We Are Jaspers ANDREW BERG ’26 JOSEPH BRENNAN ’25, ’26 (MBA) MYLES BROWN ’29 JOHN CLARK ’26 RYAN CRAFT ’26 KAREN FLORES ’26 LETICIA FONTES ’27 AMY FORSTER ’28 BRANDON HILLIGOSS ’27 IVY JAEP ’26 CARA LOGANADHAN ’26 OLIVIA MANSOUR ’27 GABRIELLA MORELLI ’26 NICHOLAS MORETTI ’26 BRANDON PADRE ’26 JACK SIMONI ’26 ASHLEY ZEGLER ’27
Profiles by Matthew Perrino & Sam Wofford Photos by Melissa Kelly & Vincent Dusovic
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Andrew Berg Andrew Berg ’26 grew up in Wood-Ridge, N.J., just 30 minutes outside Midtown Manhattan. As early as middle school, he developed an interest in the stock market and personal finance, enjoying his time working with numbers and discovering that he had a quantitative mind. At WoodRidge High School, he took several business courses — including financial literacy, introduction to business and stock market analysis — that persuaded him to pursue a finance major in college. After graduating as 2022’s class salutatorian at WoodRidge High, Berg began researching and visiting colleges. As an aspiring finance major, he decided to stay within the New York metropolitan area to enable vital networking and internship opportunities. Berg also wanted to attend a small-to-medium-sized school. “Having gone to several open house events at Manhattan University, I appreciated the small class sizes and opportunities for involvement on campus,” he said. “It made me feel that I could contribute to the campus community.” Berg certainly accomplished his goal of contributing as a Manhattan University student. During his time at the school, he served as President of the Accounting Society, the Economics and Finance Society and Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for students and professionals in business programs. As President, Berg spearheaded the agenda and plans for each club during the academic year, oversaw club operations, helped plan events with other executive board members, and ensured that their goals and objectives for the year were on track. Last spring, Berg was also elected as the treasurer of the 96th class of Pen & Sword, an honor society that recognizes the top 20 rising seniors in their academic, leadership, professional and service pursuits. “Membership into Pen & Sword is arguably considered to be the highest distinction a student can receive,” he said. “Acceptance into this honor society is not just based on GPA, but on leadership and service to Manhattan University and the community.” As treasurer, Berg created budgets and recorded funds raised by the club, as well as expenditures incurred. On top of this, he was the chief of communications and personnel for the Investment Club/Fund; a member of the general assembly of the Student Government Association (SGA), where he represented students in the O’Malley School of Business; the First Deputy Speaker of the Manhattan University Senate; a peer
mentor in the James Patterson Honors Program, where he provided guidance and support to four freshman students; a lector at Manhattan’s weekly Sunday Masses; and a team member for the CFA Institute Research Challenge. But how did he juggle so many extracurricular activities with schoolwork? “That’s a question that I get from a lot of my peers and professors,” he said. “It’s all about time management. I had to plan my schedule every week.” Despite his busy life, Berg remained committed to his academics. In his freshman year, after consulting with his managerial accounting professor and faculty adviser, Berg decided to double major in both Finance and Accounting. “Looking back, I’m grateful for that decision,” he said. “I believe it’s made me a highly competitive candidate for internship and research opportunities.” Berg subsequently managed to accomplish both of those objectives during his time at Manhattan University. He was a Jasper Summer Research Scholar in 2025, conducting research with an accounting faculty member to determine if artificial intelligence anti-bribery accounting disclosures have a material impact on retail investor allocation decision-making. Berg is currently working on publishing his research and has already presented it at two conferences, the AAA Forensic Accounting Section Mid-Year Meeting and the IPE Conference. Additionally, for the past two summers, Berg interned at an architectural firm, Sargenti Architects, in its accounts payable department, helping the team enter invoices from vendors into their specialized accounting system software, verifying invoices for payment readiness, creating monthly labor billing projections, and comparing projections with the actual results gathered at month-end. Berg completed an internship at Andersen Tax LLC over summer 2026. As a part of Manhattan University’s five-year MBA program, he returned in the fall for an extra year to pursue an MBA in Professional Accounting. Berg will also prepare for the CPA exam to obtain his licensure in accounting. His long-term plan, as you may expect, is to work in the accounting industry — but also to give back to others. “Ten years from now, I want to be in a position where I can contribute to the passion and success of younger working professionals,” he said. “I want to try to find ways to provide guidance, support, and advice to those younger than me. After all, I was in their shoes once.”
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Joseph BRENNAN For accountants, the busy season is never-ending and can mean 17- to 18-hour workdays. In the case of former Division I swimmer Joseph Brennan ’25, ’26 (MBA), that kind of schedule is nothing new. After five years of balancing swim practices, weightlifting sessions and classes as a Jasper scholar-athlete, he was well prepared when he joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he now works in audit with hedge fund and private equity clients. He has already passed all four sections of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and will receive his license in January, once he completes one year of full-time accounting-related employment.
especially Dr. Aileen Farrelly and Dr. Amanda Sanseverino, who brought real-world experience to the classroom.
That preparation started early. As an undergraduate, Brennan majored in accounting and captained the men’s swimming and diving team, breaking the program’s 100-yard breaststroke record twice and becoming the first Jasper to win gold at the conference finals of what was then the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), now the Metro Conference. He was also awarded the Joseph J. Gunn ’30 Alumni Medal, one of the University’s most prestigious honors, which recognizes a graduating student whose academic success, leadership and service best reflect the University’s Lasallian values.
Life after swimming has taken some adjustment on Brennan’s part. While he still swims once or twice a month, his workouts now lean toward cardio and weight training. He enjoys the freedom of weekends without practice, but he has always been as competitive academically as he is athletically, and that drive needed an outlet. “Swimming was something I loved because I just love to compete,” he said. So, this past summer, he joined a recreational soccer league. There was just one catch. “I’m not good at soccer,” he admitted, “but it was fun to get some of that competitiveness back.”
Along the way, Brennan discovered that accountants need 150 credits to become licensed, something he hadn’t known when choosing his major. Manhattan’s five-year program offered a solution: an MBA in professional accounting in just one extra year. “There was never a question in my mind that it wouldn’t be at Manhattan,” he said. “I was already getting a good education. I had good connections here.” Taking master’s classes as a senior made the jump to graduate school seamless. Some courses were online, but his professors made sure no one felt lost. “They always emphasized that they know it’s a difficult transition and that we will end up having questions, so not to be reluctant to reach out,” he said. Staying for his MBA also kept Brennan by the pool. He was tapped to join the swim program as an assistant coach, trading his spot in the racing lane for a spot on the pool deck. Suddenly, he was the one ordering uniforms, booking hotels and, fittingly for an accountant, helping with the budget. When Brennan sat down to study for the CPA exam, his coursework paid off. “Sure, there were a few things that were a little unfamiliar, but it was nothing that threw me for a loop,” he said. He credits upper-level accounting professors,
Just as valuable was learning to manage his time. Life as a scholar-athlete was a constant balancing act, especially on days with two practices on top of a full course load. “You’ve also got to find time to do your homework, prepare food, and sleep,” he said. Brennan learned to block out every hour, a habit that now gets him through those long days at PwC. “If I’m getting in at 8:30 a.m. and I know I’ve got to leave at 6 p.m., I’ll have my whole day planned,” he said.
