Beyond The Tassel

Take a journey with us as we unpack the meaning of faith-based leadership with DeSales alumni Guilherme and current Director of Campus Ministry at Newman University. In this week’s episode, we learn of the impact faith can have on the journey from college to career. In this episode, we uncover how faith shapes our search for meaning and purpose in our careers and how trusting in God’s plan can lead us down unexpected, yet deeply fulfilling, paths.

On this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we engage with Ramon Garcia, a graduate of the Sport and Exercise Physiology program from the class of ’21. One of the highlights from his journey at DeSales was his ability to merge his passion for helping others with his enthusiasm for exercise and strength training. Tune in to discover how he became a Clinical Exercise Physiologist for St. Luke’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation!

On this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we feature Chad Bruckner, Criminal Justice ’15, Masters

in Digital Forensics ’20. His journey includes military service, law enforcement, and getting his degrees through the ACCESS (Adult Studies) program. After his time in the police force, he transitioned to entrepreneurship and motivational speaking. Now, he has gone full circle, joining the DSU Police Force! Take a listen to him sharing his diverse path and the successful factors that helped him grow!

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadbmotivates/

On this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we speak to Chris McGinnis, ’10 Musical Theater. Chris's passion for directing shaped his academic journey through both undergraduate and graduate studies, ultimately leading him to his current role as General Manager of Second Stage Theater. His pride in the theater's accomplishments shines through as he discusses their Tony Award-winning production of "Appropriate”! Join us for an engaging conversation that delves into the vibrant world of performing arts, offering insights into Chris's experiences and the creative process behind successful theatrical productions.

On this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we connect with Lauren Karch. She graduated in 2012 with a double B.S. in Marketing and Business Management, and a minor in Biology. Staying true to her love for the sciences, she combined everything into her career now as a Learning and Development Consultant for Organon. During her time at DeSales, she switched majors a few times. She is very happy with all of the experiential learning and the continued education she did. Listen in to hear her wonderful story!

On this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we chat with Daniel O’Connell, a personal injury attorney at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb in Philadelphia. He credits Professor Cocozza for sparking his interest in pursuing law school and to branch out of being a marketing and sports management major. Listen in to hear how family, sport, and values helped him to grow in his career!

On this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we go overseas to London to chat with Sean Crosby ’15. He grew up surrounded by the Diocese of Allentown and that led him to pursue his B.A. in Theology. After watching the documentary Somm, he found a new calling. Listen in to how he became the Assistant Head Sommelier at Restaurant Story!

This episode of Beyond The Tassel features Frank Alvarado, ’17. After transferring from Northampton Community College, he graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration. He believes the resources at DeSales have helped him grow in his current job as the Director of Research and Data Management at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. Listen to his journey and how he got to where he is! https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-alvarado/

On this special episode of Beyond The Tassel, Nina interviews her parents, Anthony and Sheila Viglianti! Both of them started out wanting to do different things but ended up becoming teachers. Anthony teaches mathematics at Easton Area Middle School and Sheila teaches physics and chemistry at Whitehall High School. Listen in to how they both navigated being a student, figuring out the teaching scene, and what they are doing now!

Check out this week's episode of Career Chat with a junior human resource management major, Jordan Kutza ‘25. Listen in as Jordan talks about the journey through her recent internship and how that has changed her. Find DeSales University Career Chat on your favorite podcast platform!

This episode of Beyond the Tassel features Nakia Jones, who graduated from DeSales in ’09. She started out not knowing what she wanted. As she experienced DeSales, she pursued a B.A. in Dance and then went to graduate school to pursue Higher Education. Listen in as she speaks about her college life, background, family life, and all the special experiences that got her to where she is today as the Graduate Program Director at UPenn’s Graduate School of Education!

This episode is features Doctor Sarah Hulse, Communication '09, who is now an Assistant Professor at DeSales University for the Theology Department. During her coursework at DeSales, a theology class caught her interest. After completing her internships at CBS in communication, she decided to chase a graduate then a Ph.D. in Theology. Listen in as she discusses following her passion that led to her current role as a Theology Professor at DeSales University.

