Northeastern Next Podcast

Meet Sarela Bliman-Cohen, E'93! The founder of QNEST—Queers Never Experiencing Shame and Traum—she has made a name for herself in the nonprofit community. QNEST strives to support homeless LGBTQ+ in the Boston area. Hear about her career beginnings as an engineer and why she decided to make a change to the nonprofit sector. Learn more about QNEST: https://qnest.org/ QNEST on Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/qnestinc QNEST on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qnest/ QNEST on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@qnest.org QNEST on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/qnest.bsky.social QNEST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qnest_org

Meet Puneet Kohil, Khoury’98! Puneet joins the Northeastern Next podcast to reminisce about the impact the computer science program had on him as an undergraduate, how AI is innovating and changing the tech world, and the striking similarities between Northeastern's co-op program and Rocket Software's NextGen program. 

Meet James Eggers, SSH'12! Currently a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard, James has dedicated his life to serving others. From his time at Teach For America and a Fulbright Scholarship that lead him to teaching English in Brazil, to recently being named a McCain Institute Global Leader, he seems to have done it all—and he's nowhere near finished. Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james1eggers/ All views expressed in this interview are his own.

Meet Kerstin Haskell, DMSB'03! The president of World BioHazTec, Kerstin strives to keep her firm true to its mission—to promote health and safety in an ever-changing world. We'll discuss her Northeastern experience, how World BioHazTec came to be, and why it's important to leverage your personal network. Learn more about BioHazTec: https://worldbiohaztec.com/

Meet Emily White, SSH'05! Emily is the host of the hit podcast "How to Build a Sustainable Music Career and Collect All Revenue Streams," as well as a high-profile public speaker. She joins the Northeastern Next podcast to discuss her beginnings in the music industry, why she started her podcast, and why it's important for members of our university's community to attend a Northeastern-based conference.  Register for this year's Global Leadership Summit in London: https://eventregistration.northeastern.edu/event/gls2026/summary?rt=32XOyQcVU0eIsFjTVZJdnQ&RefId=25marpod Listen to Emily's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-build-a-sustainable-music-career-and-collect/id1561859742

Meet Sara Alaoeasheg, CPS'25! The founder of Lillian Prep, Sara looks to harness what she learned during time at Northeastern and convey it into the principles of her new nonprofit. We'll discuss her co-op experience, her interest in human resources and social work, and the mission of Lillian Prep. Learn more about Lillian Prep: https://www.lilianprep.org/

Meet Meet Shah, MS'19! Drawn to Boston’s powerhouse biotech ecosystem, Meet chose Northeastern to immerse himself where scientific discovery meets real-world execution. After launching his career through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, he focused on one of medicine’s most transformative frontiers: engineering immune cells to fight cancer. Now contributing to next-generation allogeneic cell therapy development at Genentech, Meet works on the manufacturing and process innovations that determine whether breakthrough science can scale to reach patients worldwide. In this episode, we explore how Northeastern’s experiential model shaped his translational mindset, the evolution of cell therapies from autologous to scalable platforms, and what it takes to move cutting-edge research from concept to clinic.

Meet Raymond Tay, MS’24! A transport network engineer, Ray shares his journey from over a decade in the global telecom industry to pursuing a master’s degree at Northeastern University. He discusses how the Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership helped him transition his role, how his perspectives on global connectivity developed, and how AI is transforming the future of telecommunications infrastructure.

Meet Jenny Taconet, MS'25! A data scientist for Meta, Jenny explains the process of how she was hired for one of the most prestigious tech companies in the world. Additionally, she talks about how her experience at the Khoury College of Computer Sciences impacted her professional development, as well as her thoughts on the integration of Al in the workplace.