Brennan now lives on NYC’s Upper East Side, where he spends his free time reading, exploring the city and diving into his newest hobby: collecting vinyl records. The hobby started while in the office, when hours of country and newer music began to wear thin. “You’re just listening to the same stuff over and over again while working all this time,” he said. “So, I was like, ‘Let me deep dive into vinyl.’” His favorite records include The Beatles’ Revolver, a first pressing of Abbey Road and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Brennan could easily have left New York. His parents moved to Florida after his freshman year, and a summer internship there turned into a full-time job offer. He decided to stay in Gotham, pointing to his four years of undergrad, the extra year he spent earning his MBA and the connections he built at Manhattan. “Also, it’s the best city in the world,” he said. “It’s hard to leave.” Five years in Riverdale gave Brennan two degrees, a record-setting swim career and the discipline to make every hour count. His competitive days in the pool may be over, but with his CPA license on the horizon and New York City as his home base, Brennan is just getting started.
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Myles Brown Myles Brown ’29 can trace his career ambitions to a weekly ritual. Throughout his early childhood in Queens, his parents bought him a new Lego set nearly every week, and on Fridays his father took him to Times Square. While most kids gawked at the lights, Brown studied the buildings. “Seeing its amazing infrastructure really piqued my interest in engineering,” he said. “I wanted the opportunity to be a part of the process of developing buildings.” That early fascination with high-rise architecture never faded — and today it is shaping the path of one of Manhattan University’s most promising young civil engineers. Now a sophomore pursuing a major in civil engineering, Brown chose Manhattan University in large part for its renowned engineering program. The decision united the two threads that have defined his life: a builder’s curiosity about how structures stand up, and an athlete’s discipline honed over years in the pool. He arrived on campus as a recruited Division I swimmer, but his sights are set well beyond the water. Brown is drawn to the challenge that fascinates structural engineers: how abstract, ambitious architecture translates into something that can actually be built and trusted to last. He hopes one day to develop a career in civil or structural engineering, designing the kind of high-rise buildings whose unconventional forms first captured his imagination on those Friday trips into Manhattan. A master’s degree in structural engineering is part of that plan. He is already immersing himself in the field. Brown is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the professional organization that connects students with the working engineers and emerging practices shaping the industry. It is a deliberate step for someone who talks about engineering not as a backup to athletics, but as the long game.
The discipline Brown brings to engineering was forged in the pool. He started swimming as an infant and was competing by age 8 through Nu-Finmen Swim Club, a program offering competitive training to minority youth. When his Long Island high school lacked a swim team, his mother persuaded the school to create one. By graduation, Brown held eight school records and a wall of conference and divisional titles and had trained up to eight times a week with the Long Island Aquatic Club, one of the top-ranked clubs in the nation. That work ethic transferred directly to his collegiate career, which is off to a fast start. At the 2026 MAAC Championships, Brown was the only freshman to swim in the 200-yard freestyle relay, which came within a second of the record. Competing while sick, he also became the only freshman to race the 400-yard freestyle, nearly hitting a personal best. “My coach took a chance on me, and I was able to show up for my teammates despite feeling under the weather,” he said. He finished the championships ranked among the top 25 in the 200-yard freestyle. Brown sees the same payoff ahead in engineering: the long hours now setting up bigger things later. He intends to keep competing after college — he has his eye on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, with the option of representing either Team USA or Team Jamaica, through his mother’s and grandparents’ heritage. But he speaks about his structural-engineering ambitions with the same conviction. The thread connecting it all is a fascination with how things are built to endure, whether a relay split or a high-rise that reshapes a skyline. The kid who studied Times Square from the sidewalk now studies the engineering behind it. No matter what happens, the future seems bright for this aspiring engineer — and swimmer.
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John clark For John Clark ’26, the path to Manhattan University wasn’t a straight and easy one. He graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, N.Y., at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which moved his classes online and limited his college visits. Looking for a college campus in a more rural area, Clark enrolled at the University of Rhode Island but wound up transferring after only one semester. “It felt like a waste of money paying for room and board and out-of-state tuition when all the classes were online due to COVID,” he explained. After returning home to Massapequa, N.Y., Clark enrolled at Nassau Community College. He graduated in fall 2022 with an associate degree in business administration while working as a volunteer firefighter at his local fire department. Clark, in fact, loved the job so much that he considered becoming a paid career firefighter but decided against it. “I realized that I would miss being in school and challenging myself,” he said. “I decided to go back to college to work toward a bachelor’s degree.” This time, Clark wanted a college relatively close to his hometown. He also wanted an atmosphere that was familiar to the private Catholic schools he’d attended in the past. “Since Manhattan University strives to promote Lasallian traditions into all aspects of their curriculum, I was reminded of my previous experiences in elementary school and high school and was drawn to enroll here,” he explained. Clark isn’t the first Jasper in his family, however. His grandfather, Louis Mirando ’54, graduated from Manhattan University (then Manhattan College) before beginning a career as a civil engineer. Several of his uncles are also Jasper alumni, all of whom graduated between the mid-1970s and ’80s. Clark’s family played a huge role in encouraging him to consider Manhattan University — and so did his childhood interests. Growing up, Clark was fascinated by how things worked. He was constantly taking things apart and then putting them back together. “I had always loved challenging myself to solve problems and learning as much as possible about as many things I could get my hands on,” he said. This ultimately led to him majoring in Mechanical Engineering. It didn’t take Clark long to realize that he had finally found his collegiate home at Manhattan University. “It was the first time I was back to taking classes in person since March of 2020,” he said. “Just sitting through those first
couple of lectures — feeling what it was like to be in class, taking notes and learning new things that I was genuinely interested in — made me feel like I was finally where I was meant to be.” Clark’s involvement on campus helped contribute to this sense of belonging. During his time at Manhattan University, Clark was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, where he served as Vice President for the 2025-26 academic year. He was also Vice President for Manhattan University’s honor society for mechanical engineers, Pi Tau Sigma. Additionally, he was a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; Manhattan University’s honor society for the School of Engineering, Tau Beta Pi; and its school-wide honor society, Epsilon Sigma Pi. Clark earned both the Draddy Medal for General Excellence in Engineering and the Brother Aubert Medal for Mechanical Engineering, two of his greatest accomplishments at the University. Another proud moment was serving as Vice President for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja, working with a team of 11 other mechanical engineering students to design, manufacture and race an off-road vehicle. “It was a surreal feeling seeing something that we had spent so much time designing actually come to life and drive,” he said. Clark also took the chance to study abroad in Ireland during the winter intersession of his junior year, which was one of his favorite memories at Manhattan University. “Having the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland was such an amazing experience,” he said. Clark also worked as an engineering intern at Welkin Enterprises LLC. There, he helped project engineers prepare submittals and bids, reviewed spec sheets and drawings for different jobs, and worked on-site several times throughout the summer to help with surveying drainage piping under the Brooklyn Bridge. Clark is excited about the future and has already managed to secure a job, working as a field engineer for C.A.C. Industries Inc. While he’s early in his career, Clark also plans on returning to Manhattan University and working part time for a master’s degree. “Manhattan University has prepared me and given me the tools to ensure that I’m successful at wherever I may be,” said Clark.
