{"id":2755,"date":"2026-06-30T17:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T17:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worcester.edu\/magazine\/?p=2755"},"modified":"2026-06-30T17:46:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T17:46:35","slug":"how-worcester-state-graduates-are-unlocking-early-career-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worcester.edu\/magazine\/2026\/06\/30\/how-worcester-state-graduates-are-unlocking-early-career-success\/","title":{"rendered":"How Worcester State Graduates are Unlocking Early Career Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Data shows young Lancer alumni are among the most successful in the state\u2019s public college and university systems. The stories of real graduates bring that data to life.<\/span><\/h2>\n

How should post-graduation success be defined? <\/p>\n

One way is to go by the data: A recent report by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education revealed Worcester State graduates have among the highest average earnings of all the Commonwealth\u2019s public colleges and universities five years after graduation. Continuing that trend, the majority of graduates from the class of 2025 are also working in their fields of study and earning higher-than-average in-state pay, per a Career Development Center survey.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, success should not be measured only in dollar figures and job titles. As importantly, it must be defined in more human terms\u2014because behind the numbers are real graduates who have translated their Worcester State experience into meaningful careers. <\/p>\n

More than collecting a paycheck, these young alumni are demonstrating how preparation and resilience come together to shape early professional success. They are working across industries, including fintech, law, pharmaceuticals, clinical research, software engineering, and global consulting. Their interests span everything from product development and public interest law to immunology, data-driven medicine, and strategy.<\/p>\n

Individually, their paths are distinct. Together, they offer a better definition of graduate success. These are just a few of their stories. <\/p>\n

Daniel Hsu ’25<\/span><\/h3>\n

From speaking on the commencement stage to launching a career in the fast-paced world of fintech, Daniel Hsu \u201925 has embraced every opportunity to grow, adapt, and lead.<\/p>\n

A business administration major with a concentration in finance and a minor in economics, Hsu\u2019s path to Worcester State was anything but traditional. Originally from the Bay Area, he started his educational journey at Buffalo State before transferring to Massasoit Community College\u2014and eventually to Worcester State, where he was recruited to play soccer. \u201cI\u2019ve always been kind of on the move,\u201d he said, adding the experience helped shape his resilience but also made finding the right fit especially meaningful.<\/p>\n

That fit came quickly at Worcester State. \u201cA pivotal moment for me was joining the Accounting Club,\u201d Hsu said. Encouraged by a faculty mentor to join, he became more engaged with the club, ultimately serving as co-vice president. \u201cThat club was extremely instrumental in shaping who I am and my professional career,\u201d he added, noting the strong sense of community and shared leadership that defined his experience.<\/p>\n

While at Worcester State, Hsu completed internships in audit, public accounting, private equity fund accounting, and commercial real estate\u2014each helping him refine his interests. \u201cThat private equity internship was a perfect blend,\u201d he said. \u201cIt made me naturally curious about finance and pushed me to shift my focus.\u201d Those experiences ultimately helped him land a summer internship with PwC in New York City, working in their banking and capital markets tax division.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, Hsu made another cross-country move to Seattle to begin his full-time role at Carta. As a finance and equity analyst in a rotational program, he works across equity valuations, private equity onboardings, venture capital fund tax, audited financial statements, and internal strategy and operations. \u201cI\u2019m in there to try and fix workflows and roadblocks,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve also been able to build internal products, and seeing others benefit from something I worked on brings me a lot of enjoyment.\u201d<\/p>\n

That exposure has sparked a new goal. \u201cI want to be more involved with products,\u201d he said. \u201cI really enjoy taking ownership and seeing the direct value of what I\u2019ve done.\u201d He\u2019s now exploring a future in product management, where he can blend finance, technology, and problem-solving.<\/p>\n

He also credits Worcester State\u2019s Career Development Center and leadership opportunities with helping him grow. \u201cThey were extremely supportive in everything I\u2019ve been able to do,\u201d he said. As a peer mentor and participant in the Emerge Leadership Program, he strengthened his communication skills\u2014experiences that culminated in his role as commencement speaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat experience really cemented how I want to show up going forward,\u201d he said. \u201cWith the right community, mindset, and effort, you can change your trajectory.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Hsu, affordability played a key role as well. \u201cBeing able to focus all my energy on my studies and career instead of worrying about debt, that was huge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Now building his career at Carta, he remains committed to staying connected and \u201cbeing an active leader in every community\u201d he joins.<\/p>\n

