Eileen Gallagher '06

Majoring in economics was the perfect way for Eileen Gallagher 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. "I want to use the foundation that I gained in my economics major to create change in the world."

Gallagher serves as an AmeriCorps*VISTA leader at Allegheny, where she coordinates a variety of projects—ranging from a local literacy program to spring break trips focused on community service. It's a two-year position, after which she plans to pursue an MBA with a concentration in social enterprise.

Students should gain leadership experience while in college and maintain grades that will allow them to pursue graduate studies, Gallagher advises. And recent graduates don't have to be certain of the career they want to have for the rest of their lives. "Follow your heart," she says. "Take a job because it excites you, not because it pays the most."

And for Gallagher, pursuing new interests has paid great dividends. "My Allegheny experience taught me that stepping outside of my comfort zone is the key to having a meaningful learning experience," she says. "I learned about so many options that I may never have considered before coming to Allegheny."

The First Five is a series of profiles celebrating the accomplishments of recent Allegheny College graduates in their first five years as alumni. Read more First Five profiles here.