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Learn from your fellow Deacs.

Read alumni stories about life & work after Wake Forest.

Laura Trollinger Derry ('13)

“Find what brings you passion and joy, and chase that relentlessly. Approach each challenge or new experience with humble inquiry; you always have something to learn.”

Laura Trollinger Derry (’13), Stanford University, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in Palo Alto, CA

🎩NEW DEACON SPOTLIGHT🎩

We recently caught up with Dana Manning Bartholomew (BS 2019 Health & Exercise Science, Minor in Health Policy & Administration), Sr Consultant of Public Health for Guidehouse Consulting Firm in Tampa, Florida. After grad school, Dana joined Guidehouse and shifted to a Department of Veterans Affairs project. Currently, Dana is focused on standardized VA facilities to modernize health infrastructure and improve the quality of care provided to Veterans.

Here are a few fun facts about Dana:

⚽️ She was on the Wake Forest Women’s Soccer team her freshman year at Wake!

🏓 Most weekends you can find Dana outside playing pickleball with friends.

🍪 She loves baking and is currently trying to perfect a few Christmas cookie recipes before the holidays.

We’ll leave you with some wisdom from Dana:
💡💡💡💡💡💡
“It’s easy to feel freedom after college, but it’s important to remember that our preparation today determines tomorrow’s achievements. Focus on building good habits like waking up early, putting in extra study time, investing wisely, and making healthy choices.”

Read more of our Q&A with Dana at the 🔗 in our profile or stories.

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Take some time to💡 LEARN 💡 about the differences between networking and relationship-building and how your connections can help you reflect on what you’re learning with Step 4️⃣ of our LEARN Alumni Career Development Model!

Here’s a quick clip from this month’s new micro webinar where we discuss how to establish (and maintain) meaningful connections personally and professionally.

To watch the full 6-minute video and access more LEARN resources on this topic, visit the link in our bio or stories. 📲

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Get to know one of our newest Alumni Career Advisers, Sam Chow (‘08)!

“I’m Sam Chow (‘08), an attorney based in New York City, currently working at a large corporate law firm specializing in immigration law. I help companies of all sizes navigate the complexities of immigration issues, from employee sponsorship to compliance challenges as well as building global mobility programs from the ground up.”

Sam would love to connect and hear about your career journey—whether you’re considering law, immigration, or exploring both public and private sectors. He has been fortunate to have had many mentors who have helped guide his career, and Sam knows firsthand how valuable those relationships can be.

Read more about Sam and reach out to him for a career conversation at the 🔗 in our bio or stories.

Want to check out our other Alumni Career Advisers? 🎩🎩🎩 Click on the industry-based highlights in our bio to explore this awesome group of @wfualumni who have raised their hands to talk to YOU about career decision-making, to offer up advice, and to help grow your network.

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🎩NEW DEACON SPOTLIGHT🎩

We recently caught up with Virginia Daukas (BA 2021 English, Minor in Politics & International Affairs), Marketing Specialist at J.McLaughlin in 📍New York, NY. As a Marketing Specialist at a retail fashion brand, Virginia crafts dynamic, data-driven marketing strategies that drive brand loyalty and sales, and teams up with creative minds across departments to bring projects to life and connect with their audience in fresh and engaging ways.

Here are a few fun facts about Virginia:

📺 Virginia was featured on the Today Show.

🏡 She lives on the same block as Dude with a Sign.

🎤 She accidentally met Taylor Swift in a diner.

We’ll leave you with some wisdom from Virginia:
💡💡💡💡💡💡
“It’s okay to be unsure and scared! Accept that you’re not supposed to have it all figured out right now. Most importantly, be kind. Be kind to yourself, your friends, your family, your coworkers, your neighbors, everyone. Also, always take the call. If someone offers to connect you with someone in their network, say yes.”

Read more of our Q&A with Virginia at the 🔗 in our profile.

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Are you stepping into a management role or aspiring to advance your career in leadership? We’re excited to offer our ⚡️New Manager Mentoring Groups in 2025⚡️, where you’ll explore effective management techniques and strategies for coaching, feedback, and accountability while building your personal network. We’ll be offering in-person groups in 📍Atlanta and 📍New York City along with a 💻 virtual/Zoom group option.

Through a series of facilitated discussions and shared resources, you’ll gain insights from fellow Wake Forest alumni to enhance your leadership skills and identify growth opportunities for both your career and personal development.

These space-limited groups are open to Undergraduate Alumni who identify as management or aspiring to a management-level position in the near future.

Learn more and register by December 6th at the link in our bio or stories.

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Coming in 2025… 🥳 back by popular demand, we’ll be offering our Young Alumni Mentoring Groups, where you can gain clarity on your professional journey while building a valuable network of Wake Forest alumni!

Since 2013, these facilitated sessions have empowered young professionals to explore key topics such as aligning work with personal values, setting boundaries, and planning for the next steps in their careers. Connect with peers, engage in meaningful conversations, and take actionable steps towards excelling in your career and personal well-being.

Our 2025 groups will be offered in 📍Charlotte, NC and 📍New York City (in-person meetings) as well as a 💻 virtual/Zoom group option. 💥 Please note: These groups are open to alumni who graduated from the Undergraduate College only, in class years 2020 – 2023.

Space is limited so register by the December 6th deadline to claim your spot!

Read more and sign-up at the link in our bio or stories.

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Does Michael Hoag (‘11) look familiar? You probably remember him from his Deacon Spotlight story that we shared a few weeks ago! Lucky for us, he’s volunteered to be one of our newest Alumni Career Advisers.

“I’m the Lead Producer at Infinity Ward Austin, part of Activision, where I get to work on exciting new content for the Call of Duty franchise. I’m currently focused on the next Warzone map, which is a thrilling challenge! I lead a fantastic team of over 50 talented developers, and together, we tackle everything from project timelines to creative collaboration”

You can ask Michael about Video Game Development, networking, project management, technology, leadership, gaming! He has embraced the challenges of managing diverse teams and balancing the demands of project management with effective collaboration. Michael believes that strong connections are vital, and he is driven by a competitive spirit and a desire to foster great teams and innovative projects.

Read more about Michael and reach out to him for a career conversation at the 🔗 in our bio.

Want to check out our other Alumni Career Advisers? 🎩🎩🎩 Click on the industry-based highlights in our bio to explore this awesome group of @wfualumni who have raised their hands to talk to YOU about career decision-making, to offer up advice, and to help grow your network.

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Are you a recent grad from the Class of 2024 and still job seeking? 🎓🔎

We’re here to help! Our colleagues in the OPCD have put together a great Pro Tips page to help kickstart your job search.

Access this resource at the link in our bio or stories. Plus, reach out if we can provide additional support along the way.👊

https://opcd.wfu.edu/class-of-2024-pro-tips/

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Are you a @wfualumni with a job in the nonprofit world? Join us for our next Alumni Industry Chat as we focus on careers in the nonprofit sector!

This is an opportunity to engage in conversation with fellow Deacs, discuss opportunities and challenges for nonprofit careers, and connect with one another. 💛🎩

Come prepared to mingle with other Wake Forest alumni and nonprofit professionals!

Register at the link in our bio or stories.

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