On this episode of Beyond the Tassel, we feature Haided Estevez, a member of the Sport & Exercise Physiology, class of 2018. Haided is now an injury prevention specialist at St Luke’s University Health Network, and is working as an industrial athletic trainer. She was set on becoming a physical therapist when entering her undergraduate program but as she explored the Sport and Exercise Physiology major, she realized she did not have to limit herself to just that. Now she is thriving in her field more than ever!Connect with Haided: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haided-estevez-ms-atc-lat-ceas-i-7a34681a3/

On this episode of Beyond the Tassel, we introduce (as a guest this time!) Annie Pagano! Annie completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing here at DeSales and has a job right out of graduation. She is now a Corporate Event Coordinator at Lutron Electronics. As a former Career Ambassador for the Career Development Center, Annie feels the knowledge she gained from working with students plus the skills she gained from her internships and other experiences at her current occupation added to her success. She stresses that making connections early on in any field is the way to rise to t...

On this episode of Beyond the Tassel, please welcome Jason Schiffer! Jason is a graduate of the DeSales class of 1999 with his degree in Criminal Justice. Jason is now the Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Chief of Police at Lehigh University. Jason has been educating himself for many years and has a firm belief that no education is ever wasted. Jason shares his insights about going back to school as an adult when he mentions how he graduated from the Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2008. Listen in as Jason discusses his passion for working toward...

This month’s episode features Jasmine Leonor, a graduate of DeSales class of 2018 with her degree in Spanish and minor in Educational studies! Jasmine is currently the Spanish teacher at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. As a first generation college student, Jasmine had to learn first-hand how to navigate her way through higher education. From learning how to complete the FASFA to choosing a major, Jasmine turned to her resources on campus for assistance on this journey. Tune into today’s episode to hear about Jasmine’s experience at DeSales and her passion for teaching studen...

Please welcome Joseph Freemont on today’s episode of Beyond the Tassel! Joe is a graduate of the class of 2021 as a Finance and Accounting double-major. Joe is currently employed at Legacy Planning Partners as a Financial Services Associate. During his time at DeSales, Joe was a Career Ambassador in the Career Development Center, and he received the 2021 Provincial Medal of Honor, an award to one who exemplifies the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. Since graduating, Joe has passed the multiple certifications including the SIE, the Series 7, Series 66, and the PA Life, Accident, & Health Insurance. Listen to this ep...

JESSICA WATSON ‘15

On this episode of Beyond the Tassel meet Jessica Watson! Jessica completed her undergraduate degree in 2015 majoring in Sports and Exercise science, and she completed the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in 2018. Jessica is now an Assistant Professor in the DPT Program here at DeSales University, and she also works per diem for St. Luke's Acute Rehabilitation and Lehigh Valley Health Network's Acute Care. Jessica earned the DeSales DPT Program Salesian Spirit Award in 2018 and became a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist in 2022. Jessica has conducted and presented multiple research projects; to name one, Jessica pr...

On this episode of Beyond the Tassel our guest, Jennifer Abraham, discusses her journey from DeSales to her incoming role as the Assistant Director and Liaison to the College of Business for

Lehigh University’s Center for Career and Professional Development in Bethlehem, PA.

In May 2020, Jenn graduated from DeSales University with her Bachelor of Arts in History and her Social Studies Certification for grades 7 through 12. Following DeSales, Jenn went on to become the Graduate Assistant for Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) Career and Professional Development Center in Indiana, PA. Jenn graduated from IUP in M...

Today’s episode of Beyond the Tassel features Cynthia Cipoletti BSN, RN, CHPN from the DeSales graduating class of 2019. Cynthia is a nationally certified hospice and palliative care nurse, and she currently works for Hackensack Meridian Health in South Jersey. At DeSales, Cynthia studied nursing with a minor in psychology. Cynthia has recently published a book titled The Good, The Ugh, & The Better Grab Gloves: A Nursing Survival Guide available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Tune in to learn about Cynthia’s career as a nurse and her passion for educating others!

Connect with Cynthia: 

...

Today’s episode of Beyond the Tassel features Paul Vizza from the DeSales Class of 2016. Paul graduated with a double major in Human Resource Management and Business Administration. During his time at DeSales, he was involved in many student organizations. As a Career Ambassador in the Career Development Center, Paul discovered his passion for connecting people with their dream job. After beginning his career in nonprofits, Paul spent 3 years in Campus Recruiting at Northwestern Mutual Eastern Pennsylvania. Currently, Paul is the Assistant Vice President for Campus Recruiting and Marketing for BNP Paribas, one of the largest banks in the wo...

