Frances Saadeh '06 and Jennifer Bauer '06 may have walked out of the Van Wickle Gates last spring, but they have not cut their ties to the University: both now work for Brown. Saadeh and Bauer are not alone, according to the Career Development Center's 2003 Outcome Report, which found that the University is the largest employer of Brown graduates.
The report's findings were based on a survey of 754 members of the class of 2003.
Saadeh, a program assistant at the Center of Gerontology and Health Care Research, and Bauer, an undergraduate admissions officer, said recent alums choose to work for the University for a variety of reasons. These include a desire to stay near college friends and an opportunity for a job that acts as a stepping-stone between undergraduate and professional life.
Personal tiesSaadeh, who earned her degree in public health, said she has stayed close to campus primarily to be near her husband, David Saadeh '07, whom she married in May.
"Dave is a main reason for why I'm still in Providence," Saadeh said, explaining that she and her husband currently live off campus in the Elmwood neighborhood. "Living off College Hill has been a great experience as well," Saadeh said, adding that she enjoys the Providence community.
According to Saadeh, working at the University has professional as well as personal benefits. She began working at the gerontology center as a sophomore under Associate Professor of Medical Science Susan Allen, so she was already familiar with its atmosphere when she decided to take on a professional role there. Saadeh said she was offered a full-time position working with Associate Professor of Community Health Melissa Clark at the center.
"It was kind of a natural transition into it," Saadeh said.
"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do after graduation, and this exposes me to many different roles in academia," Saadeh said. About half her tasks are administrative; the rest involve aiding in Clark's research.
"It's a little bit of everything," Saadeh said. Working in a professional environment, she said, has taught her new skills that she hopes to use in her future career.
"I'm getting to see the other side of the University," Saadeh added. "If I want to stay in the field of public health, I'll know what kind of jobs are out there," she said, mentioning that she interacts with graduate students, faculty and staff. Saadeh cited these coworkers as beneficial for another reason as well: "I'm networking here, and if I want to apply to grad school, I'll easily get recommendations," she said.
But Saadeh said she is not sure if she will take advantage of these connections, because she does not know where her career will lead her. She listed graduate school and medical school as potential options for the future.
"That's really up in the air right now," Saadeh said.
In the meantime, Saadeh said she is glad to be working for the University despite the fact that she could be making up to "$10,000 more" per year performing comparable tasks at a for-profit company. "It doesn't pay very well, but there are a lot of other aspects I enjoy that make it worth it," Saadeh said.
A brief pauseAfter studying for four years, Bauer, who concentrated in biology, said she needed a break from science before applying to medical school. She found the listing for a job as an admissions officer on the Human Resources Department's Web site and applied online this summer.
"The idea of remaining within a community I already felt strongly a part of for that short time appealed to me," said Bauer, who added that her experience working for the Bruin Club as an undergraduate partially motivated her to apply.
She said she liked the idea of assuming a role that would allow her to "give back" to the University that helped shape her as a person. An additional benefit of working for the University, Bauer said, was the personal comfort she already had with people on campus.
"I have a lot of friends around here still, so it was nice to not have to start over in a new place only to soon leave for (medical school)," Bauer said.
Though she works for the Office of Admission, Bauer actually spends much of her time traveling outside of Providence. Her responsibilities as an admissions officer include speaking with prospective students, reviewing undergraduate applications and making admissions decisions.
"There is a great deal of independence required, both with setting your own itinerary to follow across the country ... and with making sure your files get read," Bauer said.
Bauer admitted that her job, which requires a commitment of well over 40 hours per week, might not be perfect for everyone.
"It does require a certain passion for and belief in Brown ... to care enough about the future of the University to want to help shape it," Bauer said. She added that she does feel this passion - she called being an admissions officer her "second dream job" (her first is to be a physician).
"I wake up every morning excited to go to work, even on full Saturday workdays," Bauer said. The job constantly stimulates her because it changes day-to-day and month-to-month throughout the application process, so she never gets bored, she said.
"I honestly see no cons in the position," Bauer said. Though she does not intend to remain at Brown long-term, Bauer said she would remember her time working at the University in a positive light.
"It has been a nice way to transition away from college into the real world," Bauer said.