Meet Scott Kerman, the co-author of the book The Duke: Weekly Conversations with the Last Honest Politician! A comedian, Scott takes us on the journey of his relationship with Governor Michael Dukakis that inspired him to author this book. Plus, we'll talk about the Governor's continued relationship with Northeastern University. Purchase your very own copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Conversations-Politician-Political-Comedian/dp/B0F8881S4G

Meet Helen Russell, DMSB'88! Shortly after graduating, Helen moved to the Bay Area and decided to forge her own path as an entrepreneur. After co-founding Equator Coffee in 1995, she and her team have grown it from a small business in a garage to having their blends sold in Whole Foods and Kroger's—even opening a shop in Snell Library. Plus, Equator Coffee has recently launched the Northeastern Legacy Blend, where a portion of each purchase supports the university and its initiatives.  Purchase Equator Coffee's Northeastern Legacy Blend: https://www.equatorcoffees.com/products/northeastern-university-blend

Meet Maarten Eenkema van Dijk, E’14, MS’15! Maarten has been making an impact in his field since his time at Northeastern—whether it’s by building structures in Hudson Yards, taking a co-op to design luxury villas on the island of Mauritius, or leading the largest recycling systems supplier in North America as they help New York City sort their waste. Additionally, he recounts his experiences at the four Global Leadership Summits that he has attended, and why members of the Northeastern community should consider attending GLS in London this June.  Connect with Maarten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-eenkema-van-dijk-544b678a/ Register for the 2026 Global Leadership Summit: https://eventregistration.northeastern.edu/event/gls2026/summary?RefId=glsweb&rt=32XOyQcVU0eIsFjTVZJdnQ

Meet Elizabeth Gurian, MS’06! Elizabeth was recently named a Charles A. Dana professor of criminology and criminal justice at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. She joins the Northeastern Next podcast to discuss why she chose serial murderers to be her academic focus, why people are drawn to true crime media, and to announce the launch of her data-driven project, the Murder Matrix. Learn more about the Murder Matrix: murdermatrix.com    

Meet Brigham Hyde, S'04! Combining his passion for chemistry with his instinct for business, Brigham co-founded Atropos Health—an AI-driven healthcare company that helps those in the medical field make informed decisions on their patients. In this episode, we'll discuss his Northeastern co-op experience, why he started Atropos Health, and his favorite management style. Learn more about Atropos Health: https://www.atroposhealth.com/

Meet Chloe Gold, Khoury'22! Chloe is currently a product manager for an advertising firm in New York City, and credits her co-op experience with helping her begin her professional career. We'll discuss the impact of being a well-rounded Northeastern student, helping students find the perfect co-op, and what makes a great resume.

Meet Peter McKay, DMSB'86! The CEO of the AI-powered security platform Snyk, Peter was recently named a Boston Globe Tech Power Player for 2025. In this episode, we'll discuss his impactful co-op experience, the best management skills needed to be a CEO, and advice for those looking to start their own venture. Learn more about Peter and Snyk: https://snyk.io/contributors/peter-mckay/

Meet Alex Duffy, E'19! Currently the head of AI for Every, Inc., Alex has a long history with the field. As his career has developed, he has worked his way from teaching children about artificial intelligence at a programming bootcamp to consulting media giants like The New York Times on how to properly instill the technology. We'll discuss his overall Northeastern experience, what initially attracted him to AI, and what AI Diplomacy is. Learn more about Every: https://every.to/ Learn more about Alex and AI: https://alxai.com/ Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-d/ Follow Alex on X: https://x.com/alxai_

Meet Ashley DiLorenzo, AMD'25! About to embark on her professional journey with Disney Cruise Line, Ashley has seen both ends of the spectrum in the entertainment industry—from her time at the Huntington Theater to media giant NBCUniversal. We'll talk about why she chose Northeastern, the skills she learned during her co-op experiences, and how she networked her way to Disney.

Meet Chinonso Morsindi, DMSB'25! A 2025 Compass Award winner, Chinonso made an important impact during her five years on campus. We'll discuss how the co-op laid the foundations for her career aspirations, her involvement with the Black Business Student Association, and her enticing capstone project on economic development in Africa.

Meet Ralph Cabana, BHS'75! Ralph is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his Northeastern Commencement ceremony as a Golden Graduate with his fellow graduates from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. We'll discuss how Northeastern prepared him for his career, how the university has progressed since graduating, and why he is excited to be a Golden Graduate! 