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Ryan Craft Ever since he was in the sixth grade, growing up in Haddon Township, N.J., Ryan Craft ’26 knew that he wanted to live in New York City. “I remember looking at the buildings, the streets and the people and just falling in love with the atmosphere,” he said. “I got a whiff of the energy and knew it suited me. Over the years, I knew I always wanted to come back.” Craft’s chance finally came when it was time to apply for college. One of his top choices was Manhattan University. He loved the campus, the quad and the Christian emphasis in the school’s curriculum. “I’ve always felt that calling to walk in the path of Jesus and help others,” he said. “Going to a Christian school meant that I knew the curriculum would be backed by values that I found important, and I would be able to attend church every Sunday with the same people I studied with.” Craft enrolled at the O’Malley School of Business with a double major in management and global business, as well as a minor in economics. “I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world,” he said. “I wanted to see what I could learn about how firms interact globally.” Craft did some of that traveling during his time at Manhattan. He studied abroad with professor William Mulligan and some of his closest friends in Austria and Czechia, an experience that resulted in his favorite memory at the University. “We went from Salzburg to Vienna to Prague, and I loved every moment,” he said. “I think the best part of traveling is helping one realize that we’re all different, yet all the same species. Travel introduces you to other cultures and perspectives that you never could have thought of before.” In addition to studying abroad, Craft helped found Manhattan University’s National Defense Society, a student organization that focuses on professional development, education and careers within the national security and defense fields. “It was built on the premise that the majority of engineering
students go into construction,” Craft explained. “There were other great, productive and successful chapters of the National Defense Society at other schools that brought internships and money to students. We figured we’d try to bring that to MU.” He served as the club’s head of events and was also a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, playing intramural volleyball and soccer, the latter of which he played varsity during high school. In his senior year, Craft and some of his graduating classmates helped a firm in India called Emergence Learning and Development rebrand, increase marketing and expand into new markets. During his time at Manhattan University, Craft also kept busy off campus. Since the end of his sophomore year, he interned for Exiger, a supply chain due diligence firm that works with nearly a third of the Fortune 500, as well as foreign nations, major banks and 60 federal agencies. Craft interned as a commercial operations analyst while at Exiger, helping manage contractor operations and global resource management. In fact, Craft’s success has led to a full-time role as a commercial operations analyst at Exiger. Of course, Craft’s journey doesn’t end there. In the coming months, he hopes to pivot into a fintech sales role at Exiger, and the Manhattan graduate has even bigger plans beyond that. “I plan on learning how to sell and see what I have a passion in, then ultimately starting my own firm and expanding from there,” Craft said. “I have always had plans of owning and operating my own firm someday, something in digital sales.” Until then, his proudest accomplishment is graduating with two majors, a minor, an incredible circle of lifelong friends and a desire to make a change in the world. “I would not be the same person without my time [at Manhattan],” Craft said. “The business school has provided a fantastic baseline for my understanding of the business world. It has shown me that nothing will be handed to you. If you want something, you’re going to have to take it.”
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Karen flores Karen Flores ’26 has always maintained a business mindset. In fact, Manhattan University’s Graduate Valedictorian for the Class of 2026 was born into a family of self-made entrepreneurs, which taught her valuable lessons about her field of choice. “Growing up in a family business taught me that business isn’t just about profits or transactions,” she said. “It’s about people, community and connections. That’s what I looked for in a college, and what I ultimately found at Manhattan University.” A Bronx native, Flores is the first in her family to complete a graduate degree and the third of five siblings to earn an undergraduate degree. And just as her parents had a profound impact on her, Flores has had her own significant influence within her family, as her two younger siblings have followed her lead and currently attend Manhattan University’s O’Malley School of Business (OMSB). As for Flores herself, in May 2026, she received a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in data analytics, building on her undergraduate foundation as a finance major with a minor in economics. During her time on campus, she last served as a graduate assistant at the OMSB, mentoring undergraduate and prospective students while aiding in the facilitation of campus-wide events. A pivotal moment in her academic journey came through a Stephen Thieke Research Fellowship, which sparked a deep interest in data analytics and ultimately shaped her graduate concentration. During her time at Manhattan, Flores embraced multiple dimensions of university life. She was a Quadrangle Newspaper Scholar, a James Patterson Scholar and a member of the
rowing team (one of her proudest achievements). She also competed in several national collegiate competitions, most notably the Chartered Financial Analyst Research Competition and the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition, where she spent three years contributing cost analysis and market valuation work to a renewable energy water turbine project built alongside a team of Manhattan engineers. That interdisciplinary collaboration reflects a core belief of Flores: that the most meaningful work happens at the intersection of different backgrounds and disciplines. While at Manhattan, she was also a member of several honor societies, including Omicron Delta Epsilon, Epsilon Sigma Pi and the Financial Management Association Honor Society. Flores also served as a University resident assistant, Treasurer of Women in Business Club and President of the Entrepreneurship Club. With a proud Mexican heritage, she is fluent in Spanish and has an elementary knowledge of Portuguese. Having accomplished so much while attending Manhattan, Flores reflects on her early- and later-stage experiences at the University, and how they developed her business acumen and prepared her for professional life. “When I visited campus for the first time, current students welcomed me warmly, and the OMSB info session impressed me with the rigor of the coursework and the range of opportunities students described, several of which I ended up pursuing myself. As someone who enjoys interdisciplinary work, seeing business students collaborate with liberal arts and engineering students was what really pushed me to attend. By the end of my undergraduate years, I could see that reflected in my own experience: an environment of community and academic rigor that let my academic and personal interests work together, creating space for collaborative work across industries.”
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Leticia fontes For Leticia Fontes ’27, the journey to America was a puzzle that took some time to solve. She grew up in Brazil, in a small town called Juiz de Fora, where access to larger opportunities sometimes felt limited. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by a close-knit community of family and friends,” she said. “Even with everyone’s busy schedules, there was always a strong sense of connection and community.” Although she grew up in Brazil, Fontes was no stranger to the United States. Her parents always encouraged her to one day study abroad, and her family also vacationed in America every year from the time she was very young. Fontes also had dreams of becoming a student-athlete in the States and began to swim competitively. When she was 13, her parents found a swim camp opportunity with a group of Brazilian swimmers in Jacksonville, Fla. Fontes leaped at the opportunity and spent 12 days at a swim club called Planet Swim, visiting high schools around the city. “It was one of the hardest experiences I had at such a young age, but that experience was the starting point that prepared me for what was coming,” she said. Fontes moved back to Juiz de Fora (due to COVID-19) and became a remote student at Colégio dos Jesuítas for her sophomore and junior years. To pursue her goals in swimming, she moved to Rio de Janeiro to attend Colégio dos Santos Anjos for her senior year and train with a larger and more competitive swim club, Tijuca Tênis Clube. The move would help Fontes tremendously in the next stage of her life. While in Rio, Fontes began the college application process, applying to schools all over the U.S. in pursuit of her dream. She wanted to attend a smaller college, where she could have the opportunity to swim competitively while earning a degree in engineering. Manhattan University was the first to offer Fontes both an engineering degree and a chance, as well as a scholarship, to swim competitively — and in a Division I program, no less. After enrolling at Manhattan University as a Civil Engineering major, Fontes moved to the United States by herself when she was 18 years old. At long last, she could pursue her vision. “Every time I share my timeline of moving to Amer-
ica, I like to say that it was like building a puzzle,” she said. “The most important puzzle pieces often seemed insignificant when I found them. Their value became clear only when they connected to others.” Fontes is still putting the puzzle together at Manhattan University. She made both the 2025 and 2026 MAAC Women’s Swimming & Diving All-Academic Team. In her sophomore year, Fontes ranked third on the women’s swim team, with seven personal best times, two individual finals, five relay finals, and she tied a school record in the 50-yard breaststroke. Fontes also had the chance to attend and compete in the 2026 ECAC Open Swimming and Diving Championships in Lewisburg, PA., one of her favorite memories at Manhattan University. In the 2025-26 school year, she was the only student on the women’s swim team to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society — just one of many organizations that Fontes is involved in. She’s also a member of the 97th class of the Pen & Sword Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi (the national honor society for engineering), and Chi Epsilon (the national honor society for civil engineering). Additionally, Fontes serves as social media chair for the Manhattan University chapter of the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) and Treasurer for the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI). She is also Vice President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), contributing to creating an inclusive environment that encourages women to get involved and succeed in engineering. On top of that, Fontes was elected President of the Manhattan University student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and received the ASCE Metropolitan Section Scholarship. With just one year of college left, Fontes is already thinking about what comes next. Her ultimate professional goal, however, is to be in the transportation field, working alongside the MTA or on airport design projects. “As a civilian, I benefit from public transportation in New York City,” she said. “As an international student from Brazil, I grew up with a strong awareness of how critical safe and reliable transportation is to the quality of life of a community. Seeing the impact of inadequate infrastructure back home shaped my motivation to make communities better.”
