Careers Unfiltered

The final episode of Season 3 is with the one and only Bryce Davis. Bryce has served as one of the brains and voices behind Careers Unfiltered and will be sorely missed as the Co-Host. He graduated in May 2020 with a degree in Economics and Music, hoping to pursue a career in artistic management.

Listen as he reflects on his time at the University of Rochester and his overwhelming love for the Midnight Ramblers, music, and his time at the Greene Center. Bryce also shares what he's learned about himself from his education, experiences, and friendships over the past four years and his hopes for music to continue into his professional life.

Join Bryce as he talks with Mitch Gruber who received his PhD in History from the University of Rochester in 2016. Mitch reflects on how he ended up back in his hometown of Rochester to pursue his doctoral work after some time in South Africa during his undergraduate career at SUNY Binghamton and his journey to his present job. He is currently the Chief Program Officer at Foodlink, a nonprofit that distributes food to partners within the upstate NY region and serves as a Rochester NY City Councilmember.

In this episode, Mitch shares how the skills he learned working towards his PhD prepared him for the workforce and how every experience was valuable to his professional development. He also describes what it's like to work in the nonprofit sector, his passion for the Rochester community, and his work towards a more equitable food system.

www.mitchgruber.com

Jeremy Saucier graduated from the University of Rochester in 2010 with a PhD in History and received his bachelor's degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University. He was motivated in his job search post-graduation and by luck stumbled upon an opportunity at the Strong Museum of Play. He has now "leveled up" and holds the position of Assistant Vice President for Interpretation and Electronic Games.

Listen to Jeremy's journey pursuing a doctorate degree, the experiences that prepared him for his current job, his first experience at the Strong Museum of Play, and the honest struggles of the job search. He also shares the power of mentorship and keeping an open mind to unexpected opportunities that come by.

Judy Ricker received her bachelor's in Music Education in 1976 and her master's in Musical Arts and Performance and Literature in 1981 from the Eastman School of Music. She continued her education at the Simon School of Business where she earned her MBA in 1991.

Judy has spent her career working within both the music and business industries. She started off performing in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and then went on to work at Kodak and other corporations to do brand research. Currently, Judy is a brand and research consultant and also teaches oboe at Nazareth College and a course for Eastman's newest master's program: Master of Arts in Music Leadership.

Take a listen to Judy's wide range of experiences and her advice for students and alumni. She shares what to do when changing careers, the importance of recognizing transferable skills in any industry, and the overlapping qualities between music and business.

This is a very special episode with two guests: Dr. Louis Kuchnir, dermatologist at Kuchnir Dertmatology, and Vanessa Cedarbaum, a 2015 University of Rochester alum with a BS in Microbiology. Take a listen to hear Dr. Kuchnir share what he looks for in a successful gap year applicant and what students can gain from a gap year.

You'll also hear a student perspective from Vanessa who took a gap year at Kuchnir Dermatology after completing her undergraduate degree. She shares what motivated her to apply and how it prepared her for medical school as a current third year medical school student at Rutgers University. She also shares the wonderful relationships she made and skills she learned.

To learn more about the Kuchnir Dermatology Gap Year Program, visit: https://www.kuchnirdermatology.com/gapyear

Jeff Tyzik graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a degree in Bachelor of Music in 1973 and later received a Masters of Music in 1977. He shares how his education at Eastman informed his work ethic throughout his life and the beginnings of his career from teaching to performing on stage.

Today he is now the Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras across the USA. He shares how his career has expanded to producing albums and writing music that combines different genres. In this episode he shares the phenomenal power of music that transcends language, political divisions, and connects people from all walks of life.

Kevin Brown graduated from the University of Rochester in 2014 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. During his time at Rochester, Kevin kept busy both academically and socially. He was the President of the Black Students' Union (BSU), an AIChE member, a member of Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, and a Kearns Scholar. Kevin always knew he wanted to study STEM and took advantage of the research opportunities during undergrad to learn if it was the right fit for him.

As a Development Engineer for NOHMs Technologies, he comments on the importance of soft skills, not just technical skills for STEM positions. He also shares how valuable it is to be coachable when applying for jobs and to excel in your role.

Get psyched to hear from Dr. Michelle Zaso, a T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions at University at Buffalo! During her time at University of Rochester she received her B.S. in Neuroscience in 2012 and went on to receive her PhD at Syracuse University. Learn how she found her passion in clinical psychology and her current interdisciplinary research in addictions. Michelle shares tips on how to find the best match for graduate school, explains the Psychology Match process, and shares a day in the life of a clinical psych researcher.

Celena Evans graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1996 and went on to continue her engineering education at Georgia Tech, and then received her MBA from Emory University. Celena has had a range of experience in consulting, business, project management, and other industries. In 2009, She was named "Top 40 Under 40" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle!

Today, she works in real estate in Atlanta at Keller Williams where her skills and past experiences align with one another. Celena shares how networking has influenced her career more than once and has helped her hone in on where she can thrive. She also gives advice on how to reevaluate your professional life when it doesn't match your expectations.

Tom Kraus '05 '07MS is currently a Project Engineer and Lead Image Scientist at L3 Harris. Despite his STEM heavy background, Tom shares the value of interdisciplinary study in the humanities and social sciences he learned from his Take 5 year at the University of Rochester. Tom also discusses the importance of work life balance after college and how teaching has prepared him for his current job.

Come listen to hear about his unique experiences, his 6 years at the University of Rochester, career advice for students, and how he applies the skills he learned from his various classes to his professional life.