Meet Samuel Akinin, E'16! An accomplished entrepreneur, Samuel's businesses span across the country of Namibia, providing Namibians with everything from easy bank access to affordable housing. Hear how his Northeastern experience influenced him to become an entrepreneur and shaped his business acumen!  Learn about JabuPay: https://www.gojabu.com/ Learn about Atenu Developments: https://www.atenudevelopments.com/ Learn about the ECD Center in Tsumkwe: https://www.instagram.com/atenudevelopments/reel/C6viOzToTHQ/?hl=hu Connect with Samuel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-akinin-97680419/

Meet Jenna Capuzzo, BHS'20, MPH'21, and Alan Sun, DMSB'17, two active members of Northeastern's flourishing young alumni community. We'll discuss their roles in the Young Alumni Advisory Board, how Northeastern prepared them for postgrad life, and the significance of Giving Day and giving back to the university. Connect with Jenna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-capuzzo-mph-cph-1b3936151/ Connect with Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanhsun/ Follow Alan on X: x.com/1AlanSun Follow Alan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1alansun/

Meet Daria Koshkina, MPS'23! An award-winning digital artist, Daria is consistently on the quest to push the boundaries of her art and the digital world through real-life experiences. Learn about her Northeastern experience and how her professors impacted her, the ethics of AI as a digital art form, and her future projects.  Vote for Daria here: http://dhawards.org/dhawards2024/voting/ Visualize Daria's art: https://books.dariakoshkina.com/ Connect with Daria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-koshkina/ Follow Daria: https://www.instagram.com/daria_draw_things/

Meet Alex Eaves, AMD'99 and Derek "Deek" Diedricksen, AMD'00! After many near misses on campus, these two Huskies finally met at the Stoughton Farmers Market where Alex was selling his reuse clothing brand, Stay Vocal. Combining their shared interest in sustainability and Deek's background in building tiny houses, the two created The Box Truck out of an old shipping truck. Learn more about their work in the music industry, what sustainability means to them, and the construction of The Box Truck.  Watch The Box Truck Film: https://www.escapethewaste.com/box-truck-film Watch More Videos About the Reuse Box Truck: https://www.youtube.com/@escapethewaste Attend a Workshop with Deek: relaxshacks.com Connect with Alex: https://www.escapethewaste.com/alex-eaves Connect with Deek: https://www.instagram.com/cabins_treehouses_tiny_houses/

Meet Adrianne Ohnemus, BHS'20! A doctor of physical therapy, Adrianne utilized her Northeastern experience to its full potential—from her engaging co-op experience to curating her skills in Bouvé's simulation lab. We'll discuss her co-op experience, Bouvé's innovative approach to teaching, and her favorite charity, In My Running Shoes.  Learn more about In My Running Shoes: https://inmyrunningshoes.org/ Give to Adrianne's Boston Marathon Fundraiser for In My Running Shoes: https://www.givengain.com/project/adrianne-raising-funds-for-in-my-running-shoes-86039

Meet Bill Brown, CJ'93! Currently working as a history teacher and special education case manager at Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, New Hampshire, Brown has a long history with working with at-risk youths in Massachusetts and making a difference in their lives. We'll discuss his interest in Northeastern's criminal justice program, his experience working with programs like the DMH and DCF, and transitioning into a career in education.

Meet Paul Palmisciano, E'04! After participating in a co-op that was part of Boston's Big Dig project, Paul took his second co-op at Bechtel Corporations—where he was hired full-time and still works to this day. We'll talk about his co-op experiences, his projects and accomplishments at Bechtel, and his favorite career advice. 

Meet Jeanine Hamilton, DMSB'87! As the founder and president of Hire Partnerships in Boston, Jeanine prides herself on finding the perfect job match for each candidate. In this episode, we'll talk about her Northeastern and co-op experience, transitioning from marketing to recruiting, and taking the risk to start your business. Learn more about Hire Partnership 

Tracy Fink, MBA'90 is a business coach, teacher and speaker who is passionate about showing people how to treat themselves as they would their best friend or client. She is the founder of The Tortoise Institute where she consults with companies and organizations to build awareness and leadership practices to boost individual and team effectiveness.  Tracy holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a BA in Psychology from Boston University. She completed a year-long Teacher Certification Program at Search Inside Yourself, the global evidence-based emotional intelligence program engineered at Google. She is a mentor/advisor for the Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship (WISE) at Northeastern University. Tracy enjoys collaborative cooking, adventurous travel, walking in nature, and college football. She is co-host of the podcast “Our Dead Mothers”.  She and her husband live outside of Boston, MA. Listen to Our Dead Mothers here.

