Alumni Feature
Rob Anderson
Graduation year (from SHU): 2010.
Current title/position: Head of Global Talent
Acquisition, Barracuda Networks, Campbell, Calif.
What Rob is doing: Since 2013, Rob works for
Barracuda Networks, which delivers cloud-connected
solutions that protect organizations like schools, hos-
pitals and small businesses against cyber threats and
data loss. After helping recruiting for and support
BN’s Data Protection division in Ann Arbor, Mich., in
2015 he was asked to move to BN’s headquarters in
Campbell, Calif., where he currently globally manages
all of talent acquisition strategy and execution. His
team specifically operates in California, Michigan,
Georgia, Massachusetts, UK, Austria, India and China.
Most of his time is spent working with Barracuda’s
executives on understanding what the business plans
are and then preparing a hiring plan of action to
support those goals.
My favorite moment/story while a student at
Siena Heights was: Besides waking up at 5 a.m.
for soccer practice? In all seriousness, playing on
the soccer team for four years was one of the best
experiences of my life. I grew very close to all my
teammates and we remain close to this day. Except
now instead of waking up at 5 a.m. to go to the
fieldhouse, we’re waking up to go to each other’s
weddings and baby showers.
My favorite person at Siena Heights was:
I honestly can’t select just one. Everyone from the
Business Program was fantastic: (Sabrina) Terrany,
(Bill) Blackerby and (Claudia) Blanchard, just to name
a few. Oh, and Halo. I’m all about comradery.
Ultimate goal in life: Continue to learn, grow and
leave a positive impact on those around me. You
should never underestimate the impact you have.
My best piece of advice for SHU students is:
Get involved outside the classroom. Whether it’s in
sports, theater or any other campus programs and
activities. SHU is unique. Its smaller size allows you
to establish a great and lasting connection with
professors, coaches and staff. Plug yourself into any
existing campus activities or start your own. You’ll
not only make new friends but you’ll get a lot of
insight from others that can help you decide what
you want to do with your future.
Anh Duong
My favorite moment/story while a student at
Siena Heights was: I like basically everything
about Siena. My most favorite moments would be
the trips with international students, spring trips
with Beta Beta Beta and the Holi Festival. Nina Graham
My favorite person at Siena Heights was:
Fatmy Abed. What Nina is doing: Currently, she is the refriger-
ation lead design engineer for GE Appliances at
Appliance Park in Louisville, Ky. She has received
three bronze and two silver awards for her work.
Ultimate goal in life: I want to be a competent
scientist and able to contribute my knowledge for
finding the cure for cancer.
My best piece of advice for SHU students is:
You don’t have to start big to get to big places.
The water flows from a small stream to get to the
ocean. Big or small school is not important. The
important thing is the knowledge that you will
get and that you work hard for what you want.
Be determined and be patient. Be competitive,
but also be mindful of others.
Graduation year (from SHU): 2010.
Current title/position: Refrigeration Lead Design
Engineer, GE Appliances, Louisville, Ky.
My favorite moment/story while a student
at Siena Heights was: Walking up to accept my
diploma for my BBAM.
My favorite person at Siena Heights was:
Bill Blackerby.
Ultimate goal in life: To succeed.
My best piece of advice for SHU students is:
Work hard and never give up on your dreams.
Travis Mielcarek Rachel Distelrath
Graduation year (from SHU): 2014. Graduation year (from SHU): 2013.
Current title/position: Assurance In-Charge,
Rehmann, Toledo, Ohio Current title/position: Information Technology
Resident, Google, Ann Arbor, Mich.
What Travis is doing: He earned his Master of
Accountancy from Bowling Green State University
after graduating from SHU. In August 2015, he
began working for Rehmann as an external audi tor
in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Rehmann is a
regional public accounting firm with offices in
Michigan, Ohio and Florida. He said he chose
Rehmann because he would be exposed to a
wide range of services and industries, which will
ultimately help him grow in his career. He has
worked with a wide range of clients in industries
such as manufacturing, construction, non-profit
and governmental entities. He also earned his CPA
license in the fall 2016. What Rachel is doing: She provides technical
support for Google employees around the world.
She supports Linux, OS X, Windows, Chrome OS
and Android platforms in addition to network-
based applications, and also troubleshoots
Google’s corporate resources. She also acts as a
liaison between technical and non-technical groups
to enhance Google’s infrastructure and internal
services. She is involved with Google’s training
team as well, crafting orientation plans and assist-
ing with facilitation to ensure immersion in support
infrastructure and technical workflows for new
Google support technicians.
My favorite moment/story while a student
at Siena Heights was: Winning the WHAC
Championship for baseball my sophomore year
(2012) is without a doubt my favorite memory from
my time at Siena Heights. We advanced to compete
in the NAIA Regional Tournament in the Daytona
Beach bracket, which was an unbelievable experi-
ence. That was my favorite team that I have ever
been on and that entire season is a memory that I
will never forget.
Graduation year (from SHU): 2016. My favorite person at Siena Heights was:
Too many to name.
Current title/position: Research Technologist,
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. Ultimate goal in life: To have a happy family and
become a scratch golfer.
What Ayn is doing: She graduated from Siena
Heights in May 2016 and recently received the Re-
search Technologist position at the Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine. Her job involves working with
immunofluorescence staining on cancerous tissue,
which aid in immunotherapy research, or in other
words, how people can use their own immune
systems to fight cancer. My best piece of advice for SHU students is:
Take on internships, because the experience and
professional relationships will be invaluable for your
future career. Go get to know Melissa Growden in
Career Services for help with this. However, also enjoy
your time at SHU because it goes by fast. Take the
time to make memories with your friends while you
are living with them or down the hall from them.
My favorite moment/story while a student at
Siena Heights was: Borrowing a dorm mattress to
go sledding on a snow day, and making the front
page of the Daily Telegram for it.
My favorite person at Siena Heights was:
Sam Abraham.
Ultimate goal in life: To be happy and make a
positive difference.
My best piece of advice for SHU students is:
Enjoy living in close proximity to your friends!
Make the most of your time at Siena—get involved,
study hard, have some Spotted Cow and enjoy
making memories along the way.
Reflections Summer ’17 | 21