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By Elizabeth Kalaj, Web Editor and Victoria Schiller, Contributor

The Quadrangle student newspaper has been giving students with various majors an opportunity to report and write in a professional setting for one hundred years. Many of The Quadrangle’s alumni end up graduating from Manhattan University and getting successful jobs in journalism.

However, many other alumni end up in fields that are not directly correlated with journalism. Within all of these various career paths, though, the skills, tools and experiences compiled while writing for The Quadrangle have been an asset in helping them take on these diverse roles. 

From having a lasting mark on businesses to leaving a permanent physical mark on people, all of these alumni have a unique perspective on their time with The Quadrangle and what they took away from their experience.

Sean Sonnemann, Class of ‘17

Sean Sonnemann is a Quadrangle alumnus who served as Editor-in-Chief in 2016. Since graduating with a degree in civil engineering, he has worked in both engineering and economic fields, currently working in the clean energy department of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. In this role, Sonnemann helps design and manage programs that provide funding, financing and incentives for relevant projects and businesses. This role applies Sonnemann’s degree and six years of experience in engineering to a different type of position. 

Although Sonnemann did not study communication or journalism, he joined The Quadrangle as a Quad Scholar and became extremely involved. Additionally, he was the creator of the “Special Issue”, a tradition The Quadrangle holds extremely close. 

“I always really enjoyed writing and wanted an opportunity to keep practicing those skills and working in that kind of environment,” Sonnemann said. “I was lucky enough to get the scholarship which definitely helped me get involved but once I was part of it [The Quadrangle], I really enjoyed all the work I was doing. It was a great change of pace that balanced some of the engineering and technical work that I was doing in my coursework.”

Sonnemann spoke about how being a leader on The Quadrangle gave him many positive skills to speak about during interviews, including leadership skills practiced, initiative on new projects, communication and presentation skills. He also stressed the importance of telling a coherent story.

“Narrative building is a skill that translates beyond just jobs and professions that are purely journalism or communication based,” Sonnemann said.

In addition to The Quadrangle impacting his professional life, the club had an impact on his personal life. Sonnemann met his wife, Michelle DePinho ‘16, while working as editors together on The Quadrangle. They grew close during weekly meetings, leading to their marriage post-graduate.

Sonnemann encourages all students to attend a Quadrangle meeting.

“We have a lot of freedom and creativity to shape the paper as students see fit,” Sonnemann said. “It’s not something you might always have later in life, whether you work in journalism or not, so enjoy it, make the most of it and even if you don’t realize it, the work and involvement will definitely pay dividends later.”

Alison McCormack, Class of ‘21

Alison McCormack graduated in 2021 from MU, formerly known as Manhattan College [MC], with a double major in English and high school education. During her time at MU, McCormack took part in many extracurricular activities that expanded beyond her syllabi including The Quadrangle, Sanctus Artem and Manhattan Magazine. After graduation, McCormack worked as a full-time teacher for a year and a half and a part-time special-ed helper for a short while afterward. During this time, McCormack decided that teaching was not her passion.

During her time after teaching, McCormack started as a server at a restaurant and became friends with a coworker who had an aunt that worked at a tattoo parlor.

“We just became friends,” McCormack said. “I do not know exactly how it started but one day I just asked to submit a portfolio that included some of the drawings I did at MU. Then, she let me start training under her and I ended up doing it full-time and loving it.”

McCormack spoke about how some of her favorite memories regarding The Quadrangle were getting to work closely with other English majors that would be in many of her classes, including past Editor-in-Chief Gabriella DePinho ‘21. She also spoke about skills she gained from her experiences with The Quadrangle. 

“When being asked about things I gained from it [The Quadrangle], I immediately thought about my ability to communicate with people,” McCormack said. “It also helped me to not be afraid to reach out to people. For tattooing, I do a lot of my bookings through social media with people that I have never met before. With these people, I do video chats and sit with them for a bit while I work and I feel like it would have been more nerve-wracking and difficult if I had not been used to interviewing and talking to people for The Quadrangle. For me, the social aspect of journalism was the biggest advantage.”

McCormack spoke about her passion for writing remaining even though her focus is on art. Aside from tattooing people, McCormack tutors kids in English part-time for The Princeton Review. 

Kelly Kennedy, Class of 2023

Kelly Kennedy was a part of the 2023 graduating class at MU and majored in communication while holding the position of social media editor for The Quadrangle. After graduating, Kennedy told The Quadrangle that she was unsure what the future held for her. She also knew she had a passion for traveling, so she decided to apply for jobs abroad and currently works in Florence, Italy for a travel company called Smart Trip as a sales representative and tour leader. 

“After graduation, I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Kennedy wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “I applied to so many jobs within communication, but never really felt excited about anything and really struggled to find a job. I was trying to think of what I actually wanted to do and I just couldn’t stop thinking about how much I longed to travel. I’ve always been super passionate about traveling ever since I studied abroad in Florence the summer before my senior year, so I just thought why not apply to this job and see what happens? I applied and ended up getting hired and moved to Florence last January.” 

Kennedy shared her favorite memories from The Quadrangle and how she feels the newspaper has had an influence on her outside of MU. 

“I used to be such a shy person,” Kennedy wrote. “The Quad really helped me get out of my shell by doing interviews and meeting so many people. I think my experience in The Quadrangle with learning to interview and pushing me to become more outspoken has really helped me here to become a leader.”

