From New York City to Los Angeles, Susquehanna University’s 2018 graduates are going places.
The 475 members of this year’s graduating class have pursued degrees across the School of Arts and Sciences and the Sigmund Weis School of Business. Now, they are ready to apply what they’ve learned to their career and life pursuits, whether their first postgraduate job or graduate school.
Accounting Major Bound for Big 4
Michael Dolan will continue his family tradition of an accounting career upon his graduation from Susquehanna.
Dolan, of Egg Harbor City, N.J., will join Deloitte in New York City in the Big 4 accounting firm’s business tax services-financial services sector.
“Accounting has been in my family for years. My grandfather started his own practice in Manahawkin, New Jersey, and when he passed, my uncle took over the family business,” Dolan said. “I wanted to join a Big Four accounting firm to gain a tremendous amount of work experience. I am honored that Deloitte gave me this opportunity to start my career at such a great company.”
This will not be Dolan’s first exposure to Deloitte. He interned for the company last summer doing tax planning for hedge and mutual funds clients.
Dolan credits his strong coursework within the Sigmund Weis School of Business with preparing him to be successful in corporate America.
“Susquehanna has given me the foundation of accounting and prepared me to take what I have learned in the classroom and use in preparation for the CPA exam,” Dolan said. “The Department of Accounting faculty in the business school care about our success after graduation and go above and beyond to make sure we’re ready.”
Senior Gains Admission to Three Grad Schools
Michael Sharer
Michael Sharer’s postgraduate journey will take him to the University of Pennsylvania where he will pursue a master’s degree in applied geosciences with a concentration in engineering geology.
Sharer, of Wyckoff, N.J., found himself in the unique position of having to choose between three graduate schools—all three of which accepted him and the only ones to which he applied.
“It was definitely a surprise to get into all three and actually made it a lot harder,” the earth and environmental sciences major said. “I made a huge pros and cons list.”
He chose the University of Pennsylvania over Rutgers and the University of Mississippi because he had already developed some connections there with former Susquehanna classmates and through Sharer’s advisor and mentor Ahmed Lachhab, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences.
“After working with Dr. Lachhab since my junior year, he began to bounce ideas off of me,” Sharer said. “It made me feel a lot more confident in my research and what I could do.”
Sharer hopes to go into the geotechnical field after he’s completed his master’s degree.
“I like to work with my hands, but still use my brain a lot too,” he said.
Serving Others on the West Coast
Em Osback
After graduation, Em Osback, an environmental studies major, will begin their dream job in their dream city—Jubilee Consortium in Los Angeles.
Jubilee Consortium is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Los Angeles communities by providing access to healthier lifestyles and service opportunities.
Osback discovered Jubilee Consortium with the help of Michaeline Shuman, director of Susquehanna’s Career Development Center, who knew of Osback’s work with the Johnson Center for Civic Engagement and the Community Food Action Team.
“Jubilee really highly values mental and physical health, community and service, as do I,” Osback said. “I believe that people who have privilege have an obligation to serve those without. That is why I wanted to join Jubilee.”
In July, Osback will interview with several of the nonprofit organizations that Jubilee partners with in order to find the best fit, after which they will begin full-time work with that organization.
Originally from Illinois, Osback is looking forward to relocating to the West Coast.
“I have always had a sense of adventure,” Osback said. “At this point, I’m not sure what my future holds after Jubilee, but I do know that whatever I do, I want to help people and help the Earth in any way I can.”
Want to know what other grads are up to after graduation? See more here.
