Category Archives: Alumni Angle

Alumni Angle: MBA graduate, Andrea Lomanto

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Andrea Lomanto currently resides in Voorheesville, NY. She received her BS from Boston University in 2005 followed by an MBA from Saint Rose in 2007. After graduation, Lomanto earned a job on the Saint Rose staff, where she is now Director of Alumni Relations. In her free time she enjoys making jewelry, gardening, attempting to knit, cooking, and traveling. Her favorite movies are anything horror and anything directed by Woody Allen. Meanwhile, she loves to listen to Jeffrey Foucault, The Stray Birds, and M.R. Poulopoulos (her talented boyfriend).

What did you get your degree in? And why did you choose it?

Andrea Lomanto: I chose communications at BU because I wanted to work in advertising, specifically as a copywriter. I was initially attracted to the glamor of advertising. After an eye-opening internship, I saw how not-glamorous and cut throat the environment could be. I didn’t give up on the idea of advertising, though. My first job out of school was with a small ad shop in Schenectady. I found out rather quickly that it wasn’t the Andrea Lomanto Picturecreative outlet I thought it would be. Fortunately, I’d enrolled in the MBA program at Saint Rose to continue on a more general marketing and management path. Another motivating factor for earning my MBA was the shockingly low starting salary for an entry-level advertising employee. I like to think I dodged burnout and bankruptcy!

How did your education at Saint Rose help with your career choice?

AL: I developed lasting relationships with the faculty during my MBA program and appreciated the intimate and nurturing classroom setting. It was a very positive experience for me. During the program, I interned at the Albany Institute of History & Art (AIHA) where I had my first not-for-profit experience. The internship program showed me a new path I hadn’t considered, and that was the world of development. I eventually ended up back at AIHA where I worked in Corporate Development. That position prepared me for my position as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. After some department reorganization and a promotion, I’m Director of Alumni Relations today.

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Top Teacher: Bryan Sawyer

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As you may remember, Saint Rose alumnus Bryan Sawyer was named Top Teacher on Live With Kelly this past May. Sawyer earned a Master of Science in Education in Special Education from Saint Rose in 2005. The Top Teacher nomination was written by a parent of two of his students, one of whom, Jacob, had little or no language acquisition, no self-help skills, and no safety awareness upon entering Sawyer’s classroom.  When many other educators had given up on Jacob, Sawyer rose to the challenge and succeeded.  Jacob has made, and continues to make, amazing progress.  Just prior to the Top Teacher nomination, Jacob read a story in front of his entire class and their parents.  This is all thanks to Bryan Sawyer.

As a prize for achieving this honor, Sawyer was awarded $25,000 for his school district, laptops for his classroom, a trophy, a car, and a vacation. He currently works at Karigon Elementary School in Clifton Park where he continues to change the lives of children with special needs.

To learn more about Bryan and special education, check out the video below, or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at (518) 454-5143 or grad@strose.edu!

Special Education graduate works to promote education as CEO of four Sylvan Learning Centers

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Catherine Hull earned her her bachelor’s in Business Administration in 1978 and master’s degree in Special Education at Saint Rose in 1983. Now she is franchisee and the chief executive officer of four Sylvan Learning Centers in Albany, Schenectady, Clifton Park, and Syracuse, NY. Sylvan Learning Centers provide personalized instruction services for students K-12. In her role as CEO, Hull oversees the student educational services, advertising and marketing campaigns, human resources, and financial management of the company.

Catherine Hull '78 G'83

Catherine Hull ’78 G’83

Prior to her involvement with Sylvan Learning Centers, Hull worked at the New York State Department of Social Services and was a special education teacher. In addition, she has served as a private business consultant and executive coach.

Reflecting on her Saint Rose education, Hull says, “My experiences at Saint Rose clearly launched my career. At the College, I learned the business management and financial skills necessary to succeed in a competitive business environment; and I gained the educational expertise necessary to meld the two fields of business and education. Even more important to me is that I gained the confidence to move my aspirations from simply holding a challenging position to being a business leader and building a local company that contributes to the well-being of children and families within my community.”

To read more about Hull’s accomplishments, click here.

Political Science alum reflects on the Saint Rose Difference

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David P. Mahoney is at the cutting edge of educational practice and reform in New York State.  A double graduate of Saint Rose – bachelor’s in Social Studies Education, and master’s in Political Science – he is project assistant for the New York State Education Department, where he manages the state’s $673 million “Race to the Top” grant. Mahoney also implements other initiatives, such as the state’s Teacher and Principal Evaluation System, and Teacher and Principal Career Ladders.

Since he graduated in 2008, Mahoney has been active in the Saint Rose “Alumni in Admissions” initiative, volunteering at Open House events, and various Career Center activities. He also participated in the first S.A.I.N.T. Night (Students and Alumni Interested in Networking Together) in April 2011.

“The most meaningful aspect of my Saint Rose experience was truly the ‘Saint Rose Difference’. Having transferred to the school from larger university settings, for me, the difference was the ability to sit in classrooms where I felt part of a learning community,” says Mahoney, “A community where my successes were the successes of my colleagues (professors and students). Saint Rose provided me with the opportunity to grow academically and personally, as a student, a professional, and as an adult. To me, the Saint Rose Difference means everything.”

To read more about Mahoney’s accomplishments, click here.