Lily Morgan ’25<\/span><\/h3>\n

From discovering her path just minutes from home to pursuing a law degree in Washington, D.C., Lily Morgan \u201925 is on her way to making her mark in the legal field. <\/p>\n

A criminal justice and psychology major with a minor in philosophy, Morgan is now in her first year at George Washington University Law School, where she\u2019s already immersing herself in both coursework and community. <\/p>\n

Her days are filled with classes like constitutional law and criminal law, but she\u2019s also deeply involved with this work outside the classroom\u2014serving as director of student organizations in the Student Bar Association and volunteering with a Street Law program that brings legal education to local middle school students. \u201cI wanted to give back,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I was talking to some of them, and they were like, \u2018I kind of want to do law now.\u2019 That\u2019s why I do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgan\u2019s journey to Worcester State began with a simple but powerful realization: college might actually be possible. \u201cI never thought I was going to be able to go,\u201d she said. As a first-generation student from a lower-income family, affordability was critical. Living just 10 minutes from campus and receiving enough financial aid to cover her costs made all the difference. \u201cReceiving that support, I was like, I can actually go to college now,\u201d she said. \u201cI can actually get an education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once on campus, Morgan took full advantage of every opportunity available. She completed an internship with the Worcester County District Attorney\u2019s Office, gaining firsthand insight into the legal system. \u201cYou can learn in a classroom, but it really gets put into sight when you are out there doing it.\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Morgan also completed multiple research projects while at Worcester State, including a study on women in criminal justice leadership that involved interviewing female police chiefs across the country.<\/p>\n

Morgan\u2019s involvement extended beyond academics. As part of student government, she participated in a leadership trip to Washington, D.C., an experience that ultimately helped shape her future. \u201cThat was my first time really experiencing the city,\u201d she said. \u201cI just loved it and knew I wanted to move here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now in law school, Morgan sees a clear connection between her undergraduate experience and her current path. \u201cLaw school is all research,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a different type, but I got that experience and now I can use it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue a career in public interest law, with a focus on helping others. \u201cI wanted to continue being a helping hand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For Morgan, Worcester State provided more than an education\u2014it provided access. \u201cAs long as you take every opportunity, you will succeed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Abby MacKay ’25<\/span><\/h3>\n

For Abby MacKay \u201925, the transition from Worcester State to a burgeoning career in the life sciences was paved with hands-on experience and a strong sense of community. A biology major with minors in chemistry and psychobiology, MacKay credits her professional edge to the undergraduate research she conducted alongside her Worcester State professors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did some immunology and genetics research, and that really helped me stand out during the application process,\u201d she said. By diving into these complex topics during her studies, MacKay developed the technical foundation necessary to excel in the competitive biotech landscape.<\/p>\n

Today, she\u2019s putting those skills to work at Charles River Laboratories in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, where she started as a Lab Assistant in the Lab Sciences department and has since been promoted to a Research Analyst role. MacKay\u2019s day-to-day involves supporting the immunology and bioanalytical chemistry departments, ensuring labs are study-ready and assisting with assays. \u201cI\u2019m building a solid foundation for my career here,\u201d she said, noting that she eventually plans to pursue a Master\u2019s degree in biotechnology or biomedical sciences.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her time on campus, MacKay notes that her growth wasn\u2019t limited to the lab. Working at the campus gym for three years helped her step out of her comfort zone and master the communication skills she uses in the workplace today. \u201cIt really helped me get comfortable talking and working with people that I maybe hadn\u2019t worked with before,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n

Beyond the professional preparation, the affordability of Worcester State was a major factor in her success. \u201cI think it\u2019ll definitely be easier for me to pay off my debt and work towards grad school,\u201d MacKay said. \u201cI don\u2019t necessarily have to worry about paying off what I already did and I can just kind of move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emma Polak ’24<\/span><\/h3>\n

Emma Polak\u2019s path to becoming a production engineer at one of the world\u2019s leading pharmaceutical companies wasn\u2019t just shaped by labs and lectures\u2014it was defined by a community that wouldn\u2019t let her give up.<\/p>\n

