About Us

Melanie Parker, Executive Director, GECD

Melanie leads and oversees GECD, including Career Services, Global Education, and Prehealth Advising. Responds to media requests and provides leadership to DUE Global Theme Team. She has a Master of Education from Mississippi State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. Her experience includes over 20 years in Higher Education, mainly in Career Services, with prior work in Human Resources, U.S. Government, and Consulting.

Alyssa Tasha, Information Technology

Alyssa maintains the office website, provides support for the career services and study abroad databases, and oversees technology projects and initiatives.  She holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Hawaii Pacific University. 

Career Services

Deborah Liverman, Director, Career Services

Deborah leads Career Services and manages both services to students and employers. She is a member of the GECD leadership team and manages the office’s data on first destinations of MIT graduates as well as other surveys. M.Ed. in High Education Administration from University of South Carolina; B.A. in Sociology from Davidson College. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership at University of Massachusetts. Experience includes 13 years in higher education, mainly in career services.

Alessandra Rober Christensen, Assistant Director, Employer Relations

Alessandra builds and manages employer relations programs and helps enhance career development opportunities for MIT students. She coordinates the employer partnership and sponsorship program and assists in development of policy, rules and regulations regarding employer relations operations. M.Ed in Higher Education Administration with concentration in Student Life and Development and Enrollment Management; B.A. in Psychology from University of Miami. Experience includes over 10 years in the private sector and 5 years in higher education.

Alyssa Kavanagh, Employer Relations Coordinator

Alyssa coordinates programs to enrich employer relations and create career development opportunities for MIT students. She works with employers involved in recruiting on campus, assisting in their planning and preparation leading up to their campus visit and following up afterward. She counsels employers on ways to increase their presence on campus, from marketing to involvement in various events. She received her M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2011 and her B.A. in English from Colby College in 2010.

Christina Henry, Career Development Specialist

Christina counsels students in the School of Architecture and Planning and the School of Science. In addition, she instructs for the Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship Program (F/ASIP) and is office liaison for multicultural groups, women’s issues, and students interested in Education. Christina received her M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University in 2011 and a B.S. from the University of Florida in 2007.

Colin Smith, Career Development Specialist

Colin oversees GECD’s daily drop-in hours. He provides career counseling to students and alumni from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as well as students and alumni of Media Arts and Sciences and Comparative Media Studies. Colin holds a Master of Science in Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the State University of New York College at Brockport. His experience includes prior work in career counseling at Wheelock College and advising at Northeastern University.

Ellen Stahl, Career Development Specialist

Ellen meets with Undergraduate and Graduate students from Course(s) 2, 3, 10, 16, 20 & 22. Her career started in Hollywood working in the entertainment industry. As a Talent Agent she worked with actors to develop careers in television & film. Ellen’s varied corporate background is beneficial when working to explore a range of career opportunities. The business perspective she holds is an asset in assisting students to identify their skills, and strategize effective ways to market themselves to employers. Ellen holds an MEd, and a BA in Creative Arts.

Jordan Siegel, Recruiting and Martketing Coordinator

Jordan coordinates on-campus recruiting, and provides marketing and design solutions to staff and employers.

Marilyn Wilson, Associate Director, Career Counseling and Education

Marilyn leads a team that develops services and resources for all students, including career counseling, self-assessment, career exploration materials, and job search assistance. She advises PhD students and assists employers interested in PhD graduates. Marilyn has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from UVM and an AB in History from Harvard. She came to MIT Career Services in 2001, and has previous experience as a freelance writer, event manager, and nonprofit administrator.

Natalie Lundsteen, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Career Services

Natalie is the primary Career Services liaison for graduate students at MIT, and manages the delivery of PhD career services including counseling PhD students and alumni, and assisting employers interested in PhD students and graduates. Natalie received her DPhil in Education from Oxford University, and has both an Ed.M. in Policy, Planning and Administration and a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University. She has previous experience as a careers advisor at Oxford University and career counselor at Stanford University.

Nyasha Toyloy, Receptionist

Nyasha joined the office in August, 2012. Hers is the smiling face you see behind the front desk as you walk in the door.

