He chose Muhlenberg for its small size and mighty opportunities …
“I was looking for a school that would allow for a holistic education and promote well-roundedness, somewhere I’d be able to study multiple disciplines. At Muhlenberg, I was also able to get involved in cross country and track. I was a tutor in calculus and a tour guide. I studied abroad in the Netherlands, and now I’m captain of the cross country team. There are so many opportunities here that I wouldn’t have been able to get at other schools. Another thing is the student-professor relationships that are fostered here. I had to miss a class last spring, and the professor sent me an email just checking up on me. Having that accountability is really important as opposed to getting lost in the crowd at a different type of institution.”
… and his experiences growing up led him to his fields of study.
“I’m from right outside Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is a very small town that is economically driven by the Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and the nonprofit Milton S. Hershey Foundation. I’ve always been very motivated seeing their work, specifically around the influx of tourism and the proceeds given to the nonprofit, which allows low-income students to have a free education at the Milton Hershey School. Also, I took AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics in high school. My teacher, Mr. Pavone, his excitement for and dedication to the material every day was really special. Coming into Muhlenberg’s ABEF [Accounting, Business, Economics and Finance] department was a great fit for me, being able to take so many different pathways that other liberal arts schools don’t necessarily have. I was able to intern at the Milton S. Hershey Foundation during my sophomore year. It was great having that exposure before I interned with Vanguard, an asset management firm in the Greater Philadelphia area, after my sophomore and junior years. I’m going to graduate a semester early, and I’ve accepted a full-time position as an analyst in Vanguard’s Investment Management Development Program.”
He studied abroad during his junior year at Maastricht University in the Netherlands …
“I was on the fence about studying abroad because I’d miss out on a semester at Muhlenberg and a semester of running. I’m happy that I made the decision to go because it afforded me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, to handle adversity, to learn a new culture and to deal with culture shock, including a new system of learning. In the U.S., you’re commonly lectured by a professor. At Maastricht University, they use something called the problem-based learning method, which is where students instruct the class. I would review two weeks’ worth of content, and then I would present my findings and try to facilitate discussion among my classmates. That was different, and it helped my presentation skills for work. I took a crisis management class in which I was the only American. That was really cool, to be in such a diverse group of students from all over Europe. During my time abroad, I was able to travel to 10 different countries and explore many different cultures, try different cuisines, and admire the different architecture and the history of these places.”
“I was on the fence about studying abroad … I’m happy that I made the decision to go because it afforded me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, to handle adversity, to learn a new culture and to deal with culture shock, including a new system of learning.”
… and that ignited a passion for international travel.
“Traveling has definitely become a hobby of mine. I went to Iceland with five teammates three months after I came back from abroad. My girlfriend and I have a trip planned for January, right after I graduate. We’ll be going to South America for three-and-a-half weeks, specifically traveling to Ecuador and Peru. Her grandfather (her abuelo) lives in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and he’s been wanting us to come down and visit for quite some time. One of my goals is to see all Seven Wonders of the World, and Machu Picchu is probably the one that I’m most excited about. We’ll be doing a five-day hike to Machu Picchu, which will be really cool.”
He only listens to old music, particularly one legendary singer he can impersonate as a party trick.
“The ’50s through the ’70s is sort of my time frame when it comes to listening to music. Elvis and The Beatles are my two go-tos. When I visited London while studying abroad, I got to walk across Abbey Road. From preschool on, I’ve been an avid Elvis fan. I’m fascinated by his work, his unique voice, his concerts, his style. I’ve been to his house, Graceland, twice and to his birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi. It was inspiring to see how he emerged from his dirt-poor, humble beginnings and then was able to live his dream to become an entertainer. I’ve always been big into Elvis impersonations. When I was younger, I owned a few Elvis jumpsuits, and it was always fun to do at a family event. In middle and high school, I lost touch with that a little bit, and then in college, I decided to re-embrace it. My voice now is actually more suitable for the impressions than it was when I was 5 or 6.”
“I’ve always been big into Elvis impersonations. When I was younger, I owned a few Elvis jumpsuits, and it was always fun to do at a family event. In middle and high school, I lost touch with that a little bit, and then in college, I decided to re-embrace it. My voice now is actually more suitable for the impressions than it was when I was 5 or 6.”
Our affordability crisis has societal impacts that affect even the housing secure. To enact solutions, we need bold and decisive action at every level of government.
Assistant Professor of Dance Heidi Cruz-Austin shares the story of how she began dancing, her professional experience and how she began teaching in a college setting.
