Beyond the Nest

In this episode of Beyond the Nest, 2016 UMR graduate, Dr. Hawa Ali, catches up with her Student Success Coach Jenn Hooke. 

Now a resident at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Ali is a Otolaryngology Specialist and focuses her work on ear, nose, throat, head and neck surgery. Dr. Ali and Jenn chat about discovering UMR, the power of mentorship, and how medical student pick their specialties. 

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

Hawa Ali, MD '16

Jenn Hooke

University of Minnesota Rochester

In this episode of Beyond the Nest, University of Minnesota Rochester's alumni podcast, UMR Chancellor Lori Carrell chats with Rochester Student Association President Patricia Hernandez. 

The two discuss Patricia's journey through UMR, her career aspirations, and the experiences which led her to a role in campus student leadership.

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

Patricia Hernandez '23

Chancellor Lori Carrell

University of Minnesota Rochester

In the first episode of Season 3 of Beyond the Nest, 2022 UMR graduate, Chidiogo Orakwue, chats with her sister Amarachi, a 2020 graduate of the University of Minnesota Rochester. 

Chidiogo and Amarachi reminisce about their time at UMR, discovering the campus in their own backyard, and preparing for and entering medical school.                                  

Presently, Amarachi is in her second year of med school at the University of Minnesota Medical Center; and Chidiogo is preparing for the MCAT as she works toward medical school herself. 

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

Amarachi Orakwue '20

In this episode of Beyond the Nest, 2019 graduate Monica Ziebell chats with UMR Student Success Coach Grace Nelson. 

The two catch up and discuss how Monica picked UMR, internship experiences that led to a pathway realization, and building a career in resilience, mental health, and well-being.                                 

Presently, Monica is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with NUWAY, a non-profit serving individuals recovering from substance use and mental health disorders. Following UMR, Monica went on to earn a Master of Professional Studies in Addiction Counseling from the University of Minnesota's College of Continuing & Professional Studies, and most recently, Monica started pursuing a second master’s degree in social work from St. Mary's University in Rochester, Minnesota.   

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

• Monica Ziebell '19

In this episode of Beyond the Nest, 2019 graduate Mason Schlief connects with UMR mathematics professor Jered Bright.

The two discuss how Mason happened upon UMR, her experiences with living learn communities such as Health CORE, and what led her to focus on a career pathway in resilience, mental health, and well-being. 

Currently, Mason is a Care Coordinator with Zumbro Valley Health where she counsels individuals facing challenges related to mental health and substance abuse and addiction. Previously, Mason held the role of Mental Health Practitioner with Fernbrook Family Center. Additionally, Mason recently began a Master of Social Work program at the University of North Dakota.        

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

• Mason Schlief '19

In this episode of Beyond the Nest, 2016 graduate Emily Jorgenson talks with neuroscience faculty member, Dr. Robb Dunbar. 

Emily and Dr. Dunbar chat about what brought her to UMR, discovering a career in mental health and addiction counseling, and how to avoid putting yourself in a box. 

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

• Emily Jorgenson '16

In this episode, 2014 graduate Gavin Mark chats with UMR sociology Professor Molly Dingel. 

Currently, Gavin works for Syneos Health where he performs monitoring and site management activites for Phase I-IV clinical research projects. Gavin and Professor Dingel discuss Gavin's time at UMR, life in clinical research, and how to build a professional network. 

For those interested in learning more about careers in clinical research, Gavin mentioned the Association of Clinical Research Professionals  (ACRP) as a resource for networking, job opportunities, and continuing education. 

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

• Gavin Mark  '14

In the first episode of Beyond the Nest's second season, 2018 graduate Mohamed Addani catches up with UMR biology faculty member Rachel Olson. 

Currently, Mohamed is a doctoral candidate at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences where his focused his research on developing strategies to confront health disparities in regenerative medicine treatments. 

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR 

• Mohamed Addani '18

In this episode of Beyond the Nest, UMR Senior Success Coach Jenn Hooke chats with 2017 graduate Nitya Chandiramani. The two discuss Nitya's time at UMR, mentorship, and her work on the business side of healthcare. 

If you would like to share your UMR journey, please reach out on LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]. 

Connect with UMR on LinkedIn

• Nitya Chandiramani '17

In this special State of the Campus episode of Beyond the Nest, Chancellor Lori J. Carrell, Ph.D. sits down with Rochester Student Association (RSA) President Yusra Yusuf for a discussion on life at UMR in 2021, the manner in which the pandemic has changed school and the way we work, and how students have responded to multiple disruptions with resilience and compassion. 

Connect with UMR on LinkedIn

• Chancellor Lori J. Carrell, Ph.D.