ALUMNI NEWS
Meet Your Alumni Association Board of Directors Once a quarter, 20 dedicated alumni meet on campus, bringing with them their energy, initiative, expertise and creativity. Their mission? To represent the interests of the 17,000+ graduates of Dominican and serve as ambassadors for the Alumni Association, spreading Dominican news to their networks. They are the “eyes and ears” for alumni, actively gathering a broad base of alumni perspectives. They also work to connect alumni with current students and uphold Dominican traditions for future generations. Below, members describe how Dominican helped transform their lives.
“One of the many amazing experiences Dominican brought to me was the possibility of studying at ESCEM, a top business school in Poitiers, France, for a full semester and earning a Certificate in Sustainable Business Management and Development there. One faculty member in particular, Dr. Chris Leeds, played a crucial role in making this possibility a reality. From studying eight courses weekly to traveling all over France, this is one beautiful experience for which I’ll always thank Dominican.” — Marcia Barahona ’10, MBA ’15, Alumni Board President
“During my time in graduate school, the small class size and the depth of experience of my teachers is what helped to set me apart in my internship and gain a full-time role, created specifically for me. Dominican taught me to utilize my potential and accomplish what I set my mind to." — Lorel Geidt ’10, MS ’14, Alumni Board Secretary
“I learned resiliency and discovered perseverance while under the tutelage of the MBA faculty in the Barowsky School of Business. There was a time when I felt I needed to take a break from school. I was overwhelmed by the time demands of being a full-time student, caring for my family and holding down a full-time job. Dominican teachers and staff compassionately listened to me, and in different ways, they told me ’You can and you will persevere!’ I followed their advice and did not give up.” — Cynthia Roldán-Frias, MBA ’14 “The completion of my MBA and working for the Venture Greenhouse business accelerator was my most transformative experience. I worked with over 50 startup companies in the clean tech or ’green’ space, worked with over 80 Dominican interns to help them get placed with startup projects and networked all across the Bay Area. This experience helped me move forward with confidence with all changes that have impacted my life.” — Matt Gaulding, MBA ’12 “The Thanksgiving Dinner put on by Campus Ministry is one of my best memories. I initially had reservations about being at such a small campus yet learned the strong sense of community that embodies the Dominican ethos by attending this fun and delicious event. I interacted with fellow students I normally would not have met and got to know faculty, staff and neighbors. Thanksgiving traditionally serves the purpose of forging stronger bonds of family and friendship, and this event exemplified this.” — Christian Lorentz ’02, MBA ’12 “Dominican changed my life, because it showed me a different part of the world and a different part of myself. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who not only allowed me to be who I truly am but pushed me to find deeper and more powerful versions of myself. The relationships I began at Dominican are thriving to this day, and I still consider the college my second home.” — Cameron Parker ’08, MBA ’10
THE TORCH WINTER 2019 | ALUMNI NEWS
23