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Amy forster It was fate that brought Amy Forster ’28 to Manhattan University — at least, that’s how she sometimes feels. Forster first learned about the school in a book called Cool Colleges 101 that she bought at a yard sale when she was 8 years old. Ever since reading it, Forster would confidently tell people that she would one day attend Manhattan University, even though she grew up on the other side of the country in Los Angeles. “Manhattan University was always in the back of my mind when I was applying to colleges,” Forster said. “So, when I did more research and found they had a strong special education program, it felt like fate.” Forster’s interest in special education stems from her younger years. When she was 12, her cousin was born with a rare disability, prompting Forster to learn as much as she possibly could to support him. She later became a coach for the Special Olympics, working with her local Best Buddies chapter and volunteering with different programs. During high school, Forster traveled across the country to finally check out Manhattan University in person. She humorously gives credit for her enrollment to the school’s payroll department. “When I came to visit for the first time, my phone had died 30 minutes before my tour,” she said. “When I asked someone from payroll if they had a charger, they ran around the campus for 10 minutes to find one for me.” But it was the school’s special education program that truly sold Forster on Manhattan University. “The education program here is truly amazing in both the professors we have and the structure itself,” she said. “It offers us real-world, hands-on experiences and relevant knowledge of classroom practices beyond just teaching strategies.” Forster is currently enrolled in the adolescent education/ special education program at the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, which will allow her to attain both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. She chose English as her concentration. “I chose my concentration based on what I enjoyed and wanted to grow in,” Forster explained. “I also wanted to strengthen my writing, and I just adore reading.” Through an English course with Adam Koehler, Ph.D., Forster came to discover her absolute favorite book, the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit from the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan. It was this book, in fact, that inspired Forster’s Edward Branigan research
project, an undertaking that she considers one of her greatest academic accomplishments. The Edward Branigan research project isn’t Forster’s only notable academic achievement, however. While working as a peer leader in the James Patterson Honors Program (JPHP), she helped launch Summer on the Quad: The James Patterson Enrichment Program, a summer program where Manhattan University students work closely with rising high school seniors on their college essays and additional academic projects. Forster met with Michele Saracino, Ph.D., executive director of the JPHP, to present her idea of a student-centered initiative that would involve the students in the JPHP more directly in the community. From there, her idea evolved into what it is today: a college readiness and enrichment program, offering students structured support that could strengthen their ability to think critically, write powerfully and speak with confidence. Forster met Patterson when he was visiting campus for the first event of his Speaker Series, where they exchanged a few words about the JPHP. “During his Speaker Series, he spoke about bringing energy and pride back to our campus, and the importance of disrupting the norm to create meaningful change and excitement,” she said. “That perspective motivated me to think more seriously about what a program might look like here at Manhattan University and how we could create a larger impact for students and our surrounding community.” Little did Forster know, she would soon be working with Patterson on a wider scale. Saracino encouraged Forster to write a short proposal to Patterson outlining the concept of the summer enrichment program. “It was absolutely nerve-racking to work with James Patterson,” Forster recalled. “He is one of the most prolific writers of our time, but he’s a Jasper at heart.” After reviewing the proposal, Patterson agreed to support the program. As of now, Forster is on track to complete her master’s in special education in 2028. Her ultimate goal, though, is to create fundamental changes in the education system that would grant more support to students with disabilities, whether it’s through administration, lawmaking, research or simply being in the classroom. “Manhattan offers such a multitude of opportunities and ways to pave your own way,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come here.”
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Brandon hilligoss Not many Jaspers can claim to be from Kokomo, Ind., which is where Brandon Hilligoss ’27 grew up and spent most of his life. “Most parts of Indiana are pretty calm, with not much going on,” he said. “I think it can be a pretty boring place to grow up, but a really nice place to live as an adult. I also loved that I was able to look up and see the stars on clear nights there.” Hilligoss never expected to come to the East Coast, but it was finding love and an interest in engineering that ultimately inspired his move. During his years at Taylor High School in Kokomo, Hilligoss’ fondness for math sparked his curiosity in engineering, so he took a course to try it out and was immediately drawn to the subject. At the same time, Hilligoss had recently met a young woman named Ashley through the massively popular online game Fortnite. The pair started dating during Hilligoss’ junior year and became high school sweethearts — though not in the traditional sense. Ashley lived in the Bronx, not in Indiana. For four and a half years, the two maintained a successful long-distance relationship, though it eventually wore on them. Wishing to be closer to his girlfriend, Hilligoss decided to research New York colleges and universities with exemplary engineering programs. “I wound up picking Manhattan University,” he said. “It was the most appealing to me due to its strong engineering program and small class sizes.” Although he was interested in engineering, Hilligoss wasn’t sure which area to major in. He found the answer during one of his Manhattan classes, Intro to Engineering. “Prior to that, I didn’t know what chemical engineering was,” he said. “After learning about it, I really wanted to study it more.” From there, Hilligoss became a Chemical Engineering major and got involved in several related clubs on campus. He’s currently the event coordinator for the MU chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the secretary of MU’s chemical engineering honor society, Omega Chi Epsilon. Hilligoss was also elected President of the Chem-E-Car club, which now takes part in an annual national competition where college students design small-scale automobiles and are required to start and stop the car with only a chemical reaction. As President, he keeps the team on track
to complete everything on time and with good quality for the competition, setting up the club’s meeting times, assigning work to different team members, and double-checking paperwork. Hilligoss and his team made Manhattan University’s first attempt at the competition in the 2026 regionals, which produced some of his favorite college memories thus far. Although the Chem-E-Car team didn’t make it to nationals, Hilligoss remains optimistic and confident about next year’s competition, especially since its small-scale car has already been designed and built. According to the engineering student, next year will be all about tweaking the design and recruiting underclassmen to the club. Along with his automotive endeavor, Hilligoss has been working on two different research projects with J. Patrick Abulencia ’97, Ph.D., and Aravind Suresh, Ph.D., which are best described in his own words. “With Dr. Abulencia, I’m researching if minimal surface area sieve trays will minimize pressure drop within a distillation column,” Hilligoss said. “I made a model distillation column with a PVC pipe and modeled 3D-printed sieve trays to test current geometries against comparable minimal surface area geometries. With Dr. Suresh, I’m researching an alternative reactor design to a continuously stirred reactor tank (CSTR), and how to 3D print both reactors with polypropylene.” In addition to his research projects, Hilligoss also landed an internship at Elcan Industries as a quality technician. There, he performed quality tests following documented procedures to guarantee the accuracy of the test results, as well as keeping organized records and analyses of test results to ensure efficient transfer of information with management and customers. Hilligoss also plans to pursue a doctoral degree in nanomaterials and semiconductors. “I am going to do a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at Penn State this summer,” he said. “If I end up liking my experience there, that will be my goal school to attend.” After attaining his doctorate, Hilligoss would like to work as a professor who does a good mix of teaching and research. “I want to work towards becoming an expert in my field of research,” he said, “while teaching the next generation of engineers.”