The Quadrangle also asked Kennedy about her work and if she had any plans for after her time abroad. 

“I love my job,” Kennedy wrote. “I’ve been able to travel to over thirteen countries and so many cities around Europe and I’ve learned so much. I work very closely with study abroad students here and I love getting to see these students grow and experience the world, and this actually inspired me to pursue a career working in education abroad after this job! I’m not exactly sure where I’ll end up, but I’m excited for the journey.” 

Melissa Gallardo, Class of 2019

Melissa Gallardo graduated from MU in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a concentration in broadcasting/telecommunications and a minor in religious studies. During her time at MU, she was a contributor to The Quadrangle, took part in the Study Abroad Program for a full semester and worked with Lotus Magazine as well as Campus Ministry and Social Action. After graduation, Gallardo began working at Paramount. Eight months into her career, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and she eventually started working from home. She picked up candle making as a hobby, the result of a months-long quarantine. This hobby quickly turned into her full time job when she became CEO and Founder of Bonita Fierce Candles.

“It’s premium home fragrances inspired by Latino heritage and culture,” Gallardo said. “I was really coming into my identity and my cultural roots. I’m Salvadorian American and I really did embrace that in college and throughout my whole life. As everybody was at home trying to buy some solace online, I turned to the Latina community. I was becoming more intentional with shopping and products that resonated with me. I didn’t find anything out of the candle market, so that’s when I decided to turn my side hustle and hobby into a full business.” 

The Quadrangle asked Gallardo what memories and experiences from MU stuck with her.

“The Love Trips really shaped my experiences,” Gallardo said. “Overall, the courses at Manhattan and being a liberal arts student really shaped my worldview. Being able to see outside of New York gave me more perspective of life outside of my own personal bubble and I wanted to create a larger impact and do more with my life.”

Zach Olivan, Class of ‘22

Zach Olivan was a part of the graduating class of 2022, receiving his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He is on track to get a master’s degree in athletic counseling at Springfield College. However, after a short time in the program, Olivan parted ways with the institution and opened his own consulting business. Since his switch to the business world, Olivan has been an independent contractor, a private consultant and an online coach.

When Olivan recalled his time on The Quadrangle, he spoke about three things that he learned from the experience: the ability to communicate effectively through writing strategy, developing a close relationship and network with friends and learning how to influence others through writing.

Olivan then continued to speak about the importance of writing skills.

“The number one way in which writing has helped me is crystallization of thought,” Olivan said. “There is alot of mud. It is like when you are at the beach and the sand and water goes from clear to murky when you move it around. I think this is sometimes people’s baseline state of living and they just never allow for stillness or reflection. I feel like writing has brought this to me and allowed me to clear what my vision, mission and values are.”

Olivan spoke to The Quadrangle about the advice he has for students at Manhattan University that may want to go into a career path that does not align with what they chose to study.

“Bet on yourself, give yourself permission and no matter what you decide to do in your life, demand excellence,” Olivan said.

Jocelyn Visnov, Class of ‘24

Jocelyn Visnov was a part of the Spring 2024 graduating class, receiving her bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in journalism and advertising. She played a significant role in The Quadrangle as Editor-in-Chief in 2023 and was part of Lotus Magazine, Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, Pen and Sword and Her Campus. In the few months after graduating, Visnov made the decision to put the resumes and cover letters aside in order to figure out how to travel in the most inexpensive way possible. To her surprise, Visnov found a job as an au pair in the Hautes-Alpes region of France for three months. 

“I was sick of doing the cover letters,” Visnov said. “I was sick of applying to a million jobs and not hearing back, or doing a bunch of interviews that didn’t go anywhere. I started searching cheap ways to travel, because what if I didn’t work a nine to five right away? I think a lot of people get stressed about what’s next. I’ve been in school my whole life and now, ‘what’s the next step?’ There’s no more structure, but rather than being stressed about it, I hit a point where I thought it was awesome that for the first time in my life, I didn’t have any major responsibilities yet and I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity. I’m just very grateful that I gave myself that gift. What if I had an adventure or just went somewhere else and experienced something new before I worked for the rest of my life. Let me try something new first.” 

Visnov told The Quadrangle about some of her favorite memories at MU, specifically with The Quadrangle. 

“I started as a staff writer with the scholarship program,” Visnov said. “I started doing production and I loved it. We had so much fun. Some of my favorite memories are Triangle week, which is the April Fools issue. The team and I were giggling to ourselves, coming up with the most ridiculous things we could think of. I just always had so much fun with it because it’s really the only opportunity where you can just write satire about the school or about just things that you think are funny, ironic or silly. And then to hear that anyone got a giggle out of it made me feel really good.”

Visnov also spoke to The Quadrangle about the advice she has for students, seniors and anyone who graduated who still may be trying to figure out what they want to do. 

“If you know what you want to do, take the opportunity,” Visnov said. “If you don’t know what you want to do, that’s okay. No one actually knows what they’re doing. If they do, they’re lying, because no one actually knows what it is they want to do. Instead of being stressed, try to take the opportunity to think big. Think about what it is that you personally want to do and what it is that will make you a happy person. What’s going to make you feel fulfilled as a person? For me, that was getting up and living in the Alps for three months. Take the opportunity to really think about yourself and what you want for yourself.”