Meet Maria Tedesco, MBA'84! The president and COO of Atlantic Union Bank, Maria has a number of accolades to her name—including as a member of American Banker’s 2024 Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance: Women to Watch list. Learn about how she creates a welcoming company culture at Atlantic Union Bank, what advice she has for current undergraduate students, and how she caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady after saying "yes" to a work event.

Meet Dr. Jae Williams, Ph.D.'22! Dr. Jae, currently an Executive in Residence for the Business of Creative Enterprise program at Emerson College, has ambitions to take an innovative approach to teaching and making education inclusive for all. Learn more about his award-winning doctoral thesis, teaching success stories, and his inspirational podcast. Listen to Dr. Jae's Office Hours podcast: https://www.drjaewilliams.com/podcast

Meet George Blitch, SSH'01! George captures Northeastern's entrepreneurial spirit—between starting his own publishing company to document Indigenous Elders, his own cartography company, and his own podcast, George has done it all. Learn more about how George's Northeastern experience inspired him to forge his own paths in life.  Listen to the Son of a Blitch podcast: https://www.sonofablitch.com/podcast.html Learn more about George: https://www.sonofablitch.com/

Meet Howie Newman, S'73! After making his musical debut in 1973 at Northeastern, Howie spent the majority of his career as a professional baseball writer before transitioning to full-time musician. These days, you can find Howie touring around the country and playing his light-hearted at community centers, libraries, and for adults with developmental disabilities.  Learn more about Howie and purchase or stream music: https://www.howienewman.com/

Meet Frank Green, SSH'92! After spending time working for an Irish senator during his time at Northeastern, Frank had a takeaway that would impact the rest of his career—the world is a big place with many different perspectives. Learn about Frank's Northeastern and co-op experiences, his interest in the recruiting process, and why he is excited about the global envoy program.

Meet Amelia Brooks, DMSB'26! In celebration of the 115th anniversary of Northeastern's innovative co-op program, we sat down with Amelia Brooks to learn more about the co-op from the perspective of an enrolled student. We discussed how Northeastern prepares students for their co-ops, what she learned in each of her co-op positions, and how she plans on celebrating the 115th anniversary.  Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ5zYiD0LYc&t=9s

Meet Ashita Chauhan, CPS'19! While studying for her master's in regulatory affairs, Ashita participated in a co-op that gave her the tools to succeed in her current role at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Learn about Ashita's co-op experience, becoming a co-op mentor for undergraduate students, and introducing regulatory affairs to her home country.

Meet Brian Good, MBA'10! The co-founder and CEO of iBorrow, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate lending provider, Brian began his career in law before pivoting towards entrepreneurship. Learn more about obtaining his MBA at Northeastern, building your own business, and how AI will impact the future of real estate. Learn more about iBorrow

Meet Christine Fitzpatrick, AMD'10! Beginning her career in the entertainment industry as a co-op for National Geographic, Christine recently had a "full-circle" moment by releasing her latest project, "Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue", through NatGeo. Tune in to learn more about Christine's exciting Northeastern experience!    Stream "Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue" on Hulu or Disney+ Link to Pristine Seas Special thanks to Mike Barnaby, SSH'10, for his contributions to the "Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue" project

Meet Jared Molton, AMD’10! After beginning his career as a professional magician and managing America's oldest magic shop, Jared transitioned into the tech sphere and is now the vice president of consumer for Udacity. Learn more about his career transition, his favorite and most impactful class at Northeastern, and his memoir of his path from magician to tech executive.    Purchase a copy of "For My Next Trick" Register for classes on Udacity

