Looking Ahead

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REGIS TODAY FINDING THEIR VOICES As a recipient of the full-tuition Presidential Catholic Schools Scholarship, Jennifer, who was class valedictorian says, “I wanted to give back to Regis for taking a chance on me.” She was a Pride Guide as a firstyear student, giving campus tours to prospective students. “I was terrified of public speaking,” she says. “But I ended up being surprisingly good at it. When you’re passionate about something, it shines through.” The Presidential Scholarship was also a primary reason for Rachel choosing Regis. She was initially hesitant to attend. “I was worried I’d have trouble carving out my own life,” Rachel explains, recalling a professor’s exclamation early on: “You’re an Amaral? You have big shoes to fill!” Pushing aside misgivings, Rachel followed her sister’s lead and joined Pride Guides as a way to pay it forward and step outside her comfort zone. With Jennifer and former Regis staffer James Guaragna ’11, ’13 as mentors, Rachel grew in confidence. “I began to embrace Regis’ small size and appreciate the closeknit community.” LESSONS LEARNED AT HOME In addition to a sense of gratitude, the Amarals brought a strong work ethic to Regis.

“Our parents never had the chance to go to college and wanted more for us. They knew education was the key to success, so they insisted academics came first at home. No TV, no computers, and no sports until homework was done. We became “to-do” list people, writing schedules in our little Hallmark calendars,” recalls Jennifer with a laugh.

The sisters admit they still adhere to a no-procrastination philosophy. “Get the work done and you’ll have time to play,” advises Jennifer, who served as student government class president at Regis.

The Amaral sisters are the first generation in their extended family to receive a college education. Their parents emigrated as children from Portugal to the United States.

“Our dad started working in landscaping and snow removal at 15 and made his way up to operations. Mom has been with UBS Financial for 30 years,” says Jennifer. While their parents worked multiple jobs, Jennifer and Rachel were cared for by their grandparents. “We were

Talking to Jennifer Amaral ’16 and Rachel looking ahead Amaral ’19, ’21, it’s hard to believe the two affable and articulate sisters once considered surrounded by Portuguese culture— the language, the food, the music. themselves shy. The Amarals—who both It’s a big part of our identity.” Rachel wrote her college admismaintained 4.0 GPAs while double majoring sions essay about her family’s immigration story. She says the difference at Regis—are an outspoken force today. between her life in America and that of her Azorean cousins is stark. Jennifer, 27, a practicing attorney, and Rachel, “They left school to work the family farm. It’s a poor and quiet life with 24, pursuing a graduate degree in counseling little opportunity for growth.” psychology at Regis, say their college years WOMEN IN BUSINESS When it came time to choose majors 16 taught them to speak their truths for the good of others. 65246-Regis College FB 004-W-Tr At any given Regis graduate orientation, students might look to their left, then to their right, and note that, were it not for an innovative partnership program, one in five of them might not be there. Partnerships between Regis and various employers extend substantial discounts toward attaining graduate degrees. More than 60 corporations, health systems, school districts, government entities, and professional organizations offer employees discounts on bachelor completion, graduate, and doctoral programs. That number is growing every month—and for good reason. “The program is a win-win-win,” says Amy Etheridge, executive director of institutional partnerships. “Students save thousands of dollars annually, employers gain a valuable recruitment and retention tool at no cost to them, and professions from health care to education benefit from a more highly trained workforce.” Tuition breaks are just one of the benefits the partnerships provide employees and employers. at Regis, Jennifer and Rachel opted for business management degrees. “It was ingrained in us as little girls that women need to be financially independent and a business degree seemed to offer the most lucrative job opportunities,” says Rachel, who added a second major in communication while Jennifer graduated with another major in law and government. The sisters were active members of the Business Association—Jennifer helped form the group and Rachel later served as co-president. Rachel credits Assistant Professor of Global Business Management Charlene Geary, PhD, with teaching her to think critically. “There are two types of learning: memorizing and regurgitating and thinking things through. Professor Geary pushed and challenged me. She gave me extra support when I needed it.” Rachel says her relationships with “I was terrified of public speaking. But I ended up Every agreement is customized to meet the needs of the organization. At some participating hospitals college professors such as Colleen Malachowski, PhD, associate profesbeing surprisingly in Greater Boston, for example, Regis created customized cohorts with on-site “classrooms.” For an organization like Boston Public Schools (BPS), with a staff of more than 10,000, one goal included assisting the school district in becoming more competitive against other employers to recruit sor of communication and Carole Remick Endowed Director, sustained her during difficult times. “It’s hard being a college student. I appreciated that I could drop into Professor Malachowski’s office to discuss classwork and get life advice.” good at it. When you’re passionate about something, and retain a seasoned and diverse workforce. “The sheer fact that we’re able to offer that When Jennifer began leaning toward a law degree after college, it shines through.” 6/30/2021 2:14:38 PM opportunity to obtain a degree at a discounted she turned to John Christie, PhD, rate, which could be necessary to the advancement associate professor of manage JENNIFER AMARAL ’16 of their career within BPS, goes a long way to bring ment and economics and chair potential recruits into the fold and to retain the 65246 Regis College W-Tr 4 6/30/2021 2:14:38 PM Black 65246 Regis College W-Tr 4 6/30/2021 2:14:38 PM Cyan 65246 Regis College W-Tr 4 6/30/2021 2:14:38 PM Magenta 65246 Regis College W-Tr 4 6/30/2021 2:14:38 PM Yellowtalent we currently possess,” says Rashaun J.