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Ivy jaep Ivy Jaep ’26 always knew that she wanted to end up in New York City. Ever since she was a little girl, growing up in Vineland, N.J., her parents would call her “Big City Ivy” for her big dreams and aspirations. She would often catch herself reminiscing about one of her mother’s favorite movies, 13 Going on 30. “The main character, Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner), was a senior editor at a women’s fashion magazine in New York City,” said Jaep. “Every day, she got to play with texts, and fonts, and colors to appeal to her audience’s eye. I knew then and there that I wanted to be her and have her job.” Determined to fulfill her childhood dream of living in Manhattan and — again inspired by 13 Going on 30 — to pursue a business degree in marketing, Jaep began touring and researching colleges in and around New York City. That’s when she came upon Manhattan University. “Throughout life, you’re told you get ‘this feeling’ when making major decisions,” she said. “Manhattan just had this glow about it. The AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation didn’t hurt, and the scholarships Manhattan offers are out of this world. But what really drew me in was the ‘it feeling’ that Manhattan University gave me when stepping under the arch that welcomes you to the main campus.” As a student at the O’Malley School of Business (OMSB), Jaep certainly channeled her inner Jenna Rink. She became involved with Lotus, Manhattan University’s fashion and lifestyle magazine. Jaep started out on the magazine’s production team, working on final layouts, before becoming assistant editor in chief during her sophomore year. During her last two years at Manhattan University, Jaep served as the editor in chief of Lotus, helping craft the magazine’s articles and graphics — or, as she calls it, “overseeing the magic.” Jaep also worked as the Social Media Manager for the O’Malley School of Business, managing the school’s Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. “I came into this wanting to modernize our pages,” she said. “As someone who appreciates organization and cohesion, I wanted to make sure we also ran fun pages.” What made a page “fun” exactly? Jaep liked to incorporate popular music into her content, as well as questions that would get people reading. “It’s students we wanted to attract — present and future ones,” she said. Jaep also made edits to the 4-by-4-foot television screens that are scattered throughout De La Salle Hall. “These are most likely
the first thing our prospective students see when they pay us a visit,” she noted. “I wanted them to be as up-to-date and eye-catching as possible.” In addition to all those activities, Jaep served as the Events Coordinator for the Women in Business Club. In this role, she invited alumni and potential speakers to come to Manhattan University and share their advice and real-world experiences with women on campus. During her last two years, Jaep also served as President of the Marketing Club, working with her team to plan and host events that create fun, engaging environments for any student on campus — not just marketing or business majors. Extracurricular activities weren’t the only thing that kept Jaep busy. She was inducted into Manhattan’s Pen & Sword Honor Society and studied abroad in Europe, which was her favorite memory of her time at Manhattan University. During her time overseas, she fell in love with the Gothic architecture and storied history of cities like Salzburg, Vienna and Prague, as well as their churches and cathedrals. Back in the States, Jaep secured three different internships during her time at Manhattan University. In her sophomore year, she managed social media for a startup company called Pantsuit Professionals, an online platform where professional women can meet one another, contact employers and find professional events. Her second internship was with fashion designer Tanya Taylor as an art director and production assistant. In this role, she worked behind the scenes of photo shoots, assisting on sets and handling administrative tasks. Jaep’s third internship was at the Bronx-based company E218 Events Management, assisting with marketing tasks, such as creating flyers for events. Now that she has graduated from Manhattan University and accomplished so much in the process, Jaep feels well prepared to take on the corporate world. She plans to remain in New York City to establish her career and eventually attend graduate school. “I worked hard for this city, so I am staying for a while,” she said. As for her dream role? Jaep is holding firmly onto her love for 13 Going on 30 and hopes to one day become like Jenna Rink. “I would love to end up in publishing, whether it’s for a magazine or a book group,” she said. “Lotus has just grown my passion for the world of publishing, and I think I would consider myself the luckiest girl in the world if I had the chance to end up in that world.”
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Cara Loganadhan It’s easy to see why Cara Loganadhan ’26 would choose to major in Global Business. Much of her life has revolved around global travel, thanks to her various citizenships. Although she was born in Houston, Texas, Loganadhan had lived in Toronto since she was 4 to be closer to her father’s extended family. She also holds European citizenship through her mother, who is originally from Ireland. As a U.S. citizen, however, Loganadhan was always interested in going to college in the United States. “I was particularly drawn to the liberal arts model, which is less common in Canada,” she explained. “I fell in love with New York City on a visit in 2019 and knew I wanted to come here for university.” While living in Toronto, Loganadhan attended De La Salle, an independent Lasallian Catholic school where she first learned about Manhattan University. She casually applied to the University, though that mentality changed during a campus visit in the fall semester of her senior year. “I loved the close-knit campus, the accessibility of professors, and the genuine enthusiasm of my tour guide,” she said. “Manhattan was the first place I could picture myself thriving. That visit solidified my decision.” Loganadhan came to Manhattan University as an undecided business major, using the business core curriculum to explore her interests until she found what she was looking for. “I knew I wanted to major in Global Business from the moment I heard about the co-major,” she said. “I have always been interested in travel and learning about diverse cultures, an interest shaped by my parents’ experiences as immigrants.” In addition to Global Business, Loganadhan also discovered an interest in finance through her coursework, realizing that she genuinely enjoyed quantitative work and financial analysis. “I declared my double major in Finance and Global Business my sophomore year and never looked back,” she said. “My certainty that business was the right choice for me was reinforced through my coursework and campus involvement.” And Loganadhan was certainly very involved on campus. During her last three years at Manhattan University, she competed in the Federal Reserve Challenge, a national competition where teams from colleges and universities compete to analyze economic factors — such as inflation, labor markets and financial stability — and present monetary policy recommendations for the Federal Reserve Bank. In 2023 and 2024, Loganadhan and
her team impressively placed in the top three in their region and in the top 18 nationally. Since freshman year, Loganadhan has been involved in the Women in Business Club, a supportive community for women pursuing careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. She served as President of the club, working closely with the executive board to support its work, ensure accessibility for members and develop new events. Loganadhan has also been involved with Manhattan University’s Investment Fund since her freshman year. The Fund manages a live investment portfolio with a market value exceeding $100,000, giving students hands-on experience in making real investment decisions. As Vice President of the Fund, she worked to implement associate training, improve pitch quality, establish a board adviser system and increase female participation in the fund. In her junior year, Loganadhan added Beta Alpha Psi to her student portfolio. Prior to graduating, she held the title of Vice President of the honor society. Loganadhan also helped prepare for Beta Alpha Psi’s Mid-Year Conference in Cincinnati, where she will be competing in a yearlong sustainability initiative. Loganadhan has also participated in a mentor program at the O’Malley School of Business, where she assisted underclassmen with registration, resume building and involvement opportunities. Since her sophomore year, Loganadhan has also worked as a tutor for the Center for Academic Success in the topics of finance, accounting, economics and mathematics. Prior to graduation, Loganadhan was already putting her Global Business and Finance degrees to work. In the summer before her junior year, she secured her first professional office experience by interning at ICICI Bank Canada in the corporate and commercial banking department. Loganadhan has already chosen to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I exam. There are three levels of the CFA exam, and Loganadhan plans to complete all of them. So, what comes after the CFA exam? Loganadhan would like to pursue an MBA after gaining some professional experience. She’s hoping to remain in New York and pursue a full-time role in finance, particularly within capital markets, corporate banking or treasury sectors. In the longer term, Loganadhan would love to work in investor relations or be transferred as an expat to Europe. “My background in global business and cross-cultural teamwork have shaped my desire to work in global teams,” she said. “I hope to continue working across different regions and develop confidence in the path I have chosen.”
