TJ Alumni Conversation Series

Harrison Yan - STEM after TJ

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman, Harrison Yan) — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +0000

Harrison Yan graduated from TJ in 2015. Since then, he has used his talents to become an emerging leader in the tech and robotics industry. As of this recording, Harrison works as an Infotainment Project Manager at Mercedez-Benz, and—in true TJ fashion—he has started his own company connected to automated filmmaking. Harrison is a perfect example of how our liberal arts foundation can set anyone up for future success.

Rayman Solomon-Dean Emeritus at Rutgers Law School

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman, Rayman Solomon) — Wed, 5 May 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Rayman Solomon is a current professor and Dean Emeritus at Rutgers Law School in Camden, NJ. He also served as Dean of the Law School for 16 years working to hire faculty, expand programs, and reconnect with alumni. Prior to Rutgers, Dr. Solomon was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Curriculum at Northwestern University School of Law. A wonderful example of a TJ graduate making a major impact, we talk about mentoring, creating change, making an impact, and—of course—TJ history.

Loni Mahanta - Tech and Policy in a Changing World

podcast@tjs.org (Loni Mahanta, Matthew Troutman) — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In an incredibly fun and interesting conversation, we catch up with Loni Mahanta to discuss her time at and after TJ. She shares advice to a younger self and talks about some of the interesting topics she focuses on, including the connection between tech, critical thinking, and policy.

Beverly "Porky" Pitts - TJ's Reunion Attendance Leader

podcast@tjs.org (Beverly Pitts, Matthew Troutman) — Wed, 7 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In an enjoyable conversation, we sit down to hear the story of Beverly "Porky" Pitts. Mr. Pitts is a TJ alumnus and went on to Harvard with a number of other TJ grads. He came back to connect with his classmates after starting the TJ Alumni Association. We hear the story of how he found TJ, what classes and life was like, and hear about his brief college football career.

Michelle Ermatinger-Salas - Resilience, Service, "Dig In" Mindset

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Michelle Ermatinger-Salas graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 2008. She was a three-sport Varsity athlete and awarded the Arete Award her senior year. She attended Ursinus College and designed her major: Renaissance Studies. During college, she volunteered with a local Fire Department while attending the Fire Academy and eventually worked as an Emergency Medical Technician. After 8years in public service, she left to focus on her health after a severe car accident. Currently, Michelle works as a Title I Paraprofessional in an elementary school and owns and operates her own business with the support of her significant other, and is expanding and rebranding that company. She still lives in Indiana with her fiancé, Brent, a Fire Marshal, and her stepdaughter, Ava. She is in regular communication with TJ alumni, including her best friends Ojoyi Agbo ('08), Rue Tsoka ('08), and Ravelle Lucero ('10)!

Paul Messina - Helping Humanity with Science and Computing

podcast@tjs.org (Thomas Jefferson School) — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Dr. Paul Messina, just like me, is a math and science geek. Paul is also an amazing example of a TJ graduate. He's very modest, but he has done incredible work in the field of computing and science research. He's worked at Cal Tech, JPL, and Argonne National Laboratory. His story about how he found TJ is also just as fascinating as his distinguished career. We talk about the early days of research and computing, TJ's impact on his life and career, and how one passes the time on a United Fruit Company boat from the US to Panama. (No surprise, the answer is books.)

Liat Roth - Dancing Through a Pandemic

podcast@tjs.org (Thomas Jefferson School) — Wed, 3 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000

All TJ graduates have an interesting story. Liat Roth ('17) is no exception. As the daughter of a faculty member, Liat has an interesting "road to TJ." After graduating, she went to UMKC to study dance, where she is currently adapting to a pandemic. Flexible (figuratively and literally), creative, and thoughtful, Liat is another example of an alumna who makes TJ proud.

Hall McAdams - A Unique Career Path After TJ

podcast@tjs.org (Thomas Jefferson School) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Hall, a graduate of TJ from the 60s, has had an interesting career after graduation. An alumnus and former board member, he has stayed connected to TJ for decades. Hall is a great example of someone who impacted his local community, and has continued to live the mission of lifting up the world with beauty and intellect.

Sara Halili - An Unusual Way to Find TJ, then Paying it Forward

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman, Sara Halili) — Wed, 6 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Sara is an amazing example of a younger alumna who is starting the first steps into an amazing career. A junior at Smith College during recording, Sara is already able to reflect back at how TJ shaped her life and career.

Art Vibulakaopun - Find Who You Admire, Follow Them, Then Pay it Forward

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman, Art Vibulakaopun) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:00:00 +0000

You can find out more about Art at his website: https://artvibulakaopun.com/

Jimmy Holloran - The Lasting Impact of TJ's Community Culture

podcast@tjs.org (Jimmy Holloran, Matthew Troutman) — Wed, 2 Dec 2020 15:00:00 +0000

Joined by Jimmy Holloran, we discuss the impact of TJ's community post-graduation. We know what the strongest possible academic background means for someone's career, but in this conversation we explore how the feeling of a learning community carries through life.

Jim Pesek - The Global Perspective of a TJ Alumnus and Teacher

podcast@tjs.org (Jim Pesek, Matthew Troutman) — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:49:26 +0000

In this episode we hear from Jim Pesek, an alumnus and current faculty member and the Director of Service Learning and Global Citizenship. With a unique experience at and after TJ, we're so lucky to have Mr. Pesek as a member of the TJ faculty.

Jane Roth - Guiding the TJ Curriculum

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman, Jane Roth) — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0000

This conversation with Jane Roth, Director of Academics at TJ is wide ranging. From how she found TJ to how we think about educating high-ability students, there is a lot covered in this conversation.

TJ Alumni Conversation Series Teaser

podcast@tjs.org (Matthew Troutman) — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 22:45:42 +0000

TJ has a number of stories to explore. As we look ahead to our next 75 years of the school's history, this series will take a look back at the past 75. We'll interview alumni to hear about their TJ journey: before, during, and after.