Tamara Menghi, Associate Director, Employer Relations & Career Programs

Tamara leads Employer Relations and Career Programs which includes directing the Freshman/Alumni Summer Internship Program (F/ASIP) and providing support to MIT career fairs. She advises freshmen primarily but also assists all students with the interviewing process of the job search. Tamara has a M.S. in Counseling, Concentration: Student Development in Higher Education, Central Connecticut State University and a B.S. in Family Studies from the University of Connecticut. Experience includes over 15 years in Higher Education, 11 of which at MIT, with experience in career services, prehealth advising, academic advising and residential life.

Global Education

Malgorzata R. Hedderick, Associate Dean, Global Education

Malgorzata leads Global Education within GECD and oversees study abroad, including exchanges, as well as distinguished fellowships. She is a member of the GECD leadership team, and works with students and with colleagues across the Institute on matters related to  Global Education. She also serves as a freshman advisor and co-teaches a freshman seminar. Malgorzata received M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Harvard and Master's Degree in Polish Literature from University of Warsaw. Her professional experience includes 20 years in international education and in study abroad through positions at MIT and Harvard.

Joshua Nupp, Assistant Dean for Global Education

Josh helps provide direction and leadership for Global Education. Oversees MIT-managed and general study abroad programs, works with team to inform students of MIT’s wide range of international opportunities, and coordinates tracking of participant data. Graduated with a M.Ed. in Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education from the University of Virginia in 2007 and a B.A. in French from Wake Forest University in 2001. More than eight years of experience in International Education, including work in both the public and private sectors. Interests include travel, sports and cooking.

Kim Benard, Assistant Director, Distinguished Fellowships

Kim assists students with the entire application process to external fellowships, including but not limited to the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Gates Cambridge, Fulbright, and Truman. She also serves as the Secretary for Phi Beta Kappa. For more information on the fellowships available, please visit the Scholarships website: http://web.mit.edu/scholarships/. BA, Writing, Loyola University New Orleans MA, Medieval Studies, Fordham University MPhil, English, Fordham University

Sarra Shubart, Administrative Assistant, Global Education

Sarra works with students interested in going abroad to help find the right program, including study abroad, internships, public service or research. She is coordinator of the Cambridge-MIT Exchange (CME), and supports other MIT study abroad and exchange programs.

Scott Murray, Administrative Assistant, Global Education

Scott supports the Global Education team in planning events and running programs, and advises students on study abroad (including financing, program selection, and transfer credit). In addition, he also assists the Distinguished Fellowships coordinator and all students interested in applying for a Rhodes, Fulbright, etc.

Prehealth Advising

Debra Shafran, Administrative Assistant, Prehealth Advising

Debra coordinates the Prehealth Credential Service and provides administrative support for appointment scheduling, general prehealth inquiries, workshops and events, and the Physician Shadow Program. Deb is a magna cum laude graduate of The American University, Washington, DC with a BA in Public Communications. She also currently teaches group fitness classes at several gyms in the greater Boston area. Prior work includes commercial radio and grass roots marketing and promotions for independent music artists.

Charles McClinton, Associate Director, Prehealth Advising

Charles leads Prehealth Advising and provides ongoing support to the programs, services, advising and operations of the team. Charles has a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University; MS in Occupational Therapy from the Medical College of Virginia; and a BS in Psychology from SC State University. Experience includes more than 15 years in higher education administration with seven years devoted to prehealth advising; 13 years in medical school administration with a faculty appointment; and more than 8 years working in allied health education and accreditation, and graduate medical education and accreditation with the AMA.

Erin Scott, Assistant Director, Prehealth Advising

Erin manages the Prehealth Advising office, advises students and alumni applying to medical, dental and other health profession schools.  Coordinates the Prehealth Advisor and Physician Shadow Programs.  M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Boston College and a B.A. in Psychology from Central Michigan University. Has worked in student advising at Eastern MIchigan University, Yale College, and Boston University.

Jennifer Earls, Prehealth Advisor, Prehealth Advising

Jennifer supports the Prehealth Advising team in advising students and alumni on pursuing graduate study at medical, dental and other health profession schools. Develops and organizes special workshops and programs, including the Physician Shadow Programs, to provide students and alumni with opportunities to explore their career interests and to successfully prepare for application to health profession schools. Holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University and a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University.