Education Collaboration Regis partnerships open doors and forge relationships ADAPTED BY KRISTEN WALSH 65246-Regis College FB 003-Front Martin, Retention Specialist for the Office of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs at Boston Public Schools. “Not only does this help us with retention efforts, it also can be used as a recruitment tool as well. Our partnership with Regis allows BPS to hone the skills of our human capital further than they may have been able to on their own. And that is something we are incredibly proud of.” Far-reaching Impact Jacqueline Rodriguez, EdD ’23 has spent two decades with the BPS system as a bilingual psychologist working with K–8 students in BPS. “When I think about the work I’ve engaged in for the last 20 years—being the marriage of therapy Jacqueline Rodriguez, EdD ’23 and education as a school psychologist—I think about the next 20 years and an EdD in higher education seems like a natural next step,” Rodriguez says. It was through a BPS Women Educators of Color executive coaching leadership program that she learned about the partnership between BPS and Regis; and her long-term career plan became attainable. “Not everyone can afford to leave their jobs for a whole year to complete internships, but the Regis EdD program allowed me to work and 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM study while pursuing the degree,” says Rodriguez. “Because of the BPS partnership, it became financially feasible for me.” Like Rodriguez, Mariano Humphrey, EdD ’23 learned about the Regis partnership at a BPS 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Black 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Cyan 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Magenta 65246 Regis College Front 3 6/30/2021 2:14:30 PM Yellow

of the Department of Business Management. “Professor Christie had personal experience as a law student. I relied on his guidance when I started applying to law schools.” EXPLORING OPTIONS WITH INTERNSHIPS Internships gave the Amaral women the chance to explore career options. They approached the job search with gusto—and strategy. “I submitted dozens of résumés and cover letters and always circled back. I was persistent but professional,” says Rachel, who landed multiple internships. She worked for a marketing agency and an executive search firm, for the offices of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, and as a social media intern for a nonprofit health care organization.

Often, she and Jennifer held down several internships simultaneously. Jennifer described one of these busy weeks: “I’d work two days at UBS Financial, two days with the Office of Senate President Therese Murray at the State House, and one at a local law firm.” She says that particular summer was demanding but helpful. “I got a taste of the business and law worlds. It solidified my decision to pursue law.” LIGHTING THEIR OWN PATHS After taking the LSATs and applying to law schools, Jennifer chose Suffolk University Law School. She started in August 2016 and found herself challenged to new heights.

“Law school is not for the faint of heart,” says Jennifer of her threeyear experience. She served as a legal intern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and as a judicial intern for the Honorable Marianne B. Bowler ’67.

“I learned so much working with Judge Bowler,” she says, noting Bowler’s role in the Boston Marathon bomber and Whitey Bulger cases.

Jennifer held law clerk positions for the City of Boston and a Boston law firm. After receiving her juris doctor degree, she worked in varied areas of the law while actively networking with legal colleagues. Her experience in pharmaceutical law led Jennifer to her current path in the health care field. “Law is fluid and you’re always developing and honing skills, so I’m not sure where I’ll end up in the future,” she says.

For Rachel, senior year brought deep reflection as she questioned her career trajectory. “I was burned out and felt lost and disengaged. Despite all of my internships, I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I was so focused on the perfect résumé and being the perfect student that my path was lit for me rather than me lighting my own path.”

Years of coping with her own anxiety through therapy, coupled with her affinity for helping people, drew Rachel to Regis’ master’s program in counseling psychology. After discussion with Karen Miranda, director of graduate counseling programs, and with support from her family, Rachel applied and was accepted into the program.

“I got my bachelor’s degree in May and started grad school two weeks later. It’s intense and I love every minute of it,” says Rachel, who completed a one-year counseling internship with Housing Families in Malden, Massachusetts.

