Megan Miller '13
Q: Tell us about your career path and where you are today.
My career path has been more of a jungle gym than a set path. I graduated from CAS-Maxwell with a double-major in International Relations and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture, and started working for a healthcare consulting firm in the DC area shortly after graduating. I then changed paths and became an IT project member for a federal consulting firm, went back to the private sector to work as an IT Project Manager, and then started my own business in 2020! I do some freelance IT work, and am focused on being a Spanish language coach and translator with Aprovechar Language Solutions.
Q: How did your SU experience prepare you for your career?
Whether I was behind the deli counter at Schine, in the CAS Advising Office, or in a classroom, I worked hard at SU, and was constantly surrounded by some of the brightest minds. This means that whether I'm in a boardroom or behind a webcam, I'm able to listen, learn, and come to a solution for everyone.
Q: Looking back, what SU experiences have been the most meaningful to you?
My semesters off-campus in Madrid and Washington, DC, provided the most growth and clarity for what I'd want out of a career and out of my life. Being a part of the SU Semester in DC provided me with an inside view to a previously unknown city, and ultimately was a deciding factor for where I moved after graduation.
Q: Why do you feel that it is important to remain connected to the alumni network and the University?
Because the Syracuse network is so large and so vast, it provides the breadth and depth we all need at times to move forward in our careers. l remember doing informational interviews and networking events with other grads, and they gave me really useful advice in 20 minutes that I would have spent six months finding for myself.
Q: What advice would you give students?
Stay connected! Networks are meant to be nourished, not abused. Do your homework, try your best, and maintain a constant web of support around you: this can be friends, family, significant others, and of course, other grads! Anyone can do great things with a little bit of curiosity, grit, and some amazing role models.
Q: Why is it important for young alumni to stay involved with the university after graduation?
Personally after graduation, I had a bit of a "quarter-life crisis", where I didn't know how I fit into the world. I flip-flopped between IT consulting, educational technology, and going back to my roots in Spanish or diplomacy. Being able to talk with other grads and know that I wasn't alone was crucial, and I was able to cultivate a support network that ultimately resulted in an exhilarating leap into the entrepreneur space. We may not know where our career paths will take us, but we do know that we can't do it alone. SU is full of kind, smart, vibrant, and generous people - take advantage of it!