The newest members of the University’s Alumni Society include six from the Class of 2026 entering the world fueled by an education that is uniquely and unmistakably “Scranton.” These uncommonly accomplished Royals have been accepted to some of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious firms, doctoral programs and residency programs. Read on to learn more about these newly-minted alumni.
Successful Internship Leads To Banking Job
Not long after Sophia Ciabattoni walked off the stage with her diploma at commencement in May, she began working for one of the Big Four accounting firms. Ciabattoni landed the position of audit associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers following an internship with the global services firm in the winter of 2025-2026. Only a select number of interns are offered full-time positions, and the internships themselves are competitive, with about 1,400 interns accepted from tens of thousands of applicants.
When Ciabattoni applied for the internship, she said she did not expect anything to materialize. But within a week, a recruiter called, and before long she was in a series of interviews. The University’s chapter of the international Beta Alpha Psi honor society “was incredibly helpful” in honing interview skills that she believes got her the job offer. “If you are well prepared for the interview, it will get you to the next step,” she said.
While she ultimately didn’t find the PricewaterhouseCoopers internship through networking, Ciabattoni says she went on “every single” networking trip offered through the University, meeting many seasoned professionals, including alumni. “It’s very special to have alumni who want to get to know you and want you to succeed,” she said.
At PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ciabattoni is working in Banking and Capital Markets, auditing financials for a large bank.
Taking A Deep Dive Into Behavior Research
St. Louis, Missouri, is a long way from Scranton, but a prestigious doctoral program in the Gateway City is at the heart of Erica Czerwinski’s academic career. She is one of a select number of applicants accepted into the coveted Brain, Behavior and cognition Ph.D. Program at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), a private research university with whom 26 Nobel laureates are affiliated.
On the recommendation of Scranton faculty mentor Jill Warker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Czerwinski applied to WashU, where she is one of just 12 applicants accepted to the Ph.D. program. Czerwinski says her application was strengthened by “the University’s flexibility in allowing students to participate in multiple intensive honors programs” and “the opportunity to do lots of research as an undergraduate.” The WashU faculty mentor was particularly impressed by Czerwinski’s research project studying the effect of different types of lies on destination memory, and that the University Honors Program required an oral defense of her thesis at an undergraduate level.
Even after graduation, Czerwinski continues academic pursuits with Scranton professors. Working alongside Dr. Warker, she is preparing her thesis for publication and submitted an abstract to present a poster at a professional conference in November. She will also be presenting two posters with John Norcross, Ph.D., distinguished professor of psychology, at the American Psychology Association conference in August.
From Patient To Person-Centered Practitioner
After physical therapy treatments for a sports injury in high school, Kieran McCormack discovered a calling to help others. This experience, coupled with a love of sports and a leaning toward his faith, got him thinking in very specific ways about a career path.
“Scranton’s faith-based focus figured heavily into my decision to come here,” said McCormack. After completing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2023, he entered the physical therapy program, graduating in May.
In September, McCormack’s ambitions will come to fruition as he joins AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida, for a job as a physical therapist before beginning a one-year sports residency in December. McCormack is one of only two accepted into the residency program at AdventHealth, Orlando.
The interview process was rigorous and involved a panel of six staff members from various departments and clinical sites. To prepare for the interview, he leaned into the Scranton community, participating in mock interviews with fellow DPT classmates and learning from faculty who were eager to help. “I feel like Scranton prepared me to be strong in all fields of physical therapy,” he said. A clinical internship that McCormack completed this spring with the San Francisco Giants in Arizona was “hugely helpful” in gaining relevant experience.
A Brilliant Beginning In Business Analytics
When Joseph Mazich was selected for an internship with Tiffany and Co. in the summer of 2025, he was one of just .003 percent of applicants accepted to the elite program. On the first day of orientation, the C-suite of executives told the interns that their acceptance was more selective than a Tiffany diamond itself, adding that only .004 percent of diamonds in the world are selected by Tiffany for their products.
During the internship, Mazich discovered a passion for working in the luxury retail industry and applied to Tiffany for a full-time position. “Within the first five minutes of the interview, they told me that my business analytics major made my application stand out,” he says.
“The whole support system at Scranton – from faculty and friends to knowledge and experiences – has really set me up for success.”— Joseph Mazich ’26
One interview led to another, and a job offer followed for the position of analyst in the Global Client Development and Performance group in New York City. In this role, Mazich is analyzing data from Tiffany boutiques and stores globally to determine how best to market to specific clientele.
Mazich credits his successful interview at Tiffany to techniques learned through the University’s chapter of the international Beta Alpha Psi honor society, as well as skills taught in the Business 150 class. “The whole support system at Scranton – from faculty and friends to knowledge and experiences – has really set me up for success,” he said.
A Passion For Pediatrics
Jordyn Rumsey’s senior year looked a little different than that of many college students. With a proactive hire offer in place, Rumsey entered her senior year with a job as a nurse resident and, by spring, a post-graduation job offer as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse resident at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), one of the top ten children’s hospitals in the U.S. and the primary pediatric training facility for the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
It is a full-circle moment for Rumsey, whose love for helping others and the sciences led her to pursue a career in nursing. During her studies at Scranton, she discovered a passion for pediatrics from Professor Laurie Barrett Valunas, faculty specialist in nursing who “helped me realize that I want to work with the pediatric population and help children and their families through difficult moments,” she said.
Rumsey completed an externship at CHOP in the PICU and emergency room in the summer of 2025. She was one of just nine candidates selected from a pool of 25. during her one-year residency, which begins this fall, Rumsey will be paired with a preceptor and will work on an evidence-based practice project that will be presented to colleagues. “It’s such a great opportunity,” Rumsey said of the residency.
A Scranton Family Legacy Of Veterinarians
Maria Spinelli begins her Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD) studies at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) this fall as one of only 133 accepted from a pool of 1,60 0 applicants accepted to UPenn’s Ivy League veterinary school. Of the 12 schools to which Spinelli applied to pursue studies in veterinary medicine, she was accepted to eight.
Spinelli was drawn to UPenn because of the school’s reputation for having some of the highest caseloads in both large and small animals. This, she says, aligns with her interest in treating a variety of conditions across various species.
“I have a soft spot for small animals but also have a background in 4-H and large animals,” said Spinelli, who is considering a career in a mixed animal general practice after completion of the four-year VMD program.
Scranton was an ideal fit for Spinelli’s academic career goals. “The classes offered helped prepare me to fulfill the prerequisites for veterinary school,” she said. When Spinelli was applying to veterinary schools, professors offered their support in the process and wrote letters of recommendation. Through the student-run Pre-Vet Club, she had the opportunity to hear from upper class students and local veterinarians who shared their advice.
Spinelli also received expert guidance about her chosen profession from sources closer to home. Both her mother, Beth Nebzydoski Spinelli VMD, ’99, and grandfather, Henry Nebzydoski VMD, ’68, earned degrees from Scranton and UPenn veterinary school.