Though she’s headed in a new direction, Rachel says she doesn’t regret her undergraduate journey. “I’ll use my communication skills to talk with clients and my business skills if I set up a private practice,” she affirms. For now, Rachel is enjoying graduate school and working as a graduate assistant for the Institutional Review Board to offset tuition under the supervision of Malachowski. “She has been my mentor throughout my undergraduate and graduate years and deserves a shoutout for making my Regis experience so worthwhile,” Rachel says.

“I got my bachelor’s degree in May and started grad school two weeks later. It’s intense and I love every minute of it.” RACHEL AMARAL ’19, ’21 65246-Regis College FB 003-Back Marissa Garozzo ’10, MS ’12 had science and regulatory management skills down pat when she started her career in the pharmaceuticals industry after completing an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in regulatory and clinical research management at Regis. Today, she works at Pall Corporation; with more than 10,000 products across different business unit portfolios, the global company supplies filtration, separation, and purification solutions across life sciences and industrial applications. It’s not surprising, then, that Garozzo is back at Regis for an MBA. “By being in the MBA program, I really understand how much business I didn’t know before,” says Garozzo, who is a biotech technical inside sales associate at Pall. “But I can already see how much more competent I am on the job. I can now speak about the importance of inventory turns, more closely examine revenue recognition, and conduct more comprehensive margin analysis. I also use marketing strategy tools I learned to work with SERVICE AND SELF-CARE Despite their hectic lives, the Amaral sisters find time to care for others. They are longtime volunteers at the Perkins School for the Blind and the Bread of Life Food Pantry. At Regis, Rachel tutored children at Bethany Hill Place while Jennifer attended a mission trip to Jamestown, Mississippi, with Campus Ministry and Service. The recipient of Suffolk Law’s Pro Bono Service Award, Jennifer recently provided free legal aid in a Department of Children and Families case. “I’m a big proponent of pro bono legal services for people who can’t afford them,” she says. To minimize stress and to maximize wellness in their own lives, Jennifer and Rachel practice selfcare. They exercise, meditate, enjoy product management on proposing new product music and books, and eat well. development ideas.” Mental health advocate and budding

The Regis Professional MBA program launched therapist Rachel says she’s come in fall 2020 and is designed for, and open exclusively to, Regis graduate students and alumni who can apply previous coursework and receive the degree with as few as six additional online courses and a full circle and looks forward to supporting people with mental health concerns—just as she received help in the past. And she wouldn’t change a thing about her Regis journey. “As personalized, career-focused specialization. Unlike long as I’m fueled by passion, I’m on traditional MBAs, the Regis Professional MBA offers the right path.” a tailored curriculum developed to meet the rapidly growing needs of professionals in non-business fields, such as health care, education, social service, communication, and life sciences.

For nurse practitioner Samantha Nugent, MSN ’17 the notion of an MBA was not top of mind 65246 Regis College Back 3 6/30/2021 2:14:34 PM Black 65246 Regis College Back 3 6/30/2021 2:14:34 PM Cyan 65246 Regis College Back 3 6/30/2021 2:14:34 PM Magenta 65246 Regis College Back 3 6/30/2021 2:14:34 PM Yellowuntil she heard about the Regis program.

“I had told myself I would likely not go back to 14 school for quite some time given I had just gone through an associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree without a break,” Nugent recalls. She

REGIS TODAY earned a Regis master’s degree in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. “But the MBA program has helped me discover how health care and business tie in so well together.” The curriculum directly relates to Nugent’s work providing annual wellness visits through home care working with UnitedHealth Group/Optum. “This is exactly what I was hoping for from an MBA program—the realization that understanding the business aspect of health care is just as important as understanding how to treat and care for my patients,” Nugent says. “Because the truth is, you cannot have adequate health care without a strong business supporting the field.”

Knowledge and Confidence

Kayleigh Walsh, MS ’14 graduated from Regis with a master’s degree in clinical research management and regulatory affairs. A principal lead clinical research associate at Johnson & Johnson in Irvine, California, she plans to use the MBA to advance her career even further. “I see the MBA as an opportunity to possibly leave the clinical research bubble and become more involved in the higher-level company-wide decisions and practices but from the research angle,” Walsh says. “Having an MBA would give me the confidence to speak to the business side of the decision-making process and also utilize my previous research experience to make well-informed decisions for that side of the business.” Members of early Professional MBA cohorts varied widely in their initial comfort level with

academic ınnovation

In a Class of Their Own Regis MBA helps graduate students and alumni bridge science and business ADAPTED BY KRISTEN WALSH