Eliza is a Musical Theater and Communications double major, Class of 2011. She is now a Food Network "Chopped" Champion, a chef-entertainer, and a cheerleader for anyone who wants to learn how to feed themselves well. Chef Eliza's culinary adventures began in New York City, where she studied at the Institute of Culinary Education, worked tirelessly at the Rachael Ray Show, Saveur Magazine, and multiple high end catering companies and restaurants. After winning a cooking competition for the James Beard Foundation, she was sent to Chicago to serve as their first Woman in Culinary Leadership and her story contiues. Listen...

On this episode of Beyond the Tassel our guest Kyle Kromer, a DeSales nursing graduate from the class of 2014, tells about his career as a Flight Nurse for the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Kyle works in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, functions as a paramedic for Bally Community Ambulance, and he is commissioned in the United States Air Force Reserve as a Flight Nurse. Since graduating, Kyle has remained local to the Lehigh Valley and currently resides in Palm, PA. Kyle appreciates the opportunity to learn in his career and emphasizes that the more exposure you have to education...

Today’s guest on Beyond the Tassel, Paige Matzerath, graduated from DeSales University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She continued her education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) where she graduated in 2020 with her Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Currently, she is a Career Advisor for arts, creativity, and media at Colgate University. Paige teaches at two dance studios in Utica, NY. Listen to Paige discuss how she combines her passion for dance with her rewarding position as a career advisor and how she faces challenges in her role.

Connect wi...

On today’s episode of Beyond the Tassel our special guest is Kyle Langan from the DeSales class of 2010. He is an author and CEO of his media company KJL Media. Post graduation, Kyle traveled from Center Valley to the Hamptons to Los Angeles in pursuit of following his passion of storytelling, career as a writer, and social media consultant. Kyle was named Lifestyle Blogger of the Year by Trip Advisor in 2015 and 2017 for his works on his blog Hamptons to Hollywood, and he highlights his article “Essentials for a Hamptons Day Trip and BMW” where he had the pleasure...

This weeks special double post on the DeSales University Beyond The Tassel and Career Chat Podcasts feature our new hosts, Annie Pagano, Marketing '23 and Grace Wyckoff, TV Film/Media Studies '23. Our new team starts this podcast with a special thank you to their mentors and former hosts, Karla Quintinilla, Marketing '21 and Kylee Shivok, Chemistry '20. Listen in as Annie and Grace introduce themselves, talk about spring events for students, and their upcoming podcasts. 

Our special guest on today's episode of Beyond The Tassel is Hutton Jackson. He is an Emmy-Award winning video producer at The Action Network. Hutton Class of 2016, graduated from DeSales University with a B.A in Communications and also completed the ROTC program. On this episode, he discusses why he pursued a career with sports entertainment, and he shares what his day to day look like as a producer. Hutton tells the story of how he earned an Emmy-Award for the Sports Emmy Awards and provides advice for students that would like to pursue a career in sports entertainment.

Listen in as Physician Assistantant Alum, '13, Caitlin Long, discusses being a Physician Assistant at Lehigh Valley Network, plus being an Interim Program Coordinator at Alvernia University and founder of LifeLong Wellness, LLC. In this episode, Cait talks all about balancing many career opportunities PA-Cs have after graduating and how she had navigated the professional world after graduating from DeSales. She is passionate about finding healthy balance between all responsibilities and she coaches folks to find work balance and lifelong satisfaction. Tune-in to hear Cait advice on how to achieve academic success while taking care of yourself, how to d...

Troy Bauer graduated from Desales University in 2014 with a B.A in TV/Film. He currently resides in Philadelphia working for Disney/6abc as a producer, but do not let his title fool you. Troy wears many hats, he is a skilled video editor, copywriter, and motion graphic artist. In this episode, Troy discusses his story as the very first career ambassador at DeSales. He talks about his passion for working at 6abc and advises students to continue to explore professional opportunities in their field.

Connect with Troy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troybauer/ 

For this episode, we are sharing the story of Lisa Leone for this week’s Tune-in Tuesday. Lisa is a passionate actress and founder of the #VolunteerTogether, a non-profit organization. She shares her journey of working in the Entertainment industry not only in front of the camera but also behind the scenes. 

Lisa graduated in 2015 with a B.A in Theatre with a focus in Acting/Directing and a minor in Italian Studies. She moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in the Entertainment Industry. Lisa loves immersing herself in new cultures and meeting people from...