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Olivia Mansour Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Olivia Mansour ’27 originally wanted to be a doctor. However, her career aspirations shifted during her years at Saint Saviour High School. “I was still interested in being able to contribute to that field, and I found out that chemical engineers make pharmaceutical products,” she said. “After COVID, with all of the new developments in vaccines, I realized that was something that interested me, and that I could see myself doing.” Now determined to become a chemical engineer, Mansour searched for and applied to colleges that excelled in this area. She visited Manhattan University’s chemical engineering department for a preview day and was immediately drawn to it. “All of the students and professors were so welcoming and genuinely seemed to care about their jobs and students,” she said. “My high school was small, so I was also impressed by the small class sizes and opportunities that you get from going to a smaller school.” Since enrolling at Manhattan University as a chemical engineering major, Mansour has been highly involved on campus. She walked onto the women’s rowing team during her freshman year, even though she had never rowed in high school. “I played soccer and swam in high school, so I wanted to continue athletics in college,” she said. “Trying something new like rowing seemed like a perfect way to do so.” Mansour is now captain of the women’s rowing team. She’s also a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the secretary of Manhattan University’s engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi. Additionally, Mansour serves as Vice President of Omega Chi Epsilon, MU’s chemical engineering society. In this position, she helps plan events and collaborations on campus, including the spring initiation for the newest inductees. Mansour also holds the title of Vice President of the MU chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and was installed as President for the fall 2026 semester. As President, she will help plan events, such as Engineering Week, and increase student engagement, especially among underclassmen. One of Mansour’s favorite memories at Manhattan occurred during her time with AIChE. On “Take Your Kids to Work
Day” last year, the organization hosted experiments for the kids to participate in, one involving Skittles diffusion and the other, a surface-tension milk test. “Afterward, one of the parents told me that their daughter now wants to be a chemical engineer,” she said. “It was a great experience to expose a younger generation to the field.” Mansour has accumulated invaluable experience in chemical engineering. Last year, she participated in the Mahoney Scholars program, a research program in the environmental engineering department. Through funding, Mansour and other Mahoney Scholars conducted research that tested the drinking water quality across campus. She’s also done several research projects in her courses, including a project on diazepam for industrial practices in the pharmaceutical industry. Last summer, Mansour participated in a formulations course hosted at Manhattan University for the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, where she gained experience in making formulations using various kinds of emulsions. This past summer, she held an engineering internship at pharmaceutical company Perrigo, where Mansour assisted different engineering teams to help support Perrigo’s operations and ongoing improvement efforts. As it turns out, her manager at Perrigo is a Manhattan University graduate. After graduation, Mansour opted into Manhattan’s seamless graduate program and has begun pursuing her master’s degree in chemical engineering this fall. “Grad school has always been a consideration for me,” she said. She remains committed to working in the pharmaceutical industry, either in the lab on the development of products or in a more typical engineering role, ensuring that people are being treated with quality products that will help improve their quality of life. Wherever she ends up, Mansour credits Manhattan University for beginning her journey. “I have grown as a leader and a person here,” she said. “Through my involvement with different clubs on campus, I have been able to step out of my shell and become an active voice in the various organizations I am in.”
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Gabriella Morelli Growing up in Newburgh, N.Y., Gabriella Morelli ’26 always had a fascination with math and science, as they applied to cosmetics. She would often research the beauty products that she used — not only for health purposes, but because she was genuinely curious about the science and innovation behind them. Morelli’s interest and curiosity turned into a passion after she took a college chemistry course at Valley Central High School in Montgomery, N.Y. This led Morelli to seek out opportunities in higher education that would allow her to combine these interests — both cosmetics and chemistry — into a career path. Morelli was initially drawn to Manhattan University because it reflected the idea of a small school in the heart of New York City — but that wasn’t all the University offered her. “After learning that Manhattan University had a cosmetic engineering and consumer goods concentration under chemical engineering, I knew this was the right choice for me,” she said. “Manhattan University was welcoming from day one, offering a chance to grow strong connections while leveraging opportunities in a growing city.” And Morelli has certainly developed many connections over the years. As a student at Manhattan University, Morelli earned selection into Tau Beta Pi Honor Society (the Engineering Honor Society), Omega Chi Epsilon (the Chemical Engineering Honor Society), Epsilon Sigma Pi, and the Pen & Sword Honor Society. She’s a recipient of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Scholarship, the Trustee Scholarship and the Brother C. Timothy Burris Scholarship, and even managed to make the dean’s list every semester in her college career. Morelli has served as the social media chair of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) for two consecutive years. While in AIChE, she earned a First Year Student Recognition Award for being the most active student in the chapter, followed by the 2023-24 Donald F. Othmer Second Year Student Academic Excellence Award for being the student with the highest scholastic grade-point average during her freshman and sophomore years at Manhattan. Morelli was also involved in and has brought awareness to the Chemists’ Club, which hadn’t been active at Manhattan University since the
start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s one club that holds a particularly special place in her heart. “The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has been a pivotal organization in my college career,” Morelli said. “Some of my favorite memories at Manhattan University have come from my involvement in [it].” Morelli served as the club’s social media chair during her sophomore year and was elected President for two consecutive years. As President of SWE, she worked to create a space for women in engineering to prosper, connect and feel a true sense of community. For the last three years, Morelli and other SWE members have attended the National Society of Women Engineers Conference, a premier event that allows students, industry professionals and leaders to connect in a unique space. The conference offers networking sessions, career growth opportunities, keynote speakers, and a large career fair. “My favorite memories come from these conferences,” she said. “It truly is incredible to see so many women in engineering together in one space.” Morelli’s impressive college resume doesn’t end there. She secured three summer internships during her time at Manhattan University. “Through these internships, I have been able to broaden my approach to problem solving, leading me to find my passion in the consumer goods industry,” she said. At New York-based firm Lanc & Tully, Morelli collaborated with design engineers to create computer-aided design (CAD) drawings for residential projects. As a process safety intern at industrial gas supplier Air Products, she contributed to data analysis techniques and approaches to support tracking incident data trends and patterns. And as an R&D process engineering intern at Unilever, she implemented new data analysis techniques to support digital innovation initiatives and partnered cross-functionally with formulations and digital teams to successfully deliver project goals. Morelli was so successful at Unilever, in fact, that she managed to secure a full-time position there, working in research and development as an associate scientist in Trumbull, Conn. “Manhattan University has prepared me well for my career,” she said. “Specifically, my concentration in cosmetic engineering and consumer goods has allowed me to dive into the field I am passionate about before even entering the industry.”