A biology major with an art minor, Polak now works at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she was promoted to Production Engineer just six months after joining the company. Today, she uses a blend of chemistry and creative problem-solving to refine chemical purification processes. While she admits she once struggled with organic chemistry, the support she received at Worcester State made all the difference. \u201cThe staff and the support that was there for academics really, really helped me,\u201d Polak shared. \u201cI use it every day now, which if you would have told me that as a student, I never would have believed you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polak\u2019s resume was already distinguished before she crossed the graduation stage. Despite starting college during the 2020 lockdowns, she sought out research opportunities early, working with her professors to create virtual lab materials. She even assisted on a project that resulted in a peer-reviewed research article before her senior year.<\/p>\n

Her leadership extended far beyond the lab; Polak served as a Student Trustee, a Presidential Student Ambassador, and a member of the Student Government Association. She credits these roles with giving her the confidence to navigate professional environments early in her career. \u201cIt helped develop those leadership skills…talking to adults and getting to know people in positions of power,\u201d she noted. \u201cYou\u2019re always going to be probably the youngest person in the room. That can be really daunting, but Worcester State helped prepare me to be well-equipped.\u201d<\/p>\n

That preparation has allowed her to stand toe-to-toe with graduates from some of the nation’s most elite institutions. \u201cI was going up against kids from Cornell and WPI,\u201d said Polak. \u201cBut I think the skills and the knowledge that I gained from Worcester State put me on an even playing field. Worcester State is definitely a force to be reckoned with, more than people realize.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now an active member of the Alumni Association\u2019s Advisory Board, Polak is dedicated to giving back to the community that fostered her growth. \u201cIt really is one of those things that you get out what you put in,\u201d she said, \u201cand I definitely put a lot into school, but it was really easy because you just can\u2019t beat the community here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles Bray ’22<\/span><\/h3>\n

Charles Bray \u201922, a clinical research data specialist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, has big plans for his future in medicine. A biotechnology major with a pre-med concentration during his time at Worcester State, Bray began his career in a research lab before transitioning into the clinical research department after just one year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m about to be a senior in my position in about a year or so,\u201d Bray said of his current role. As a member of the Phase I team, he manages trials that often represent the last remaining hope for patients. His work involves coordinating data entry efforts and facilitating vital meetings between pharmaceutical sponsors, physicians, and clinical staff.<\/p>\n

Bray\u2019s interest in the field was solidified during a clinical research internship at McLean Hospital during his time at Worcester State. He noted that the nature of that research\u2014supporting the clinical treatment process while interfacing with diverse stakeholders\u2014closely mirrors his current work.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt McLean, it was companies making wearable devices and technologies to help with psychiatric treatment,\u201d Charles explained. \u201cAnd here at Fox Chase, it\u2019s data used to advance the investigation of clinical trial drugs for cancer patients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Charles is preparing to apply to MD-PhD programs. Originally from Ghana, he maintains a long-term goal of working in global health to improve healthcare infrastructure in his home country and other developing regions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of ways I can make a difference\u2014whether it’s in clinical research or in advocacy and policy,\u201d said Bray. He hopes to conduct analyses of treatment successes and efficacies to inform how laws are written and how funding is allocated.<\/p>\n

Bray attributes much of his professional readiness to the mentorship he found on campus. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe small size of Worcester State allowed me to make much stronger connections with the professors,\u201d he said. \u201cI was able to not just go to them for help with my classwork, but also with career preparation. One of my professors even helped me craft my resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews after I graduated, and I don\u2019t think I would have gotten that at any other place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bray also credits Worcester State\u2019s affordability for allowing him to pursue these ambitious dreams without the burden of significant student loan debt.<\/p>\n

“From a financial standpoint, it was definitely one of the best decisions for me,” Bray said. “As I look ahead to additional school, I don\u2019t have as much in terms of debt that will hold me back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dana Perry ’16<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dana Perry\u2019s path to becoming a senior software quality test engineer at Dell Technologies began with a simple conversation. Already planning to major in computer science, he attended an open house at Worcester State where a business professor encouraged him to add a minor\u2014advice that would help shape his academic and professional trajectory.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember talking with a professor in the business department who really pushed me to pursue the minor,\u201d he recalled. \u201cThat led into a transition that helped set me up for where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perry went on to major in computer science while minoring in business administration, a combination that proved especially valuable when paired with hands-on experience. As a student, he completed an internship that closely aligned with his coursework. \u201cI learned things in my internship that directly related to what we were doing in class and vice versa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The payoff came quickly. By January of his senior year, Perry had already secured a full-time job offer\u2014well before graduation. \u201cIt made the rest of my time at Worcester State a lot less stressful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For Perry, the decision to attend Worcester State also made financial sense. \u201cOne of the biggest factors was the value of the education for the cost,\u201d he said. \u201cI could have gone somewhere else and graduated with about $125,000 in debt. Instead, I chose Worcester State and graduated with about a fifth of that and the education was just as excellent.\u201d<\/p>\n

