Joining SPH ‘Was a No-Brainer’.
Joining SPH ‘Was a No-Brainer’
Marie Daniel, career advisor and relationship manager, guides MS and MPH students as they prepare for post-graduate positions in data analysis, research, and more.
Marie Daniel started connecting School of Public Health students to post-graduate career opportunities even before she became a career advisor and relationship manager in the Career & Practicum Office.
As a recruiter at Boston Children’s Hospital, she would frequently seek resumes from MPH students for research positions.
“When I presented the resumes to the principal investigators, they would always have a challenging time picking one student over another because of the quality of the students that we have,” says Daniel. “So when the opportunity came for me to join SPH, it was a no-brainer to transition into this role.”
Now, Daniel just celebrated her fourth year in the Career & Practicum Office, where she splits her time between providing career guidance to students, and building relationships with employers. She works closely with students completing the MPH epidemiology and biostatistics certificate, as well as the Master of Science programs, throughout their entire post-graduate job application process—from identifying ideal positions and tailoring resumes, to job interview preparation and salary negotiation.
Continuous relationship-building with local, national, and global companies, organizations, and agencies is a crucial component of her job, Daniel says.
“Since we provide concentration-specific advising in the office, we need to understand the industries that we’re working with and maintain a pulse on what’s going on in those sectors,” says Daniel. “It’s important to maintain relationships with employers, particularly with alums, because they are the people who will know about job openings within their group or institution, and will reach out to us to seek graduates or interns.”
These relationships proved especially valuable after the COVID-19 pandemic brought job searches to a standstill in March and April.
“When COVID first hit, there were literally no jobs available on the market—it was a little scary,” says Daniel. “But we were able to reach out to employers that we work closely with, to ask about any positions or send referrals. When the job market began to open again, there were definitely a lot of positions that matched the skills of our students, at DPH [Massachusetts Department of Public Health], at institutions, and in the industry.”
The most common positions that students pursue are data or research-focused, such as biostatisticians, clinical research coordinators, and research associates, but the pandemic has also expanded the job market and provided unique opportunities for graduating students, Daniel says.
“Employers who would normally not consider our epidemiology and biostatistics students became more open to hiring them because of the value they bring on research or data analysis, or just broad knowledge from the classroom,” says Daniel.
Outside of the Career & Practicum Office, Daniel also serves as a trustee for Youth Enrichment Services (YES), a nonprofit organization that provides affordable, sports-based youth development and leadership programming for Boston children and teens. At Wheelock College, she also volunteers as a mentor for the College Access & Student Success (CASS) Programs, which offers outreach programs and research opportunities for low-income and first generation students, English Language Learners, students of color, and students with disabilities.
“I’m a first-generation college graduate, and I remember not having a lot of support myself,” says Daniel. “It wasn’t because my family couldn’t support me, they just didn’t know. I am so lucky to be able to provide guidance and support to students.”