Career Advising

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Meredith leads the career advising team, which serves undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, and recent alumni. She collaborates with campus and external partners, and additionally advises undergraduate through PhD students and recent alumni to help them explore career paths and work toward their short- or long-term goals. Meredith holds an MEd in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University. Her experience includes over 10 years in Higher Education, with a primary emphasis on career advising.

What is your favorite MIT hack? The Tetris hack of 2012. It was incredible to walk by the Green building at night to see it lit up and people playing large-scale Tetris on the side. Epic!  

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Tianna works with first-year undergraduate through PhD students and recent alumni to help them explore and achieve their career goals. She supports the Social Impact, Policy, and Law Career Pathway and is the Pre-Law Advisor for MIT students and alumni within two years of graduation. As a part of this role, she serves as the Secretary of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA). Tianna also supervises the student Career Exploration Leaders, and collaborates with departments, programs, alumni, and employers to provide career exploration events and resources that allow students to learn about diverse career paths. Tianna received her BA from Boston College and her MSW from Columbia University. In 2021 Tianna won the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award and in 2022 she was selected for the DAAD German Academic Exchange Service tour for higher education leaders.

What was your first job? I was a Green Ambassador for Thompson Island Outward Bound for several summers in high school. I did trail maintenance and habitat preservation, learned arboriculture and got to climb really tall trees, and went on camping trips to the Boston Harbor Islands.

In addition to providing career advice to MIT undergraduates, graduate students and recent alumni, Tavi also manages IAP micro-internships and the Architecture, Planning, & Design Pathway. She is always searching for new ways to help MIT students prototype their career options through internships, micro-internships, research or other experiential learning opportunities.

Tavi received an MSW from Columbia University and a BSW from New York University. Tavi was a first-generation college student and is always excited to help students figure out their next career move.

Do you collect anything? I collect spices because I love food and cooking! I especially enjoy using the spices I’ve bought during my travels.

Pronouns: he/him/his

Erik supports all students and young alumni as they explore options, gain skills and experience, and pursue their career goals. Erik advises the Peer Career Advising program and also supports students interested in Arts, Communications, and Media and who identify as veterans or as first generation/low income. He holds an MS in Organizational Psychology from the University of Hartford and a BA in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University. Erik is a certified Career Services Provider through the NCDA, a Global Career Development Facilitator, an MBTI Practitioner, EQi 2.0 certified administrator, and a Certified LEGO Serious Play facilitator. Experience includes over 12 years in higher education with 7 years in career development.

What song would you say best sums you up?  “You’re Never Fully Dressed with out a Smile,” from the Broadway musical Annie.

My background is in History and Philosophy, and I bring that critical eye to student advising. I’m an avid reader, lover of film, music, games, podcasts, and Capital A Art. Working with students on their fellowship applications allows me the privilege and opportunity to unite all of my interests and academic leanings into a unique approach to advising that I bring to each meeting with a student.

Whether you need assistance preparing for an interview or want to talk about the long-term process of preparing to apply for a scholarship, I am happy to work with you at any point of the process.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Alexis offers career guidance for graduate students and specializes in supporting PhDs. She manages the Manufacturing & Transportation career pathway and collaborates with departments, alumni, and employers to facilitate learning and networking opportunities. Alexis is always excited to work with graduate students as they pursue diverse career trajectories in industry and academe. She received her BA from Franklin & Marshall College, her MA from The Jewish Theological Seminary, and her PhD from Boston University.

What is your favorite MIT hack? I love it when the hackers put things on top of the Great Dome! It’s always amusing and the scale and logistics never cease to amaze me.

As Assistant Director for Early Career Engagement, Kendel (she/they) is the point person for MIT’s first and second year undergraduate students. Kendel also serves as a liaison to MIT’s Energy, Environment, and Sustainability career community. Kendel’s professional background has been focused at the intersection of career development and education, encompassing both secondary and post-secondary settings. Kendel received a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and an M.Ed. in Student Affairs Counseling from Bridgewater State University.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Erica provides support for MIT students and alumni who are exploring career opportunities as well as for those specifically pursuing a career in medicine. Erica received her DVM from Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and her BA in History from Oberlin College. She has four years of experience working as a clinical veterinarian.

Do you have any pets? I have two cats, Fred and George. Naming them after two of the most mischievous Harry Potter characters has been a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy – they certainly live up to their names!

Aidan (he/him) supports students and recent alumni with exploring career options. He specifically focuses on supporting underserved student populations on campus and serves as a connection point between those groups and the wider CAPD team. Aidan earned his BA from Gettysburg College and holds an MA in Higher Education Student Affairs from Boston College.   

What is your ideal weekend? My ideal weekend would feature playing Ultimate Frisbee, making a trip to the record store to pick up a new release, and watching the Philadelphia Eagles (hopefully) win a football game!  

Pronouns: she/her/hers 

Alex is the point person at MIT CAPD who oversees supporting postdoctoral scholars through career advising and professional development programs. She emphasizes clarifying the hidden curriculum (unwritten expectations and rules of academia), aligning a postdoc’s values to their career and professional goals, and cultivating resources for healthy mentor-mentee relationships. Prior to coming to MIT, Alex was a postdoctoral associate at Boston University’s Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs office. She received her M.A. & Ph.D. in Roman Art & Archaeology from the History of Art & Architecture department at Boston University and her B.A. in Archaeology and Art History from the University of Southern California.  

What was your most interesting job? 

Besides my current position (there is always something interesting and exciting to learn about postdocs!), my most interesting job was working on a grilled cheese food truck. I would go to all different events (SoWa Open Market, weddings, birthday parties, school events), and it taught me crucial active listening skills, patience, and adaptability to any type of environment!