The UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills recently hosted the 2025 Career Everywhere Recognition & Celebration, honoring the many faculty, staff, alumni, and employer partners who have supported students in their career journeys this past year.
Emceed by Micah Heumann, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and a member of the Career Champion Advisory Board, the event highlighted the momentum behind the Career Everywhere movement and its mission to embed career development into every corner of the UConn experience. In his opening remarks, Heumann emphasized that “career readiness is an equity issue” and acknowledged the collective efforts to make career conversations accessible to all students.
“What’s happening here is transformational,” Heumann said. “We’re moving from silos to systems, fostering collaborations that cross disciplines, roles, and departments. And that’s what makes Career Everywhere so powerful. It’s not about asking everyone to become a career counselor. It’s about creating a shared culture where we all feel empowered to be part of the conversation”.
The celebration recognized more than just this shared commitment, it also spotlighted specific individuals and initiatives making an extraordinary impact.
Five alumni, Ali DeGirolamo, Dominique Teskey, Jonathan Costa, Kelly Kerrigan, and Tessa Kalin, were recognized for their meaningful contributions through the Alumni-in-Residence program. These alumni volunteered their time to host monthly office hours and offer one-on-one guidance to students, covering everything from networking strategies to industry insights. Their involvement extended to career panels, classroom visits, and other campus events, where they encouraged students to embrace career growth as a process filled with twists, turns, and unexpected lessons.
Fourteen faculty members from twelve departments participated in the 2024 Summer Faculty Fellow Institute, integrating career readiness into their courses with a focus on helping students articulate career competencies. Posters showcasing their work were featured during the event, offering attendees a glimpse into how career learning is being embedded into the curriculum.
Provost Anne D’Alleva reflected on the power of this collective effort: “Career development doesn’t happen in isolation. It grows through the relationships, experiences, and encouragement students receive every day. The commitment of our Career Champions helps ensure that every student has the tools and support they need to take confident steps toward their future.”
This year, the Center received 154 award nominations; an all-time high that reflects the widespread commitment across the university to supporting student success. The 2025 Career Everywhere award recipients are:
- Undergraduate Career Mentor of the Year: Craig Calvert, Associate Professor In-Residence and Co-Director of the MEM Program
- Graduate Career Mentor of the Year: Mary Anne Amalaradjou, Associate Professor, Animal Science
- Staff Career Mentor of the Year: Brooke Foti Gemmell, Design Strategist, Greenhouse Studios
- Employer/Alumni Career Mentor of the Year: Ali DeGirolamo, Mayoral Aide, City of Waterbury
- Faculty Career Advocate of the Year: Tamara Kaliszewski, Associate Professor-in-Residence, Allied Health Sciences
- Staff Career Advocate of the Year: Arthur Galinat, Director, International Student and Scholar Services
- Career Competency Innovation Award: Allied Health Sciences Department, including Anna Ramos, Cheryl Ordway, Janet Rochester, Jill Skowrenski, Justin Nash, Lauren Wilson, Paul Bureau, and Paula Kalksma-McDowell
From one-on-one mentorship and career guidance to curriculum innovation and institutional partnerships, each of these recipients represents the impact of making career development a shared responsibility—and a shared success—at UConn.
To learn more about the Career Champion program and how to get involved, visit https://career.uconn.edu/channels/career-champions-resources/.
