The First Five is a series of profiles celebrating the accomplishments of recent Allegheny College graduates in their first five years as alumni.
"Every day is an adventure into the unknown," Kelly Bordash Dopp '03 says as she describes her work as a third-grade teacher in the Butler Area School District. In a career that demands flexibility and creativity, Kelly credits Allegheny with teaching her how to juggle.
Learn more about Kelly here.
John Brady '05 knows the value of networking. A connection he forged while a student led to a job immediately after graduation with the St. Moritz Group, owned by Allegheny alumnus Phil St. Moritz '61. Brady has advanced steadily at the firm and now serves as vice president and Pittsburgh branch manager of its building services company.
Learn more about John here.
Jessica Buck '05 didn't plan to become a physician assistant—until she took advantage of a job shadowing opportunity while an Allegheny student. Although she was primarily observing an orthopedic surgeon, Buck interacted with a physician assistant (PA) as well. She continued to explore the field by shadowing PAs in other medical specialties, and she went on to earn a master's degree in PA studies from Chatham University.
Learn more about Jessica here.
An Allegheny College education empowered Dan Chorba '07 to teach himself new ideas very quickly—an ability he has found vital in the competitive world of finance. As a trader in PNC's Corporate and Institutional Banking training program, Chorba has to keep pace in a constantly evolving field.
Learn more about Dan here.
Jonathan Cilley '05 isn't your typical history major. As manager of software development for Montgomery County (Maryland) Teachers Federal Credit Union, Cilley leads a team of six employees charged with enhancing the company's technological services.
Learn more about Jonathan here.
It's an important year for Dan Conant '07. As the North Country Field Organizer for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Dan manages the election campaign in the northern half of the state, working even at the presidential level.
Learn more about Dan here.
Experiences at Allegheny College helped Molly Dixon '04 figure out that she wanted to study veterinary medicine. Currently in her second year of vet school at the University of Pennsylvania, Dixon recalls how extracurricular experiences helped guide her decision.
Learn more about Molly here.
Interests in music and community service set Katheryn Ferris '06 apart from other students when she applied for medical school. "Allegheny students have an advantage," says Ferris, an accomplished clarinetist who majored in neuroscience, "because we are encouraged to go beyond our majors and explore other ideas and worlds."
Learn more about Katheryn here.
Majoring in economics was the perfect way for Eileen Gallagher '06 to prepare for a career in social justice. "I can assess a situation and come up with various solutions as a result of the practice gained doing this with economic models or problems during my time at Allegheny," she says.
Learn more about Eileen here.
With nearly two years under her belt at Ohio Northern University School of Law, Janelle Hackman '06 knows what makes a superior law student. And she says that Allegheny is where she first learned many of the skills necessary to be such a student.
Learn more about Janelle here.
Jessica Hayes '03 never thought she could handle the demands of a professional job and graduate school at the same time. But in summer 2008, she will complete her MBA at the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business—a degree she will have earned while working full-time.
Learn more about Jessica here.
Emily Marlatt '07 says Allegheny College prepared her well for the responsibility and accountability that came quickly once she began as an associate at Towers Perrin, a human resources consulting and professional services firm.
Learn more about Emily here.
Three countries in three years sounds like a traveler's dream. But for Michael McClelland '07, this dream will soon be reality. McClelland is working on his Master's degree in communication regulation and policy at the acclaimed London School of Economics. His passport will be put to use again when he graduates in September.
Learn more about Michael here.
Balance is key for Stacy Monarko '04. A graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, Stacy also works as the product marketing manager for Vivisimo, an enterprise search software company. Her duties include driving the company's product strategy, determining market requirements, and improving customer relations.
Learn more about Stacy here.
Chris Morgan is not far from Allegheny, but he is well on his way to becoming a doctor. Chris attends the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, a school that demands a lot. "LECOM expects professionalism, academic excellence, and personality," he says. "All of these things are a product of my attending Allegheny."
Learn more about Chris here.
Working for a growing company means that Erin Murphy '03 sees projects through from start to finish. In her position with Flying Colors Broadcasts, she coordinates large live events around the world and handles nearly every aspect of video productions.
Learn more about Erin here.
Anthony Paravati '06 is not your average medical student. He is currently attending Dartmouth, where he is obtaining not only a medical degree but also a master's in business administration.
Learn more about Anthony here.
Ashlee Rich '05 is making her mark on the world of politics. After working for the Republican National Committee during the 2006 election cycle, she accepted a position at Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign headquarters in New York City. As polling director, Rich coordinated research efforts and analyzed data from testing and polls.
Learn more about Ashlee here.
For Christina Rivera '06, the world of pharmacy is the perfect combination of helping patients and working with a variety of medical professionals. Rivera attends Ohio State University, where she is studying to be a doctor of pharmacy.
Learn more about Christina here.