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Nicholas Moretti Nicholas Moretti ’26 always had a passion for music. He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA., with a love for soundtracks and film scores, humming the themes of his favorite movies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he learned how to play guitar. But Moretti’s love for music goes much deeper than notes and instruments. “Sound has a quiet magic in the way it can communicate universally and less didactically than something involving the spoken word, evoking pure emotion rather than something situational,” he explained. “Music allows itself to be a bridge of emotional connection. It can curate an environment and connect people socially in a way that I truly think only music can.” Moretti’s passion for music drove an interest in audio technologies and music production. During his years at Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh, he worked with sound at the school media department, mostly as an accompaniment to video production. When applying to college, he sought out schools with an audio-specific arts program, as well as small class sizes and a real but contained college campus. These criteria led Moretti to enroll at Manhattan University as a Sound Studies major. What is Sound Studies exactly? “It’s an arts and humanities degree that really explores the cultural and historic elements that inform sonic art and experience,” Moretti explained. “One of the benefits of our Sound Studies department is that students can really take it in their own direction.” Although he still loved to play music, participating in Manhattan University’s jazz band during his sophomore and junior years and playing recreationally with friends, Moretti found himself gravitating toward audio engineering in his lab-based classes. “Choosing to specialize has allowed me to create better products and work with other talented creators of all mediums,” he said. “My skills have improved so much due to my fantastic professors.” One of those professors was Suzanne Thorpe, Ph.D. “Dr. Thorpe has been my primary mentor over the last four years, both when we agreed and disagreed,” said Moretti. “I have tremendous respect for her.” In 2025, Moretti assisted Thorpe on a project called Serenades for Settling (Tending Ostreidae), an immersive, multimedia ecological installation that was housed at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo,
N.Y., through March 1, 2026. This installation was focused on human noise pollution and its effects on surrounding underwater ecosystems and their inhabitants, specifically oysters. Serenades authentically recreated the actual sonic environment of New York’s East River through an 8.2 sound system. This immersed visitors in a 3D underwater visual and sonic environment that allowed them to internalize the disturbance of human noise, while they viewed reactions of the robotic oysters around them. In other words, the installation let participants experience, rather than just hear about, humanity’s effects on our neighbors. Moretti calls his participation in this project his greatest accomplishment at Manhattan University. “Working with Dr. Thorpe was a very fulfilling experience, as we frequently came to decisions on how to best represent the project’s ethos together,” said Moretti. “I was extremely grateful to be invited to support the project.” Over summer 2025, Moretti also interned at Electric Lady Studios, a legendary New York City recording facility responsible for work from popular artists like Sabrina Carpenter and icons such as Stevie Wonder and David Bowie. In this role, Moretti flipped sessions overnight, preparing the recording studio for the next artist working there, and facilitated creativity for some of the top music acts in the world. “I got an authentic picture of the modern recording industry,” he said. “I became deeply familiar with audio engineering technologies, working under top engineers to meticulously design sessions in advance and facilitate them as they evolved. [It was] an unforgettable experience.” Now that he’s graduated, Moretti’s future remains wide open, as he’s exploring everything from full-time jobs in acoustic design or arts organizations in multiple cities, pursuing graduate school back home in Pittsburgh — or some combination of the two. “I feel increasingly empowered as an artist after observing and participating in the full-scale opportunities I’ve been afforded at Manhattan,” he said. “I am excited to take what I’ve learned at Manhattan and use it to build the next phase of my life. Being here has definitely been the most transformative and constructive four years of my life. I increasingly feel it was the right decision for me.”
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Brandon Padre Baseball was the first love for Brandon Padre ’26. In fact, he began playing the sport when he was only 4 years old and was a catcher growing up in his hometown of Flemington, N.J. As a child, Padre also developed an early interest in engineering, thanks to blockbuster films like 2007’s Transformers, 2008’s Iron Man and 2011’s Real Steel. “I wanted to be able to make those one day,” he said. Until then, Padre continued with his baseball career, playing varsity for Hunterdon Central Regional High School. His team won the NJSIAA Group 4 Tournament title, as well as back-to-back Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex championships. Padre’s athletic achievements earned him a spot on the baseball team for Manhattan University, where he enrolled as a Mechanical Engineering major. But after playing baseball for his first two years of college, Padre decided to shift gears and focus more time and effort on his career and other extracurricular opportunities. He landed an internship at AECOM in project management. While there, he worked on an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Project, where the team helped deliver ADA upgrades at 13 subway stations across New York City. Padre also became involved in a research project with his professors, Lina Baroudi, Ph.D., and Stephen Peluso, Ph.D., mapping particles in Taylor-Couette flow. “Dr. Baroudi reached out to me to see if I would be interested in the project,” he said. “I have never really thought about doing research, but I kind of just jumped at the opportunity.”
Padre’s extracurricular involvement, however, didn’t end there. He was elected President of Pi Tau Sigma (the Mechanical Engineering Honor Society) and Vice President of Tau Beta Pi (the Engineering Honor Society). In both roles, he organized community outreach events for volunteer work, such as park cleanups and tutoring Manhattan University students. Padre himself became a peer tutor for the Center for Academic Success. He also served as Treasurer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and worked as the Social Media Manager for the Society of Automotive Engineers Baja team, whose members take part in an engineering competition where they design and build an off-road race car. His time on the 2025-26 Baja SAE team ranks as Padre’s favorite memory at Manhattan University, even over his time playing college baseball. “I believe my best accomplishment was coming to Manhattan as a baseball player,” he said. “However, I’m also proud of evolving into someone who was engaged in multiple clubs and who graduated with relatively good grades.” Now that he has graduated, Padre is already planning to return to Manhattan University to pursue a master’s in mechanical engineering, a degree that he’ll attain in just one year as part of MU’s seamless graduate programs. “I decided to come back because I’ve had great experiences with my professors and the students here,” said Padre. At this point, he’s not sure what’ll happen beyond graduate school. But perhaps it will involve building a real-life Transformer.
