Alumni, Students Turn Out for Beyond the Commons

Fifteen Alumni Host 55 Students
Joe Sorbera '08, back left, and Jessica Palmeri '11, G'13, front right, host nine students at a Beyond the Commons pre-dinner hot chocolate social in the Kane Forum.
Joe Sorbera '08, back left, and Jessica Palmeri '11, G'13, front right, host nine students at a Beyond the Commons pre-dinner hot chocolate social in the Kane Forum.

On Friday, Nov. 10, 15 alumni hosts provided 55 student guests with an invaluable opportunity: a chance to talk with a University of Scranton alumnus/na at Beyond the Commons, a dinner series that connects the former with the latter in a casual setting free from the confines of a formal networking event on campus.

 

"Beyond the Commons dinners give students the chance to interact with current experts in their fields," said University Assistant Director of Annual Giving Alexandra Maier. "Each dinner, set in a venue off campus, brings approximately 10 students together with one to three alumni. The atmosphere of each dinner is casual and conversation is centered around a specific topic."

 

This latest round of Beyond the Commons dinners attracted alumni working in a variety of fields willing to discuss several topics. Alumni Society President Col. Rich Breen, U.S. Army (ret) ’77, director of Strategic Communications for the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and Alumni Society Advisory Board member Kevin Kucharski '85, senior vice president of clinical operations for Achillion Pharmaceuticals, discussed "Advancing Your Career" with the nine students they hosted; ASAB member Jane Yeoman G '04, a clinical quality management consultant for Highmark, Inc., and ASAB member Maura Hayden '08, a registered nurse at University of Pennsylvania Health System, discussed "Nursing" with the 10 students they hosted; ASAB member Mara Smith, J. D. '13, a law clerk for Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads LLP, ASAB member Jessica Palmeri '11, G '13, a community manager for Hyrell, and ASAB member Joe Sorbera '08, vice president of JLS Cost Management Systems, Inc., discussed "The Real World: Life After College" with the nine students they hosted; ASAB member Dr. John Cardone, M.D. '82, a cardiovascular surgeon at Mary Washington Healthcare/VA Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, hosted four students at "Dinner With a Doc"; ASAB President-elect Michael Short '99, president of Short Family Agency & Finanical Group, LLC, discussed "Scranton Entrepreneurs" with the five students he hosted; ASAB member Theresa Rice Haughey '87, senior director of pharmacovigilance quality assurance for GlaxoSmithKline, ASAB member Collen Neary, Esq. '88, attorney at law for Sweeney & Neary, LLP, and ASAB member Noradeen Farlekas '83, founder of Social Equity Investment Solutions, discussed "Woman in the Workplace" with the five students they hosted; and ASAB member P.J. Tabit '10, a supervisory policy analyst for the Federal REserve Board of Governors, ASAB member Mike Guarnuccio '89, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and ASAB member Jeff Rossi '88, vice president of compliance and training at Credit Suisse, discussed "Steps to a Successful Future" with the nine students they hosted.

 

For more information on Beyond the Commons, visit here

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