Profession: Marketing Representative, Hospice of Michigan
Major: History
Why do you feel it is important for alumni to stay connected?
To sustain the special relationships you make both as a student and an alumnus of ֱ. It has been my experience, that the relationships I have made have been two-way. I have benefited professionally and personally. As a result, I have been able to give back in time, talent and treasure to those relationships and to the university.
Profession: Director, Treasury at American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
Profession: CEO - Porchtail, Partner/Executive Producer - CMO Confidential Media, Entrepreneur, Investor
Major: Communications
Why did you choose JCU? I chose JCU because of the gorgeous campus, the ideal class sizes, the proximity to home, and the overall curriculum.
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? My favorite part about the JCU community is the fact that many of the guys in my Freshman year floor of Pacelli are still very close and we still speak often. I also got married on campus. Now, my nieces are nephews are starting to attend the University.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience? My favorite memory from JCU was meeting my wife - of which, all good things in my life have come!
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ? I’m now able to have frank conversations with students and alumni. I'm able to impart all of my experience in a way to help them think about their next steps in career and life.
Profession: President and Founder of the Dalessandro Group
Major: Marketing
Why did you choose JCU? I chose ֱ because of the wonderful reputation that JCU has with the Business School.
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? My favorite part about being involved with the ֱ community is that the professors get to know their students, provide guidance and the education is suburb. I also enjoy that all JCU students and Alums are of a certain caliber as far as focus on their career, family and values.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience? My greatest memory was being a young woman graduating from the business school and having so many opportunities available to me.
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ? The past 10 years, I have been involved in building ֱ's local Alumni chapters and the last 6 years being part of the National Alumni board. I have met and worked with so many gifted individuals. I have enjoyed every minute immensely and the progress has been rewarding.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱ Alumni Board Association? I wanted to become a member of the Alumni board to engage with the students, alumni and continue to make progress in moving things forward.
Profession:Retired Recruiting Leader- Ernst & Young
Major:Communications (Management minor)
Why did you choose JCU?
I believe JCU picked me. I grew up in Lakewood and JCU was 35 minutes away. I thought I wanted to go further away for school so JCU wasn’t initially on my radar. My Dad suggested we visit and when my parents and I walked onto the campus, took the tour and met so many nice people, it felt right. I knew then that JCU was the place for me. It has been one of the best decisions in my life.
What is your favorite part about the JCU community?
The way we genuinely connect and engage with each other and celebrate our shared bonds to JCU. The way the JCU community actively supports each other is really special.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience?
My best memories are the simple times shared together- hanging out on the quad with my friends, meeting for meals in the caf and sitting there for hours, welcome back weeks, fun nights in the Rat Bar, late nights studying and learning and growing together.
My greatest takeaways from my JCU experience are the incredible group of lifelong friends I made there and the quality Jesuit education I received.
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ?
The positive feeling I get when I’m back on campus or taking part in any ֱ event. It’s that sense of strong community and the common bond that connects us, regardless of our differences. That keeps me coming back.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱ Alumni Board Association?
Joining the Alumni Board is a way for me to give back to JCU in a meaningful way and take an active role to support key priorities such as Enrollment and Alumni Engagement.
Profession: CEO at Waratek
Major: Computer Science
Why do you feel it is important for alumni to stay connected?
Everyone's experience during our years at JCU was uniquely their own but that experience was enriched by our interactions with professors, priests, sports, clubs, and other students. Our time at JCU helped shaped the who and what we are today. Staying connected to JCU continues that journey and provides opportunities to expand and grow beyond those university years.
Profession: Director of SEC Reporting & Technical Accounting at Mister Car WashMajor: Accounting
Why do you feel it is important for alumni to stay connected?
I feel a responsibility to give back to ֱ, as it has given so much to me. Serving on the Alumni Board is a great way for me to support theUniversity and connect with other alumni. I believe that alumni are the strongest ambassadors of an institution, as the successes of the alumni reflect upon the quality of education provided by the school.
Profession: Assistant Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Development & Leadership at Kent State University
Major: Exercise Science (undergrad), Sports Leadership (graduate)
Why did you choose JCU? I chose ֱ initially for the athletic opportunities it offered, but my time there helped transform me into a more well-rounded individual. (Cura personalis)
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? My favorite part about the JCU community are the relationships.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience? My favorite JCU memory was my senior year beating Mount Union in football because of the long rival history. The greatest takeaway from my JCU experience was to step outside my comfort zone. I spent most of my time with people that had different upbringings than myself. (race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, network etc.)
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ? This question is interesting because I recently left JCU for Kent State as a professional in athletics. My favorite part about engaging with ֱ is talking with potential students that believe they do not belong based on a plethora of reasons but helping them understand that their experience is what they make it.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱAlumniBoard Association? My reason for being a member of the board was to show individuals that the opportunities at JCU are endless if they have the proper supports around them to thrive.
