Alumni-in-Residence

You have questions. They have answers.

Spend time with alumni this semester. The Loeb Center’s series of candid career conversations will help you explore possibilities, build relationships, and get real-world advice.

There are a variety of ways students can participate:

  • Workshops: Learn skills or explore topics within the alum’s chosen career field
  • Office hours appointments: Sign up in advance to ask questions and get tailored advice in a one-on-one setting
  • Informal group conversation about career paths post-Amherst
  • And more!

Contact the Loeb Center at careers@amherst.edu or (413) 542-2265 with any questions or accessibility needs.

Spring 2023 Lineup

Amrita Vijayaraghavan

Amrita Vijayaraghavan ’07 was raised in Oregonian suburbs which, at the time, were a lot more “I, Tonya” and a lot less “Portlandia.” In 2011, Amrita co-founded Vijay & Stephens, where she now creates original scripted works for television, and writes, produces, and directs a variety of live, written, and recorded projects. Learn more about Amrita.

Amrita Vijayaraghavan ’07 smiling
John Erikson smiling

Dr. John Erickson

The son of a NASA engineer, Dr. John Erickson ’82 has always had a natural curiosity and passion for innovation. He joined the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) in 2019 as a senior fellow and has been the acting chief technology officer since 2020. Learn more about John.

Event: Bio Major to Biochemical Engineer, with Dr. John Erickson ’82

Meet with John one-on-one.

Rich André

Rich André ’09 is the senior policy advisor for State and Local Initiatives at the American Immigration Council. In this role, he advises state government officials on their immigration policies, including COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, Afghan refugee resettlement, and federal advocacy. Learn more about Rich.

Event: Immigration Reform Policy, with Rich André ’09

Meet with Rich one-on-one.

Rich Andre '09 smiling
Crystal Valentine ’04 smiling

Crystal Valentine

With two decades of experience as a technology executive, computer science researcher, and professor, Crystal Valentine ’04 lends her technical and operating expertise to the Cross Creek team. As a venture capital investor, Crystal supports technical diligence across all the firm’s investments. Learn more about Crystal.

Event: Venture Capital as an Asset Class, with Crystal Valentine ’04

Event: Lunch With Crystal Valentine ’04: Impact Of Women In Technology & Finance

Meet with Crystal one-on-one.

Beselot Birhanu

Beselot Birhanu ’17, also known as Bessy, grew up in the Bronx, New York, as the daughter of a political asylee from Ethiopia and Eritrea. Bessy is a fourth-year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), applying to combined Medicine-Pediatrics residency programs. Learn more about Bessy.

Beselot Birhanu '17 smiling
Gil Schmerler ’64 smiling

Gil Schmerler

Gil Schmerler ’64 has worked in education since graduating from Amherst, where he decided to become an educational administrator in his senior year. Before retiring, Gil was on faculty for 30 years at Bank Street College of Education. Learn more about Gil.

Event: Education Professions, with Gil Schmerler ’64

Meet with Gil one-on-one.

Sidebar

2022: Fall Update from Amherst College

Published on October 25, 2022

By Amherst College

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Tips for Breaking Into Science Journalism

Published on October 17, 2022

By Aleszu Bajak ’06 

Alumni-in-Residence 2019

Scratch the itch: After a few years working mostly in the animal facility in the gene therapy department at Weill Cornell, I was itching to start a writing career. I started a blog called …

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Loeb Center Hosts Head of Adobe Policy Development Julie Babayan ’03

Published on September 28, 2022

By Pho Vu ’23 from The Amherst Student

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Julie Babayan ’03 — the head of policy development for Adobe’s policy, government, and ethical innovation team in Washington, D.C. — shared her vision on worldwide technology policy. The event, …

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Alumni

Rich André

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Senior Policy Advisor for State and Local Initiatives American Immigration Council
Meet Rich >

Aleszu Bajak

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Editor Storybench.org and LatinAmericanScience.org
Meet Aleszu >

Anne Bauer

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Director of Data Science The New York Times
Meet Anne >

Dr. Lisa Biggs

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Assistant Professor Brown University
Meet Dr. Lisa >

Beselot Birhanu

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Fourth-year Medical Student Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Meet Beselot >

Thais Correia

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Software Engineer
Meet Thais >

John Erickson

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Acting Chief Technology Officer National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals
Meet John >

Ron Espiritu

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Director of Ethic Studies for All Camino Nuevo Charter Academies
Meet Ron >

Ashley Finigan

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Brooklyn, New York
  • PhD candidate in History & Upper School History and American Studies Teacher Berkeley Carroll School
Meet Ashley >

Khalil Flemming

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Music Industry Professional
Meet Khalil >

Chip Garner

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Senior Vice President MWWPR
Meet Chip >

Jay Gilliam

Alumni-in-Residence
  • Director of the Global Program Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Meet Jay >
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Contact & Location

Phone
413-542-2265
Email
careers@amherst.edu
Website
http://amherst.edu
Address

First Floor College Hall
155 South Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01002