TJ Alumni Conversation Series

Harrison Yan graduated from TJ in 2015. Since then, he has used his talents to become an emerging leader in the tech and robotics industry. As of this recording, Harrison works as an Infotainment Project Manager at Mercedez-Benz, and—in true TJ fashion—he has started his own company connected to automated filmmaking. Harrison is a perfect example of how our liberal arts foundation can set anyone up for future success.

Rayman Solomon is a current professor and Dean Emeritus at Rutgers Law School in Camden, NJ. He also served as Dean of the Law School for 16 years working to hire faculty, expand programs, and reconnect with alumni. Prior to Rutgers, Dr. Solomon was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Curriculum at Northwestern University School of Law. A wonderful example of a TJ graduate making a major impact, we talk about mentoring, creating change, making an impact, and—of course—TJ history.

In an incredibly fun and interesting conversation, we catch up with Loni Mahanta to discuss her time at and after TJ. She shares advice to a younger self and talks about some of the interesting topics she focuses on, including the connection between tech, critical thinking, and policy.

In an enjoyable conversation, we sit down to hear the story of Beverly "Porky" Pitts. Mr. Pitts is a TJ alumnus and went on to Harvard with a number of other TJ grads. He came back to connect with his classmates after starting the TJ Alumni Association. We hear the story of how he found TJ, what classes and life was like, and hear about his brief college football career.

Michelle Ermatinger-Salas graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 2008. She was a three-sport Varsity athlete and awarded the Arete Award her senior year. She attended Ursinus College and designed her major: Renaissance Studies. During college, she volunteered with a local Fire Department while attending the Fire Academy and eventually worked as an Emergency Medical Technician. After 8years in public service, she left to focus on her health after a severe car accident. Currently, Michelle works as a Title I Paraprofessional in an elementary school and owns and operates her own business with the support of her significant other, and is expanding and rebranding that company. She still lives in Indiana with her fiancé, Brent, a Fire Marshal, and her stepdaughter, Ava. She is in regular communication with TJ alumni, including her best friends Ojoyi Agbo ('08), Rue Tsoka ('08), and Ravelle Lucero ('10)!

Dr. Paul Messina, just like me, is a math and science geek. Paul is also an amazing example of a TJ graduate. He's very modest, but he has done incredible work in the field of computing and science research. He's worked at Cal Tech, JPL, and Argonne National Laboratory. His story about how he found TJ is also just as fascinating as his distinguished career.

We talk about the early days of research and computing, TJ's impact on his life and career, and how one passes the time on a United Fruit Company boat from the US to Panama. (No surprise, the answer is books.)

All TJ graduates have an interesting story. Liat Roth ('17) is no exception. As the daughter of a faculty member, Liat has an interesting "road to TJ." After graduating, she went to UMKC to study dance, where she is currently adapting to a pandemic. Flexible (figuratively and literally), creative, and thoughtful, Liat is another example of an alumna who makes TJ proud.

Hall, a graduate of TJ from the 60s, has had an interesting career after graduation. An alumnus and former board member, he has stayed connected to TJ for decades. Hall is a great example of someone who impacted his local community, and has continued to live the mission of lifting up the world with beauty and intellect.

Sara is an amazing example of a younger alumna who is starting the first steps into an amazing career. A junior at Smith College during recording, Sara is already able to reflect back at how TJ shaped her life and career.

This conversation is with Artit Vibulakaopun, an alumnus with a career path that shows curiosity and confidence, two traits common in TJ graduates. Art brings a lot of joy and reflection to the conversation, and it was a pleasure to hear about his time at TJ (including his student cleaning business!).