News
2020 Grads Move Forward on Their Career Paths
June 18, 2020
Pictured (l. to r.) Top Row: Sonali Kapoor, Simon-Peter Omooba, Ann-Kathrin Zilles, Brilendra Murti Panta; Bottom Row: Kehinde Williams, Brianna Weiss, Donald Hollister, Denesia Mitchell.
Planning for a post-graduation future and finishing up their final year at a distance wasn’t exactly what members of the Class of 2020 envisioned just a few months before graduation. Nevertheless, this year’s New York Tech grads have persevered and are poised for success—securing impressive positions at top companies and continuing their education in premier grad programs. The Box caught up with some of our emerging doers, makers, and innovators to find out where they are headed and how they got there.
Brilendra Murti Panta
B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering
Next step: He will start work as an associate hardware engineer at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), in Pullman, Wash.
How he got there: “Since my freshman year, I have gone to Career Services to get my resume and cover letter reviewed frequently. I had an awesome internship experience during my junior year, and after a couple of interviews, I got an offer for a position that I have always wanted.”
“Professor Anand Santhanakrishnan has always been my go-to person for career advice. Being a part of his research group and taking a class with him has been a privilege.”
Denesia Mitchell
B.S., Engineering Management
Next step: She will start work as an operations analyst at Morgan Stanley.
How she got there: “I am always willing to put myself out there. I worked as a project management intern for the Port Authority the summer after my sophomore year and then as a summer analyst for Morgan Stanley the summer after my junior year. I received a full-time offer after that summer, which I accepted. I’m looking forward to see what the ‘real’ world has in store for me.”
Ann-Kathrin Zilles
B.S., Business Administration-Management
Next steps: She’s currently working as a recruitment intern in the Careers & Education Department of the German American Chamber of Commerce in New York. After a year in this position (part of the OPT [optional practical training] allowed to international graduates), she plans to earn a master’s degree.
How she got there: “The work experience and support I gained at New York Tech helped me a lot in my professional career, because I came from Germany as an international student and was not used to the American workforce. With help and support from the Office of Career Services, I was able to gain ground in New York and create my own little network.”
Donald Hollister
B.S., Architectural Technology
Next step: He will work as an assistant site supervisor for Consigli and Associates.
How he got there: “The Office of Career Services helped me make a great resume and showed me the importance of networking. They were also responsible for helping me get an internship early in my school career, which helped tremendously when transitioning to working full-time after graduation. I highly recommend trying to work in your field of study or getting an internship as soon as possible. I would also like to thank professors Jim Powers and Neil Rosen.”
Brianna Weiss
B.S., Biology-Molecular Biology
Next step: She will begin a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, primarily studying infectious disease.
How she got there: “Besides a job helping to teach fellow microbiology undergrads, I have been heavily involved in research since my freshman year, always working under Dr. Bryan Gibb. A defining point in my career was being able to attend ASM Microbe, a major microbiology conference, in the summer of 2019. It was overwhelmingly positive and assured me that dedicating my life to research was what I needed to do.”
Simon-Peter Omooba
B.Arch., Architecture
Next step: He is starting as a junior architect/architectural designer 1 at Kohn Pederson and Fox Associates.
How he got there: “I've come to this point in my career through creating great connections and keeping in close contact with those connections. I've also had some great professors, like Professor Trudy Brens, who pushed me and taught me to always show my full potential. I'm also thankful for the opportunity to play soccer at New York Tech.”
Sonali Kapoor
M.B.A., Marketing
Next step: She’s working as an ad sales research and marketing intern at Warner Media Group’s CNN.
How she got there: “I was always interested in research. I helped Professor Colleen Kirk with her research, and since then I have learned more. I found the job of ad sales research, and I knew I was ready for it.”
“My internship at CNN has been the best experience of my life. The Time Warner ecosystem itself is so motivating and challenging that it makes me be the best version of myself.”
Kehinde Williams
B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering
Next step: He’s pursuing a master’s degree in ECE at Georgia Institute of Technology.
How he got there: “Both in and out of class, Dr. Sertac Artan played a crucial role in helping me identify and mold my research interests. When I expressed my interest in graduate school, he and Dr. Cecilia Dong supported my application and counseled me through the entire process.”
Class of 2020 grads: Share your plans for the future with us! Send us an email at box@nyit.edu and we’ll share your news in an upcoming article or “alumni note” in NYIT Magazine.
