What do our alumnae do?

Captain Ruth A. Mohr graduated magna cum laude from the College of New Rochelle, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education. She received her commission from Officers Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island on March 25, 1983, and a Master of Arts degree in Adult Education from the University of Rhode Island in May 1985. She graduated from the Naval War College Nonresident Correspondence Program in 1991. Her military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Award with gold star in lieu of second award, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Expert Rifle Medal and Navy Expert Pistol Shot medal.

Samantha Young was the student commencement speaker at her hooding ceremony in 2005, when she graduated with honors in English and Communication arts. “CNR prepared me for my career by preparing me for my life. That may sound too simple, but it’s not. I currently work as an Advertising New Program Planner, which involves constant decision making, fast-paced deadlines and research beyond any paper I ever did in college. I guess CNR prepared me for my interview more than anything else. Every question my would-be boss asked was answered in the form of some relevant experience in college. Honors conferences readied me for speaking in front of others (I now give reports in front of the officers of my multi-million dollar company). Honors courses challenged me to research and back up all of my conclusions with relevant sources (I now help make decisions about where we spend a large amount of our advertising dollars). Mostly, however, the interaction with my peers, both in and out of the Honors Program, gave me a sense of professionalism that I carried to my new career.

Vanessa Ceron graduated in 2005, and now works as Communications Coordinator in Global Risk Management & Compliance at Citigroup in New York City.  According to Vanessa, her department is involved in maintaining a website, writing announcements, managing global events, coordinating quarterly Town Halls for function heads and the Senior Risk Officer, developing and strategizing global communications campaigns for Risk & Compliance, and regularly showcasing each function.  "Currently, I support the Director of Communications on executive communications, including speeches, memos and organization announcements, etc.; manage and execute events (town halls, forums, information sessions) managing all aspects of logistical planning; upgrade and maintain the Global Risk & Compliance website, working closely with Citigroup’s in-house graphics team, to develop the site and additional pages, as needed; draft content/communications for the Global Risk & Compliance website and contribute to the Risk & Compliance quarterly newsletter and HR themed monthly letter; work closely with Citigroup’s in-house design team and Citigroup approved vendors to produce brochures, posters, placemats and campaign toys/gifts; and provide overall PR support to Risk & Compliance colleagues."

Elizabeth Skrip graduated in 2006, and now is putting all of her work at CNR to good use in graduate school.  "My career ambition has long been to work in a profession that combines my interests in science and art.  Earning a B.S. in Biology with minors in Art and Chemistry at The College of New Rochelle certainly helped me to move closer to this goal.  Now, the Medical Illustration program at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY is helping me to even further develop and refine the skills necessary to become a medical/scientific illustrator.  At the end of the two-year program, I will have earned an M.F.A. in Medical Illustration.   What is the role of medical/scientific illustrators?  We are educators.  We teach through visual presentations--websites, 2D and 3D computer animations, museum exhibits, illustrations for textbooks and magazines...  My classes so far have included human gross anatomy, histology, figure drawing, watercolor, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, and Maya (a 3D computer graphics program).  Some of my work can be seen at: http://www.rit.edu/~ers4521/portfolio"

Bekki Mui graduated in 2007 with a degree in English.  Originally from Massachusetts, Bekki fell in love with New York City during her time at CNR, and after graduation moved into an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  She is currently finishing up graduate studies at the Bank Street Graduate School of Education for a Masters degree in Reading and Literacy, and teaches first grade at the Trevor Day School, a private school on the Upper East Side that emphasizes activity-based learning in a culturally diverse setting.

How do our alumnae remember the Honors Program?

Colleen Duffy graduated magna cum laude with a double major in English Literature and Communications and a minor in History. "Participation in the National Collegiate Honors Council through seminars and forums enabled me to interact with students from colleges all over the area to share Honors' experiences." During my senior year at CNR, I was an intern through the Honors Program at the United Nations in the Non-governmental Organization Unit of the Department of International and Ecomomic Social Affairs for the Economic and Social Council. Without the Honors Program, I would not have had that opportunity.

In my last year at CNR, I worked [on] an Honors' contract for English Literature. The theme of the contract was exploring similarities and contrasts in the works of Milton and Eliot. The work for the course consisted of a paper that I developed entitled "Music in the work of Milton and Eliot." I spent a considerable amount of time on the paper and submitted my "final version" to Sister Christopher for her review. She returned it - told me that it was a good first effort but that it needed substantial revision if I was looking to earn an "A." I spent my senior year spring break re-working that paper and re-submitted the new version. Later, unbeknownst to me, Sister Christopher submitted the paper to the English Literature Department for consideration for the graduation award for English Literature. Thanks to the Honors' Program and my honors contract with Sister Christopher, I was privileged to receive the English Literature award for that paper at graduation. (It sort of made up for missing a typical "spring break!")

After graduating from CNR, I attended Boston University's School of Public Communication and earned my M.S. in public relations and public affairs. My experiences at the United Nations served me well when I needed to renew some international contacts to develop and write my master's thesis - the promotion of breastfeeding in Kenya. After graduate school I applied for and was hired as the Communications Specialist for the City of Mount Vernon handling public relations with respect to the City's economic development. It was my first "professional" job. I was later told that I "edged out" other candidates for the position because of my United Nations experience. Thus, in effect, the CNR Honors Program was directly responsible for the
start of my career after school.