Building on last year’s success, alumni from various decades returned to The Storm King School via Zoom to share information, ideas, and inspiration with our students during Career Week 2022. From April 4-12, 2022, 11 alums volunteered their time to talk with our students about choosing a profession, getting into college, tips for success, and providing highlights of their lives after graduating from SKS.

Alumni who shared their careers this year included a judge, a celebrity makeup artist, a vice president of a large company; an entrepreneur who most recently developed a music app; a psychologist; a photographer; a graphic artist, an ornithologist; a Ph.D. in mathematics; a veterinarian; and a graduate student in robotics.

Alumnus Chuizheng “Richard” Kong ‘17’s conversation focused on succeeding in college.  A graduate student in robotics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Richard explained that the Advanced Placement classes that he took at SKS allowed him to skip many introductory classes during his freshman year in college. “This gave me time for a variety of research and internship opportunities which help new college graduates compete in today’s job market,” he suggested.

Chris DeSalvo ’85, Vice President of Service Excellence and Operations for Paychex, Inc., also offered practical advice to students, noting that interns have worked their way up in his company. “The main things I look for in an employee are motivation, drive, and working well with others – the rest can be learned on the job.  When interviewing, don’t forget to make your pitch and ask for the job,” he advised.

Michael Sollami Ph.D. ’02 made a presentation to a Multivariable Calculus class titled “Life After Calc: Mathy Stuff I Learned After SKS.” Michael is a Principal Data Scientist at Salesforce Einstein and says he likes to build software. He gave three tips for students interested in math and computer sciences: “First, start accumulating a knowledgebase system with what you’ve learned in school and work. Second, learn coding! This will give you a leg up in computational fields. Third, pursue getting REUs (Research Experience for Undergrads) to explore research interests, gain valuable experience, and see if you are graduate school material.”

Graphic Designer Kevin Dresser ’90, a former graffiti artist, told a Digital Art class how he meticulously studies the history of a place or an era for his work assignments. He also showed the students the art deco-style signage and iconography he created for Radio City Music Hall and the history-based font and design he created for Band-Aid packaging.

 

More insights from the presenters included:

 

“Explore the breadth of possibilities in psychology before zeroing in on your area of interest. Regardless of your career direction, stay mentally healthy by taking at least two minutes per day to be “mindful” and decompress from the stresses of high school and beyond.” 

– Jodie Gerson ’91, Psychologist

 

“It’s important to have good support systems at home and to have self-love and self-care to get through the difficult moments. This applies in all fields and in all aspects of life.” 

– Shenelle Mays-Smith ’01, Celebrity Makeup Artist

 

“I enjoy never having a day that is the same. My work might involve a dog that ate a bee, or a dog with a fish hook in its lip, or even the occasional constipated mountain lion. I also value the relationships that I have built over the years with the animals’ families.” 

– Aimee Lieberman-Meyer ’91, Veterinarian

 

“I have focused my career on conservation issues associated with the long, nonstop migrations of shorebirds. My work requires coordination with a dozen nations and innumerable agencies. Climate change and politics make this work difficult, but technology – like satellite transmitters – has brought new potential and hope to save endangered shorebird species.” 

– Brian Harrington ’60, Ornithologist

 

“One of the top people working for my Artistory music technology app start-up began as an intern.  The most important employee traits in my company are intellectual curiosity, excellent communication skills, and enthusiasm.” 

– Dan Lipson ’75, Technology App Business Owner

 

Stunning, artistic, and unusual are the words used to describe his photography. “For great photos, you must seize the moment and the opportunities that unexpectedly present themselves. Taking risks is important.” 

– David Hartcorn ’73, Photographer

 

“I always wanted to be a lawyer. I tried to look at each case and each individual with fairness and understanding, balancing the needs of the accused and that of the community.”

– Harold Kennedy ’73, Judge (retired)

Career Week concluded with a Zoom conversation with the 2021 Humanitarian Award recipient Jonathan Keeve MD ’74, who spoke about volunteering internationally to provide needed orthopedic surgeries and care. He was introduced by his former teacher and subsequently his lifelong friend, Tom Donahue, and was joined by his science teacher Alan Bernstein, several classmates, current SKS students and parents, and SKS staff.

Head of School Jonathan Lamb closed out the evening thanking Dr. Keeve: “The Humanitarian Award is a small token compared to all the work that you have done and the impact that you have made in the lives of others. The Storm King School is grateful for its network of more than 2,500 alumni from across the globe who continue to support our students.”

Alumni who are interested in talking to current students about their careers in 2023 should contact lcrevling@sks.org.