Today we are featuring Dan Villanti class of 2009. Dan graduated with a degree in Sport Management and today he is the Director of Alumni Relations at DeSales University. Our conversation with Dan includes his career journey with DeSales, his passion for Baseball, and his vision for the alumni relation department as he steps into this new role. Dan also shares details for the upcoming Family Weekend happening on October 15th-October 17th.

In this episode of Beyond The Tassel, we speak with a very important figure at DeSales University, Father James Greenfield who is part of class of 1984. Nearly 34 years later, he began a new chapter at DeSales—this time, as president of his alma mater. Father Greenfield shares with us his career journey and impactful moments in his life that led him to become an influential leader and president at our university. Tune-in to hear a personal conversation with Father Greenfield and to learn about the moral and spiritual values that drive what he does!

We are happy to introduce our almuni guest Gui Lopes, Director of Campus Ministry at Cabrini University, class of 2014. On this episode Gui guides us through his experiences at DeSales that made him grow as an individual and find the good in adversity. He shares stories that impacted his growth and involvement at school, and how he overcame difficulties. Listen to Gui talk about the resources that he used at Desales such as the Wellness Center and Academic Services, and how he landed as a influential leader in campus ministry at Cabrini University.

We are happy to share @Kylee Shivok ’20 story today. Kylee is an Ophthalmic Technician and Scribe and she is currently in the process of applying to medical school. In this episode, Kylee shares her transition from Rutgers University to DeSales University and her decision for switching majors. She talks about the power of setting intentions and expectations in your career.

Kylee's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylee-shivok/

Want to be a featured alumnus on our podcast? We would love to hear your story. Email Melanie Vallone at Melanie.Vallone@desales.edu

In this episode, we feature our Executive Vice President at DeSales University, Dr. Jerry Joyce! Dr. Joyce '91, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is now one of our top leaders at our university. In today’s episode, Dr. Joyce shares with us his career path within this organization, attributes of good leadership, utilizing the DeSales mission to guide us during unprecedented times, and valuable advice for the Class of 2021. We congratulate Dr. Joyce on his 30th anniversary with DeSales University.

We welcome Abby Wagner to the Beyond The Tassel Podcast. Abby 17' with a B.S in Psychology and pursued her Master of Education (M.Ed) at West Chester University. Her passion: to help others. She is currently a school counselor at North Penn School District. In this episode, Abby joins us to talk about her journey into this helping profession. She talks about her volunteering involvement at DeSales, how her current role as a student counselor is essential for students going to experience education amidst a global pandemic, and how a college student can take care of their...

Amanda Fabrizio ’07 is our special guest on this episode of Beyond The Tassel. Amanda is a director of Development at Tennessee Technological University. She graduated with a degree in communications at DeSales. Her specialties are event coordination/planning, annual funding, and publications. On this episode, we will discuss the value of communicating with different personalities, how college involvement can build student’s skill set and how to recognize if a job is not the right fit.

Angela Sigley Grossman graduated from Desales in 2006 with a BA in Dance. Shortly after graduation, she pursued her Master of Fine arts in Choreography and Dance performance. Today, Angela is a beloved dance professor at Desales University. This is her tenth year teaching at DeSales and we celebrate her accomplishment on this episode. Today we will talk about the diversity of opportunities within the dance field, how angela discovered her purpose in her career and some of the qualities that dancers have that go unnoticed. Lastly, be sure to check out  DANCE ENSEMBLE CONCERT. Streaming April 10 & 11, 2021 to gain access t...

In today’s episode, our special guest and former Career Ambassador is John Pelossie class of 2017. John graduated with a double major in accounting and finance. He is now an Associate Advisor at Legacy Planning Partners. In today’s episode, John Pelossie will share with us the value of internship experiences, his shift in mentality during his first job in accounting, and many more insights within the financial and accounting field. He reveals important insights on the financial advising career and how to be a successful professional in the financial and accounting field.

Welcome our guest speaker Tracy Bingaman ’12. Tracy earned her degree as a Physician Assistant and Medical Studies. Today she is an Aesthetics Injector and Plastic Surgery Physician Assistant, a mother and step-mom of 5, a wife, a Podcast host, and a coach. She is a Working Mom Coach who dreams of a life for every working mom where she feels filled up, fulfilled, energized, and inspired. In this episode of Beyond The Tassel we speak with this successful alumnus about the different paths within the Physician Assistant field, the benefits of self-care while studying a rigorous major, and the idea of s...