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Jack Simoni Jack Simoni ’26 developed an interest in physics during high school in Yonkers, N.Y., when he took a course during his junior and senior years at Yonkers Middle High School. The two-year program was called IB Physics, an equivalent to AP Physics. “It was the first class that really challenged me,” he said. “I genuinely enjoyed it, which made me apply to colleges for physics.” One of those colleges was Manhattan University, which attracted Simoni with its small class sizes, reputable Mathematics and Physics Department and its breadth of research opportunities. He also liked the school’s proximity to Yonkers, which allowed him to become a commuter student. Unsurprisingly, Simoni enrolled at Manhattan University as a Physics major. “I like learning how things work at the most granular level,” he said. “I want to continue this effort and apply mathematics to discover more about the physical world.” During his time at Manhattan University, Simoni was awarded the James Patterson Scholarship twice, alleviating his financial stress so he could focus solely on academics. He also maintained a 4.0 GPA while being included in the University’s Honors Program, a feat that he considers his greatest accomplishment. “I sacrificed a lot of time to maintain my grades,” he said. “But I’ve learned time management, how to communicate my ideas clearly, and most importantly, a lot of physics in the process.” Outside of the classroom, Simoni was involved with the Society of Physics Students, where he formed his favorite memories at the University and made some of his closest friends. He served as the community outreach coordinator for the Society, helping to organize tutoring and exam reviews for Physics I and II courses. He also volunteered as an IB Physics teacher at his alma mater, Yonkers Middle High School. On top of that, Simoni participated in several research projects. At the beginning of his sophomore year, he expressed interest in computational physics to one of his professors, Rostislav Konoplich, Ph.D. The pair spent the rest of his collegiate career conducting research together. “I cannot overstate the impact the faculty has had on me, especially within the Mathematics and Physics Department,” said Simoni. “They strike the right balance of being incredible researchers and down-to-earth individuals, who are excellent teachers and motivate students like me to pursue research-oriented careers.”
Working with Konoplich, Simoni was involved in a research internship at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, one of the world’s most historically significant physics laboratories. Simoni’s research is best explained in his own words: “Since 2008, CERN has operated the Large Hadron Collider, a 27-kilometer (nearly 17 miles) circular particle accelerator that accelerates protons to near the speed of light and collides them head-on. These collisions occur at four main detector sites, and my research is associated with one of them, ATLAS. My research internship has been carried out within the ATLAS Collaboration, where my research focus is on Higgs boson physics.” As an active member of the ATLAS Collaboration, Konoplich uses research funds to take a student — in this case, Simoni — with him to Geneva-based CERN every summer. Simoni was invited to join Konoplich during summer 2025 and lived abroad for approximately two months. “Living abroad changed my perspective, as I no longer feel that my career trajectory is locked in by where I was born geographically,” he said. “And CERN is one of the best places for aspiring physicists. It offers excellent lectures, world-class researchers, and amazing research opportunities that developed me thoroughly as someone who wants to become a physicist.” Simoni ultimately presented his research results internally within the ATLAS Collaboration, delivering presentations to audiences at CERN and in Hong Kong. “Sometimes, scientists at CERN are surprised to learn that undergraduate students from our physics department are working on problems at this level,” he said. For his work as part of the ATLAS Collaboration, Konoplich was among the notable recipients of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, one of the highest honors that a physicist can receive. “Dr. Konoplich is the epitome of a scientist: creative, sharp, and curious,” said Simoni. “I am incredibly grateful to be able to work with a collaboration that is at the forefront of physics.” Simoni’s ultimate goal is to become both a professor and a physicist who specializes in theoretical and phenomenological high-energy physics (HEP). He committed to a Ph.D. program in Physics at Cornell University, with an interest in HEP and cosmology. However, Simoni would love to return to CERN during graduate school and is even open to the idea of living abroad long-term if necessary. “Before starting at Manhattan, I wrote that I was about to spend four years of my life at an academic institution and that I should make it count,” he said. “I believe I’ve made it count.”
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Ashley Zegler Ashley Zegler ’27 was first exposed to mechanical engineering during her time at Pequannock Township High School in New Jersey, where she learned about prosthetic design and 3D printing applications. She was immediately drawn to the subject, fascinated by learning how things work. After graduating as the valedictorian of her class, Zegler looked for colleges with a comprehensive mechanical engineering program. This search led her to the doorstep of Manhattan University. “From my first step up the many stairs at Manhattan, I have felt embraced by the faculty, staff and student body,” said Zegler. “Its proximity to New York City and back home made the University the best of both worlds.” Zegler is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in applied mathematics and aerospace. “Studying mechanical engineering has opened my eyes to the multitude of applications of the degree to various industries,” she said. “I have developed a strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles that I intend to carry with me as I continue to prepare for my future.” Zegler is certainly doing everything she can to prepare for the future. As a junior, she’s participated in several research projects. The summer leading into her sophomore year, Zegler worked as a research assistant under Manhattan professors Ehsan Atefi, Ph.D., and Farrukh Fattoyev, Ph.D., on a Data-Driven Drop Shape Analysis (D3SAI). She also assisted an internal research group led by Manhattan professor Frank Henry, Ph.D., in conducting failure scenario investigations, analyzing the potential causes of the sinking of the USS Thresher in 1963. Under Stephen Peluso, Ph.D., and Lina Baroudi, Ph.D., she also worked as a student research assistant on the Taylor-Couette flow fluid-particle suspension research project, investigating fluid-particle interactions under various flow states. During summer 2025, Zegler participated in the Jasper Summer Research Scholar Program, researching a design analysis of mechanical heart valves under the supervision of MU professor Peyman Honarmandi, Ph.D. On top of all that, Zegler is highly active on campus. She was elected Vice President of the Class of 2027. Since 2025, she’s also served as President of Manhattan University’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). As a crocheting and crafting hobbyist, Zegler is also the Vice President of the Crochet Club, working with her board to create engaging crochet events and teaching new members the art of crochet. She’s also a member of various engineering societies, including
Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma and Pi Mu Epsilon. Additionally, Zegler is a member of Manhattan University’s Biomedical Engineering Society, the Society of Women Engineers, the Gaelic Society and the Pen & Sword Honor Society. She also works as a peer educator for the Center for Academic Success, tutoring students in topics such as precalculus and thermodynamics. Zegler also helped create the Peer Mentoring Program in the James Patterson Honors Program (JPHP), which assigns peer leaders or mentors to first-year students. JPHP students voted this new program as the most impactful component of the JPHP experience. As if that weren’t enough, Zegler also founded the Manhattan University Women’s Club Soccer team. It took a year for Zegler to create the club — a year of navigating league and player paperwork, referee contact, game scheduling and advertising. The club became official in the fall 2025 semester. In addition to being the club founder, Zegler served as President and captain of the team, coaching practices, managing account funds and fighting for equal representation and resources for the team. In the end, she calls the club’s creation one of her greatest accomplishments. “Taking on the challenge of creating a club team amid an engineering workload taught me the importance of leading with unwavering purpose, even on days when there seem to be more excuses to quit than reasons to succeed,” she said. “I am proud to be the leader of an extraordinary group of young women, all of whom not only push me to be a better leader but also a better person.” The team finished fifth in a 10-team conference in which every other program was well established. After graduation, Zegler plans to enroll in Manhattan’s seamless graduate program, allowing her to attain a master’s degree within a year of her bachelor’s. She will continue pursuing mechanical engineering, with a biomechanics concentration. In the years after grad school, Zegler hopes to work in the research and development sector of the biomedical technology industry, start her own company and, of course, continue to work on her crocheting. But until then, she’s enjoying the time she has left at Manhattan University. “I honestly can’t help but dread graduation,” she confessed. “Not because I am not ready for my career, but because I will miss my professors and friends here at Manhattan. It is truly the people who make the place. While I will always have a home in the best state on Earth (New Jersey), I am grateful to know that I also always have a home at 4513 Manhattan College Parkway.”
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Jasper Nation
Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
Accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
O’Malley School of Business
Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
School of Engineering
Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
manhattan.edu