He credits the university with providing a strong foundation for long-term success. \u201cThe school really gives you the base to go out there and be competitive in the job market,\u201d he said. \u201cThe professors were great about pushing us in the right direction, and the material prepared us well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond academics, Perry\u2019s experience also had a lasting personal impact. The friendships he formed while living on campus remain central to his life today.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still close with a lot of people I met at Worcester State,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m getting married this year, and a lot of them will be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those connections have also given him a unique perspective on the diverse paths his peers have taken. \u201cIt\u2019s really cool to see where Worcester State takes people,\u201d he said. \u201cI have friends from the track team who are mortgage brokers or working in the financial district, and others who went on to earn business degrees from Harvard and Dartmouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Perry remains closely connected to the university, serving as president of the Alumni Association\u2019s Advisory Board\u2014an extension of his commitment to giving back to the institution that helped launch his career. His time at Worcester State still continues to shape his life, he added. \u201cIt really set me up in a great spot,\u201d he said, \u201cboth professionally and personally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monica Bhakhri Figueiredo ’18<\/span><\/h3>\n

Monica Bhakhri Figueiredo has had an impressive professional run since graduating from Worcester State in 2018. She spent four years on Wall Street covering emerging markets at Deutsche Bank before earning her MBA at Dartmouth University\u2019s Tuck School of Business.<\/p>\n

Today, Bhakhri works as a management consultant at Boston Consulting Group, one of the world\u2019s leading global strategy consulting firms.<\/p>\n

\u201cBusinesses, government agencies, and organizations around the world hire us as strategy consultants to help with everything from strategic planning to operations and people strategy,\u201d Monica explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI typically switch cases every few months, which means I\u2019m constantly ramping up on a new topic or industry,\u201d she said. \u201cIt keeps the work exciting\u2014you might be in retail one month and social impact or infrastructure the next. There\u2019s never a dull day.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Bhakhri reflects on her decision to attend Worcester State, she points to the need to balance affordability with staying close to support her family. \u201cI came from a single-mom household, and as the oldest child, I had not only financial constraints to finance my education, but also a responsibility to take care of my family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She also recalls her husband, Daniel Figueiredo \u201915, a fellow Worcester State graduate, speaking highly of the business faculty\u2014something she would soon experience firsthand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most transformative individuals in my life has been Professor Plavin-Masterman,\u201d she said. \u201cIn one of her classes, she mentioned she had her MBA from Tuck. I remember looking it up and thinking, \u2018wow, that\u2019s so impressive,\u2019 and instantly being exposed to a world of possibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

That moment would later shape a major decision in her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I decided I wanted to pursue my MBA, my husband and I were both navigating that process as first-generation students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds,\u201d she said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t really know how to approach it, so we went straight to Professor Plavin-Masterman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her guidance proved invaluable. \u201cShe went above and beyond\u2014helping us through the application process, reviewing our essays, and just being an incredible resource,\u201d Bhakhri said.<\/p>\n

The relationship didn\u2019t end after graduation. \u201cShe came to my Tuck graduation, and we still keep in touch\u2014we have dinner with her and her husband, Chris, a few times a year,\u201d she said. \u201cIf it weren\u2019t for Professor Masterman and my other mentors at Worcester State, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d be where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Bhakhri is paying that support forward, helping others navigate the same path she once did through her involvement in the Adopt-a-Scholar program, which she has been supporting since graduation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy time at Worcester State was made possible through the generosity of so many mentors and scholarship donors, who allowed me to imagine the possibilities a career in business could offer,\u201d she said. \u201cNow my husband and I feel fortunate to pay forward that generosity to the next generation of Lancers \u2013 to help them to dream big and reach their full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Data shows young Lancer alumni are among the most successful in the state\u2019s public college and university systems. The stories of real graduates bring that data to life. How should post-graduation success be defined?  One way is to go by the data: A recent report by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education revealed Worcester State […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17879,"featured_media":2205,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[28,47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-worcester-state-magazine-spring-2026"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Worcester State Graduates are Unlocking Early Career Success | Worcester State University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Data shows young Lancer alumni are among the most successful in the state\u2019s public college and university systems. 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