Meet The Advisors

Cristina joined this institution in the Fall of 2020 and provides career and professional development support within the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Her goal when working with students is to support them in cultivating and achieving their professional goals, enabling them to take the next steps in their career journeys with confidence.

Before this role, Cristina enjoyed a career in Human Services, supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to obtain and retain competitive employment. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in community social psychology. She ensures the SNHS Advising and Student Support Center is stocked with snacks and insists she cannot get through her day without a cup of coffee.

 What does Cristina wish she knew about career development when she was in undergrad?

In short – anything. I was an excellent student, but when it came to skill marketing and job search basics, I was a disaster. Accessibility of university services looked much different back then; not everything had migrated online, and the campuses were massive and separated. We were registering for classes on paper and then waiting in line at the registrar. It seemed like too much of a hassle to so much as figure out where the career services department was located, much less utilize any of their services. Besides, I was about to enter the working world with a bachelor’s degree from a top-rated university, which I assumed would be sufficient enough to launch me toward a lucrative career. Doors would swing open, the red carpet would roll out and I’d waltz right into the job of my choice. 

Spoiler alert: That’s not how it works.

The lack of vocational guidance meant that I made a lot of foolish, preventable mistakes early on in my job search. I had a resume, but it was poorly formatted and didn’t highlight my skills and education adequately. I landed interviews, but I was routinely late for them (Caribbean Time does not apply to interviews – who knew?), wasn’t dressed for the part, and didn’t give effective answers. I wasted a lot of time before finally being offered an opportunity. I wish I had taken advantage of career services as an undergrad, even if it was just a single mock interview or resume review.

Sarah joined Merrimack in 2011 and provides career advising and education to all students in the School of Education & Social Policy.  Prior to many years working in career development, Sarah worked in admissions at both the University of Hartford and Merrimack College. After starting her master’s degree she realized she wanted to work more closely with students, and transitioned to focus on career advising.

Sarah received a master of education in higher education from Merrimack College and a bachelor of arts in communication from the University of Hartford.

What does Sarah wish she knew about career development when she was in college?  

I wish I had utilized my career center much earlier! I didn’t even think to do an internship until right before my senior year. I ended up not liking the career field I thought I would end up working in. This caused me to reevaluate my personal skills, values and strengths. Ultimately, this led me to a career that I love, but I wish I had explored this earlier in my college career, so I could have gotten even more experience and internships before I graduated.

Laura joined Merrimack in the Spring of 2013 and provides comprehensive career guidance and support to students.  Prior to joining Merrimack, Laura worked as a Student Services Coordinator at a private college planning company guiding high school students and families through the college application and admissions process.  Laura earned her BA in Human Development from Boston College and an MS in Counseling from Fitchburg State University.  Laura is also a CCE credentialed Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and licensed School Counselor.

What does Laura wish she knew about career development when she was in college?  

I wished that I had learned about the power of networking and how helpful informational interviews can be.  Had I known, I think I would have been able to make much more informed career decisions for myself.  I try to impart this knowledge to my students and stress the importance of career exploration early on and throughout the four years so that when they graduate they feel confident and ready to take the next steps towards their future career.

Stephanie joined Merrimack’s career advising team in 2022 and works with students in the School of Arts and Sciences. She uses a holistic advising approach to guide students towards the career path that is the best fit for them and is passionate about helping her students find careers and internships within arts and science fields.

Stephanie is a Double Warrior and received a bachelor’s degree in communication and media and a master’s of education in higher education from Merrimack. Before coming to Merrimack as a career advisor, she was an academic advisor for college students and students in 6th-12th grade. 

What does Stephanie wish she knew about career development when she was in college?  

I wish I had taken advantage of more opportunities offered by the O’Brien Center when I was an undergraduate. Working with my career advisor was helpful, but I think I could have expanded my knowledge of career development and improved my skills even more by attending more events and workshops. 

There are so many ways that students can expand their network and build their professional development skills to help them become a strong job applicant, whether it’s attending a career night or doing research on careers using Merrimack’s online resources. I tell my students that they’re only in college for a short time, so it’s important that they take advantage of all the opportunities available to them.

Michael joined Merrimack’s professional staff in August 2022 after serving in higher education at Suffolk University in Boston for over 5 years. At Suffolk Michael focused on student employment and faculty support.

Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA.

What is most important about career development that you learned in college?

While in college I learned it’s never too early to start thinking about your future. My alma mater offered numerous workshops and events focusing on personal growth and career development. While I did attend a couple of these helpful events, I wish I attended all of them! Learning from my mistakes, it’s great to be in a position to encourage current students to take advantage of all the O’Brien Center for Career Development has to offer.