Burson
Women in STEM Networking Lunch | Evert Dining Room
- Magali Laitem ’06, Clinical Psychologist, JMU’s Counseling Center
- Kaitlyn Galliher ’21, Patient Care Technician, UPMC
- Megan Jansen ’06 Schroeder, Post-graduate training at Georgetown University
- Maria Wing ’06, Associate Clinical Project Manager Director, IQVIA Biotech
- Jill Sands ’05, Engagement Manager, Director of Value Partnership, Siemens Healthineers
- Laura Wirpsza ’06, Customer Experience Leader, Honeywell Life Sciences
- Diana Crowley ’16, Resident Physician, General Internal Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center
1 p.m.
Keynote Address by Emerging Alumni Award Recipient | Shearer Weber Dining Rooms
- Samantha Virgil ’15 Motayne, Vice President, People Team, Burson
Panel Session One | 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Entrepreneurship | BAMR 1 & 2
- Karissa Dreese ’17, founder, Rough Collie Co
- Lauren Gemberling ’17, founder, Rough Collie Co and owner of Lauren Gemberling Events
- Austin Royer ’11, Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Gilson Snow, Inc.
Transitioning to Life After College | BAMR 3
- Zachary Newby ’16, Digital Director, PA Department of Agriculture, Department of Communication
- Michaela O’Connell ’20, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, UBS
- Mike Alvaro ’19, Adjunct Faculty, Manor College and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate, Drexel University
- Ashlee Weingarten ’17, Marketing Manager, Aspire Technology Partners
Careers in Sports | BAMR 4 & 5
- Dylan Smith ’18, Assistant Commissioner, Communications, Coastal Athletic Association
- David Kitchen ’14, Founder, Edge Leadership Academy
The Future of AI | SDR 2 & 3
- Mark Schell ’98, Lean / XP Software Coach, Leatherback Software and Consulting
- Nathan Leies ’18, Director of Marketing, Predictum, Inc.
Careers in Healthcare: Patient Care | SDR 1
- Jaynie Moran ’17, Nightshift Nurse, Lehigh Valley Schuylkill East Hospital
- Kaitlyn Galliher ’21, Physician Assistant Student at DeSales University
- Magali Laitem ’06, Clinical Psychologist, JMU’s Counseling Center
- Diana Crowley ’16, Resident Physician, General Internal Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center
Panel Session Two | 3–4 p.m.
Managing Mental Health in the Workplace | BAMR 3
- David German ’84, Psychiatrist, David L German, D.O. PLLC, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, George Washington University of Medicine
- Gloria Darko ’15, Assistant Director of Admission, Carnegie Mellon University
Money Management 101 | BAMR 1 & 2
- Chris Ryan ’16, Wealth Management Advisor, TSF Wealth Management
Surprising Career Paths | BAMR 4 & 5
- Angelique Poragratti ’20, Compliance Analyst, Benecard Services, Inc.
- Jackie Letizia ’17, Professional School Counselor, Prince George’s County Public Schools
- Samantha Virgil ’15 Motayne, Vice President, People Team, Burson
- Ed Shields ’19, Associate Director, Berkadia
Getting It “Write” – Creative Writing, English, Publishing and Editing | SDR 2 & 3
- Megan Kelly ’23, Communications Coordinator, Johns Hopkins University Office of Alumni Relations
- Jordyn Taylor ’21, Social Media Manager and Marketing & FREDDY@ Awards Associate, State Theatre Center for the Arts
- Tara Laskowski ’00, Author, Harlequin Books and Director, Digital & Editorial Content, ISTE+ASCD
Careers in Research: In the Lab and Beyond | SDR 1
- Josh Kizina ’16, Senior Scientist, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories
- Megan Schroeder ’06, Post-graduate training at Georgetown University
- Christine Wiktor ’23, Research Technician Intermediate, Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University
Panel Session Three | 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Queer in the Workplace | BAMR 3
- David German ’84, Psychiatrist, David L German, D.O. PLLC, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, George Washington University of Medicine
- Mike Alvaro ’19, Adjunct Faculty, Manor College and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate, Drexel University
- Elodie Hoglund ’20, Communications Specialist I, Susquehanna University
How to Get a Book Published | SDR 2 & 3
- Tara Laskowski ’00, Author, Harlequin Books and Director, Digital & Editorial Content, ISTE+ASCD
Networking 101 | BAMR 1 & 2
- Michaela O’Connell ’20, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, UBS
- Ashlee Weingarten ’17, Marketing Manager, Aspire Technology Partners
- Gloria Darko ’15, Assistant Director of Admission, Carnegie Mellon University
- Khari Motayne ’15, VP, CMI Media Group
Managing Environmental Change | BAMR 4 & 5
- Deanna Phillips ’24, Environmental Scientist, JMT
Additional Careers in the Sciences | SDR 1
- Jenna Yarger ’18 Mowery, High School Chemistry Teacher, Midd-West School District
- Laura Wirpsza ’06, Customer Experience Leader, Honeywell Sparta Systems
- Logan Gunoskey ’24, Endocrine Lab Tech, SGFC
- Jill Sands ’05 Martin, Engagement Manager/Director of Value Partnership, Siemens Healthineers
- Maria Wing ’06, Associate Clinical Project Manager Director, IQVIA Biotech