Meet Cynthia Orofo, BHS'19, Ph.D.'24! After starting Culture Care Collective while enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Northeastern, Cynthia has helped it grow to make an impact on surrounding communities in the Boston area—while garnering recognition as a Women Who Empower Innovator award winner and being named to the Boston Forbes 30 under 30 list. Learn about Culture Care Collective's impact and why Cynthia's nine year Northeastern experience!  Read more about Culture Care Collective: https://culturecareco.com/

Meet Mari Andrade, E'96! Mari has mastered the art of storytelling—learn about how her experiences at General Motors and the Olympic and Paralympic Games have shaped her current career as a messaging and storytelling strategist. Plus, learn tips for self-compassion and how to craft a compelling narrative for yourself!  Connect with Mari: LinkedIn

Meet Sage Antonio, AMD'27! The founder of Sageware Fashion, Sage is an ambassador for how Northeastern's entrepreneurial resources can help you grow your business—learn about their Northeastern experience, growing a business, and the Sherman Venture Co-op.  Shop Sageware Fashion: Website Faire Etsy Follow Sageware Fashion: Instagram   

Meet Meagan Reda, SSH'08! Meagan is one of the top shareholder activism lawyers in the world—learn how her Northeastern internships guided her to career success, her upcoming panel at Harvard, and advice she has for current Northeastern students. 

Meet Steve Stroum, DMSB'73! After a co-op experience that launched his career in sales, Steve started his own business—Venmark International. After helping clients succeed for over four decades, Steve embarked on his latest journey of providing tips for aspiring entrepreneurs in his new memoir "Success and Self-Discovery: A Business Memoir with Insightful Tips and Personal Development Advice that Will Help Any Entrepreneur."  Purchase Steve's book on Amazon

Meet Catherine Argyrople, AMD'21! Catherine's upcoming film, "Growing Pains", premieres at the Boston International Film Festival on April 14. Learn about the inspiration for the film, her global Northeastern experience, and how Northeastern influenced her to become an independent filmmaker. Follow Catherine: Instagram Learn More about "Growing Pains": Instagram Website Get Tickets to the Boston International Film Festival Get Tickets to the Community Premiere

Meet Ammy Lowney, SSH'05! A school teacher by day, Ammy moonlights as one of Boston's most prolific entrepreneurs—the founder of the growing health cafe, JUICYGREENS. Learn more about her favorite Northeastern professors, her plans for expanding JUICYGREENS, and what it feels like to be a Women Who Empower Innovator award winner.  Follow JUICYGREENS on Instagram: @juicygreensboston

Meet David Wyatt, E'88! The president of Wyatt Engineering, David has made a name for himself in his industry through his incredible accomplishments—his most recent being designing the flow meter that helped The Odysseus Lander touch ground on the moon. Learn more about his co-op experience, starting Wyatt Engineering, and being asked to be a part of this mission to the moon. 

Meet Professor Dave Hagen, CJ'80! An associate teaching professor for the College of Professional Studies, Dave wanted to return to give back to the Northeastern community by teaching at his alma mater. His research revolves around what exactly critical thinking is and its different applications in both the world and the classroom. Learn more about his undergraduate experience, what it means to think critically, and the next phase of his research! 

Meet Jack Lovett, SSH'19, MPA'20! An office engineer for the City of Newton, Jack loves representing and helping constituents, as well as Northeastern's young alumni and global community. Learn more from Jack about what your local government can do you for you, what it's like to be a Young Alumni Advisory Board member, and why it's important to be involved in your community.  Connect with Jack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlovett96/

Meet Mike Beaudet, MA'08! An investigative reporter for WCVB and professor of journalism at Northeastern, Mike brings three decades worth of field experience and knowledge to his classes. Learn more about how Mike helps students develop their own voices and stories, his upcoming trip to Peru for Dialogues of Civilizations, and his plans for reinvigorating the concept of local news.  Read the walk signal story from this episode: https://www.wcvb.com/article/in-one-of-americas-most-walkable-city-a-danger-for-pedestrians/34658199 Learn more about Mike's research: https://tvresearch.sites.northeastern.edu/ Learn more about 5 Investigates: https://www.wcvb.com/5-investigates