Internships, job shadowing programs and other networking opportunities don't just prepare students for careers—they help many students get job offers even before they graduate. Meet five members of Adelphi's Class of 2025 who knew their next step when they walked across the stage on Commencement Day.
An award-winning career development office. Robust internship opportunities like the Jaggar Community Fellows Program. An expansive network of alumni committed to supporting students in their careers. Dedicated faculty mentors. And a University-wide focus on hands-on learning.
All are helping Adelphi students quickly step into careers after graduation. The University’s latest Career Outcomes Survey, for the Class of 2023, showed that 93 percent of Adelphi students who received their bachelor’s degree were either working or continuing their education within six months of graduation—and their average annual salary was 30 percent higher than the national average.
We heard from five of the many students who graduated this May with job offers in hand. They told us about how their Adelphi experience helped them get a fast start on their careers.
From All-Conference Softball Player to a Coveted Position With the NCAA
Courtney Wengryn ’24, MBA ’25, is heading to Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin a one-year postgraduate internship with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She is one of only two who will participate in the internship, which attracted more than 1,000 applicants from across the country.
Courtney Wengryn ’24, MBA ’25 secured her role as a marketing intern with the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) before graduation.
She didn’t know about the internship until Emily Dorko ’13, MBA ’15, associate athletic director for external relations at Adelphi, sent her the position posting and encouraged her to apply. In her role as a marketing intern in the Division II governance area and an adviser to the DII Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she’ll also travel to NCAA championship events.
Despite the 1,000-to-2 odds, it is no surprise that Wengryn won the internship. A two-time Northeast-10 (NE10) All-Conference softball player, she earned her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude, was nominated for the NE10 Woman of the Year award, and received the 2024 Bill Esposito award from the Eastern Athletic Communications Association.
“I’ve been taught a lot of lessons along the way, and I promise to keep passing them on to the future generations behind me.”
A Day of Job Shadowing—and a Boost From Alumni—Lead to a Career in Financial Planning
Hugh Keenan ’25 is taking his new BS in Finance with him in his new role as a client associate for Merrill Wealth Management in New York City.
Keenan first learned about the financial planning industry through a job shadowing event at a firm on Long Island. He then completed an internship as a summer analyst at Merrill Wealth Management in Garden City and was mentored by Adelphi alumna Peyton Rutigliano ’19.
“I also attended a dinner, along with other Adelphi students, at the home of alumnus [and mentor in Adelphi’s Executive Fellows Program] Ted Candella [’94, MBA ’95, JD],” he said. “From the moment we met, he has been nothing short of helpful, both to me and everyone there.
“These connections,” Keenan added, “helped me realize the benefits of attending a small, intimate university like Adelphi, as people have lots of pride in the school and its ties to Long Island.”
Keenan is also grateful for the career preparation he received from James F. Bender Clinical Professor of Finance Robert S. Goldberg and his Student Investment Fund class: “The technical and soft skills I learned in my courses at Adelphi have set me up to succeed after graduation.”
Staying Aboard After a Summer Internship
Sanika Desai will work at a paid internship this summer—a position she netted while finishing her MS in Business Analytics. In this role, she was also selected to present her research on predictive analytics for accident prevention in autonomous vehicles at the recent 2025 International Business Analytics Conference.
“Adelphi has been pivotal in shaping my professional path,” Desai said. “Through the MSBA program, I developed advanced analytical skills and secured a summer internship at Northwell Health via the Jaggar Community Fellows Program. With the support of my professor, Dr. Yue Han [PhD, associate professor of decision sciences and marketing], and Dr. MaryAnne Hyland [PhD], dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, I am able to share my work on an international stage. These experiences have strengthened my passion for AI research and my goal of creating real-world impact through data-driven solutions.”
For a Theatre Teacher, a New Role in New Jersey
Laurence Wagner, MA ’25, faced a complicated journey after graduation—transferring teacher certification from New York to New Jersey, and finding a position in a new state—but she was able to achieve both, even before graduation day.
Clinical Assistant Professor Michele Traina of the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences “has been incredibly helpful in helping to maneuver through the job search process and the transfer of certification,” Wagner noted.
With an MA in Educational Theater in hand, and a new role as a middle school theater teacher, Wagner cites excellent teacher preparation at Adelphi. “Several replacements and substitutes were engaged in replacing this particular vacancy, but none were able to manage the classroom behavior. Adelphi’s preparation, my student teaching and Michele Traina’s help were instrumental in developing my ability to manage the classes.”
Launching a Career With Help From a Professor and an Alum
After graduating with a BS in Finance, Allyson Haggerty ’25 will immediately launch her career as a financial analyst at Northwell Health.
Allyson Haggerty ’25 has already landed a role as a financial analyst at Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York.
“My journey to landing this role came from leveraging the skills I acquired at Adelphi and networking with an alumnus, Andrew Jacobson ’20, MS ’21, who is a senior financial analyst at Northwell,” said Haggerty, who was introduced to Jacobson through James F. Bender Clinical Professor of Finance Robert Goldberg.
“Looking ahead, I am incredibly eager to contribute to Northwell’s mission in my own capacity. My initial plans involve immersing myself in my role, learning from the wealth of experience within my team, and developing a deeper understanding of healthcare finance.”