For Manuel Juarez, Class of 2012, his time at Mount Saint Mary College provided the essential foundation needed to build a successful, multifaceted career in higher education.
Juarez, who was a General Science Education major, translated his academic training into a career focused on guiding others. Today, he serves as the Director of Career Development at Dominican University New York. It’s a role that places him directly at the intersection of student ambition and workforce readiness, requiring him to draw upon both his education and the mentorship he received as an undergraduate.
The Mount provided more than just a degree, Juarez explained – it provided a methodology for professional success. The most critical takeaway from his coursework was the mastery of deep, analytical work.
“If I had to put how the college helped me into one word, it would be ‘research,’” he explained. “The ability to do research in the field and then carrying that into my first job really assisted me understanding spreadsheets [and] understanding how to write reports.”
Central to his success were the faculty members who challenged him. Juarez points to the guidance he received from Lynn Maelia, professor of Chemistry.
“Dr. Lynn Maelia stood out for her unwavering commitment to creating an encouraging learning environment and for inspiring students to pursue scientific research and inquiry with curiosity and confidence,” he explained.
He also thanked Marie-Therese Sulit, professor of English. Though he was not in any of her classes, Juarez notes that Sulit “became an invaluable mentor who encouraged me to think beyond the boundaries of the physical sciences. She challenged me to deepen my critical thinking, strengthen my communication skills, and appreciate the broader human context of my work. Her mentorship helped me integrate scientific inquiry with humanities, providing the research, analytical, and interpersonal skills that continue to shape my career today.”
“The professors here have a world of knowledge to use, to apply it to your real life,” he said. “A lot of them have been in the industry for a lot of years at this point.”