Profession: Impact Manager CREO
Major: Economics and Theology & Religious Studies
Why did you choose JCU? I felt immediately welcomed and celebrated by JCU from the first communication I received from them. Carroll offered me so many ways to pursue my passions through varsity sports, social justice-focused scholarships and programs, and access to all that the city of Cleveland had to offer!
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? I love so many things about the JCU community – but one thing that I think is special is how supportive everyone is of one another.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience? So many great memories! I loved late nights on the Quad; the first day of spring when everyone would be outside after a long, cold winter; Immersion trips to New Orleans and Nicaragua; post 10pm mass celebrations at O’Reillys; Spring golf tournaments all over Ohio in all kinds of weather; I could go on!
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ? I love hearing about what is new on campus and how students have so many different experiences, but also come away with the same values I cherish from my time there.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱ Alumni Board Association? I was excited to join the Alumni Board Association as a way to continue to stay involved with JCU after stepping down from the NYC chapter presidency. I was also excited to be a voice from a smaller alumni region (NYC) and to hopefully expand JCU’s reach and influence in this tri-state area.
Profession: Gynecologic Oncologist, private practice
Major: Chemistry
What impact did ֱ have on your life and where you are today? Other than meeting my spouse at the freshman picnic in 1974, JCU had impact on me by demonstrating the importanceof full effort and genuine honesty. Much later, when I was able to revisit Jesuit values through the Ignatian Colleagues Program, it was interesting - and a little scary - to see that the values that were importantin the 1970s actually formed the foundation of whatever success I found in the world... and when I deviated I didn't ultimately end up where I wanted to be. "Men and women for others" is both a challenge and a reward.
Why did you choose JCU? I was aware of the longstanding reputation of JCU as a great preparation for premedical students. In the day, social aspects of medicine weren’t as widely discussed but they were at ֱ.
Profession:Program Manager, Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center
Major:Psychology
Why did you choose JCU?
I have attended small catholic schools all my life, so when researching colleges, JCU appealed to me because it was a small Jesuit university, with small class sizes and not too far from my hometown of Buffalo, NY. I visited a few different colleges during my college search and when I stepped on JCU’s campus, I knew it was it for me! It felt like home. It didn’t hurt that the campus is absolutely beautiful and looked like the kind of campus you only see in the movies!
What is your favorite part about the JCU community?
The people of course! While JCU is home to a diverse group of students and alumni, it feels like we are all “cut from the same cloth”. We all have similar values, steeped in the Jesuit tradition. When I encounter JCU grads in my professional life, they are always working to help others or leading the pack. As soon as we discover we are both from JCU, we are instant friends. One of JCU’s greatest strengths is that the JCU community looks out for one another and will go out of their way to help another blue streak.
What is your greatest takeaway from your JCU experience?
One of the greatest takeaways from my JCU experience are the relationships I’ve built. So many of the people I met at JCU are now family to me and my life would not be the same without them. Additionally, my JCU experience opened by eyes to people and thought processes that were different than mine. Another greatest take-away was to listen and consider other’s opinions and perspective – everyone’s experience has value.
What is your favorite JCU memory?
I had the opportunity to live with some of my best friends our senior year at Carroll. Having most of college under my feet and living with my best friends was an absolute blast. Some of my favorite memories are just staying up late talking to my roomies or getting to have lunch together on our couch in between classes. Sometimes it is the littlest things that have the biggest impact! I also have to mention my study abroad experience my junior year. I was able to spend 5 months in Italy with 17 other JCU students. It was one of the most amazing and impactful experiences of my life!
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ?
I love engaging with JCU as an alum because I get to see it from the other side. I get to see the time and attention the faculty and staff spend trying to make the student experience the best it possibly can be. I probably didn’t realize it fully while I was a student. JCU students have an amazing network of people (including the alumni) who are trying to give our students the best chance at success post college.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱ Alumni Board Association?
Choosing JCU set my life on a path that brought me to a city I love, connected me with amazing friends, deepened my interest in helping others, and led me to a fulfilling and meaningful career. So much of what I love in my life started with the decision to go to ֱ. I joined the JCU alumni board in gratitude for what JCU has done for me and to ensure many other young people can have an experience as impactful as mine.
Profession: Urology Resident Physician at University of Buffalo
Major: Biochemistry (Philosophy minor)
Why did you choose JCU? I was lucky enough to have several mentors/friends during my time at U of D Jesuit High School that suggested I take a look at JCU during my junior year. My first visit to campus pretty much sealed it for me. The community-feel, small class sizes, invested faculty, beautiful campus, and great surrounding area were only a few of the qualities that made it feel right. But more importantly, I felt something different compared to the other schools I visited. It seemed cohesive. It felt like Home, and it certainly lived up to it.
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? The people, no question. The relationships I formed across class years—from faculty and staff to community partners—and carried on through so manyalumnihas perfectly reflected the power of the JCU community. Whether I'm sharing the biggest news of my life or looking for help during life's low points, I always find myself reaching out to my JCU family. The best part of that community is that it never stops growing. Thealumninetwork has been incredible and embodies JCU'svalues so well.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience? I'd be in big trouble if I didn't mention meeting my wonderful wife Emma at JCU. The wedding circuit was so fun with so many Carroll Couples as friends. There were so many other memories that come to mind that have helped shape my JCU experience, but it always comes back to the friends I made during those times. So many countless experiences from the Honduras trips to Carroll Ballers to just weekends on the quad have brought my lifelong friends.
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ? After graduation, I was looking for ways to keep that sense of community I had fallen in love with during my four years at JCU. Thealumninetwork has seamlessly provided that sense of continuity. My time on theAlumniBoard and with other engagement opportunities has continued to make me feel like I'm part of the Carroll community and ongoing mission. It continues to give me so much support and joy, while also giving me an excuse to stay connected with so many kind people I have met over the years ofalumni.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱAlumniBoard Association? ֱ has given me so much over the years. A campus to learn and grow as a young man. A community of lifelong friends. So many countless memories. The foundation for a fulfillingcareer. Faculty and staff dedicated to our growth not only as students but also as Men and Women forOthers. An engaged andimpressivealumninetwork. And so much more.When I look back on the formative experiences in my life, JCU has always topped that list in all the best ways. As a part of theAlumniBoard, my hopeis to help otheryoung men and women share in that experience foryears to come.
Profession:Banking – KeyBank. SVP, Business Banking Sales Leader
Major:Communications
Why did you choose JCU? I chose JCU because of its great Business School reputation and its Jesuit history of Faith, Service, Commitment and Success. I also went to JCU to play Baseball and ended up playing Club Volleyball.
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? My favorite part of the JCU community is how we stay connected wherever we go. I have lived in 5 different cities since graduation and found a JCU community of friends in everyone one of those cities.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeaway from your JCU experience? The greatest takeaway from my JCU experience was the impact of earning a Liberal Arts education. I not only felt ready to “do a job” but I felt ready to live my life...to be a part of society…to “make my mark”.
What is your favorite part about engaging with ֱ? My favorite part about engaging with ֱ is being able to get a taste of that “JCU magic” back every time that step on campus, speak to an alumnus, or meet a student/prospective student. There is just “Something” about this place...
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱ Alumni Board Association? A big reason I became a member of the alumni board was the opportunity to connect with young people and give back in the same way that so many supported my development and direction.
Profession: Orthopaedic Surgery Resident, The Ohio State University
Major: Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience
Why did you choose JCU? My first visit to campus was a football recruiting visit with Coach Tommy Zagorski. I told him I was interested in going to medical school, and he told me he had the perfect person for me to meet. We walked over to the Dolan Science Center and this person, Dr. George Lewandowski, who has now become a lifelong mentor and friend of mine, was there. Although our initial conversation was brief, he shared many great aspects of the life experience from attending ֱ. He talked about the commitment of alumni and professors to their students, the mission of the University to serve others, and the educational opportunities available. It was a very impactful visit, and on each subsequent visit to campus I couldn’t help but feel it was the right place for me. Looking back, it is certainly one of the best choices I have made. I found a community, met my wife, some of my best friends, and have been able to have life experiences that have changed me for the better.
What is your favorite part about the JCU community? My favorite part about the JCU community is their selflessness and commitment to one another. The JCU community truly cares about their own. From simple things like holding doors for one another around campus to helping students secure internships and jobs, Blue Streaks look out for fellow Blue Streaks.
What is your favorite JCU memory or greatest takeawayfrom your JCU experience? I have too many great memories to choose from. However, I would say that my greatest takeaway is that JCU provides current and prospective students with so many truly enriching opportunities to serve their communities, lead, and grow as people. There are so many paths to choose from you can really make it your own while surrounding yourself with many other people trying to make a difference.
What is your favorite part about engaging with JohnCarroll? Getting to meet and talk with all of the current students. My career path, while fulfilling, has also had many moments of sacrifice, long hours, and time away from home. Sometimes you can lose your “why” during these times. When I get to engage with ֱ students, it helps me remember my own why and motivates me to help them find theirs, no matter what path it might be. I love to hear from them about all of the new things happening on campus, the professors who I had that are still there teaching, and the things they are involved in. It brings me back to a truly wonderful time in my life.
What was my reason(s) to become a member of the ֱ Alumni Board Association? My reason to become a member of the JCU Alumni Board Association was to work to advance the experience for students and alumni, most specifically, in the healthcare space. We have a rich history of successful students who go on to be leaders in a variety of healthcare disciplines. This, coupled with the development of the College of Health, made for an incredibly exciting opportunity to join a fantastic group of people who truly care about the University, its current students, its alumni, and its path forward. I hope to be able to use my experiences to help the College of Health link current and prospective students to healthcare alumni and add to programming for students and alumni that foster a further interest in these areas.