From Ana Milicevic
(Business Studies, Class of 2004)

“It is great to hear that some really good things are happening at AUR. :) Accreditation and this newsletter for alumni - great job! I left Henkel two months ago. I got an offer to change my job, and I took the opportunity, so now I am working in the marketing team of Berersdorf Belgrade, responsible for Nivea Hair Care and Nivea Bath Care. Awesome job and a lot of interesting learning so far. I simply love it. Working with such nice products has always been my wish, and after some time I am really glad I switched jobs. I am now working and trying to keep up with my social life. This means very little sleeping and relaxing, but I guess there will be time for that as well one day”. – Spring 2008

From Valerie Toedenhoefer
(Business Studies, Class of 2006)

“I have just been accepted into a trainee program as a Future Product Manager at Adidas World of Sports. It is an 18 month program and each of us has to switch departments every three months and go abroad for three months. I had several interviews with them and even had to participate at an Assessment Center. I really like the company and the mentality of Adidas. At the headquarters 50 different nationalities are represented and the house language is English”. – Spring 2008

From Tony Sala
(Business Studies, Class of 2007)

“My first six months out of college have been memorable. I moved back home after 2 amazing years in Italy, with memories that could fill 10 scrapbooks. I met amazing friends, experienced the Italian culture, traveled all over Europe, and experienced a very welcoming environment and a faculty I admire. So I arrived home in awe that my last two years had been such a life changing experience, and asking myself “what now?” The first month I visited and caught up with all the friends and family I had not seen for a couple years. Then it was time to hit the grindstone. I decided it would be a good idea to get a part-time job while searching for what I really wanted to do. I had a friend who worked at a winery that produced Italian wine varietals. I thought it would be a perfect fit for me and applied for a wine educator position in the tasting room. I was told that all the wine educator positions were filled, but was asked if I would like to apply for a job in research and development. I interviewed for this position with the Director of operations and the CEO. I got the job! Since then it has been such a great learning experience. My jobs for the last six months have been: conducting primary & secondary research, creating marketing materials, and learning all aspects of the business including daily operations and production. Recently I have been promoted and have been put in charge of our monthly magazine that goes out to our thousands of club members all over the US. My duties with the magazine include; generating articles, conducting photo shoots, creating ads and graphic design. I have had such an amazing journey so far, and the wine country in California is almost as beautiful as Italy. I look forward to continuing this wild ride”. – Spring 2008

From Mike Park
(Business Studies, Class of 2007)

“As I'm sure you've heard, I'm at the U.S.-Italy Fulbright and so far so good. I'm a sort of "do everything" person, but I am mainly consulted for things dealing with Marketing. We have been working on a brochure to send to sponsors, and after Professors Fitzsimmons and Sonnabend gave feedback about turning it into an eight page booklet, I set off working on a preliminary draft, which has come a long way, and is ready to send to the graphic artists for them to work their magic. I've searched for Fulbrighters currently in Europe with a specialization in International Relations to make a speech with Giuliano Amato (former Minister of Interior). I searched the database for the best candidates, and then wrote a little summary on each which was then sent to him. I worked on the text of the Christmas party message that was sent out to all Fulbrighters and friends of the commission (I believed Professor Fitzsimmons received one). I participate in the Alumni Association meetings and give them my feedback and suggestions.
Currently, I'm updating and modifying the PowerPoint presentation used when commission representatives visit universities and speak to them about the program. One of the employees here is a kind of "IT" person, and wants to expand their website and make it more user friendly and more eye-appealing. Not only am I writing an English version for the site, but I have a list of things I will work on with her concerning the design, or just new features”. - Spring 2008

From Jaden Rocco
(Business Studies, Class of 2007)

Jaden Rocco has accepted a job with Aksia, a research and advisory firm on the hedge fund industry, in New York City. It was a tough decision, because months of interviewing and networking delivered two offers within 48 hours of one another. The other was from Goldman Sachs, in their Operations area. But after six rounds of interviews (six whole days of talking!!) with Aksia, Jaden decided to take that job, as a research analyst. "Since Aksia is a new and small company, I will be working on the same floor as the CEO and partners of the firm, each one of them having between 15- 20 years of investment management experience. It's a great opportunity to learn. The job is right in Manhattan, about a 20 minute walk from my apartment, or two stops on the metro. ” When I began my search back in August, I thought to myself that all I'd need to do is get an interview. I thought my personality and unique stories would be enough to get me a job in investment banking. Eight months later, I now realize that getting a job in this industry takes enormous interview development and preparation. After going through 4 rounds at HSBC, 5 rounds at Goldman, 2 rounds at Alliance Bernstein, 6 rounds at Aksia, and talking to many people in the business, I finally had mastered the art of interviewing enough to land a job. It really took a lot of practice to be able to understand the specific job you're applying for and what they're looking for, market yourself accurately for those specifics, and cover everything that they might throw at you." Congrats, Jaden and best of luck in your new job! – Spring 2008

Adam Linnell
(International Relations, Class of 2007)
Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda

Alumnus Adam Linnell wrote to his International Relations Professors last April to update them on his whereabouts and to catch up with AUR. Here is an extract of his E-mail to Prof. James Walston:
“Since my A.U.R trip to Ghana, which I enjoyed so much I have been eager to visit other African countries so I decided it would be worth it…, and it has been. I am currently a Peace Corps volunteer in northern Uganda working primarily at an I.D.P camp in Gulu but also with local organizations and schools in the area. I am not sure if you have had the opportunity to venture to eastern Africa but I find Uganda to be a very beautiful country and its people kind not to mention gracious hosts. I think Churchill was correct in proclaiming it "the pearl of Africa" (or at least a pearl). Overall, after about a year and two training semesters I can report despite inevitable pitfalls my peace corps (including both semesters of training) experience has been invaluable. Everyday I am taught unique lessons across a broad spectrum of curriculum. Although some topics I have enjoyed over others it certainly has been a year of learning experiences”. - Spring 2008

Derrick Fiedler
(International Relations, Class of 2007)
lectured at AUR on the laws of war

On Monday, April 21, Derrick Fiedler held a lecture for IR students during Prof. Darya Pushkina’s International Law class. The Lecture, titled “Jus in Bello: Law, Morality, War and IndividualSoldiers", tackled the rules of war and the moral and ethical aspects of their application on individual soldiers.
Derrick, who graduated last December and whose thesis was recommended for distinction, has recently been admitted to a highly respected MA multidisciplinary program in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, where he will begin attendance in September 2008. – Spring 2008

Auriol Thomson (International Relations, Class of 1992)

“I am currently living in Cambodia, and working for an International NGO, Concern Worldwide, as the Regional Accountant, this includes responsibility for teams in India, Pakistan, East Timor, Laos, Bangladesh and Cambodia. Prior to this I was based in Liberia, West Africa as the country accountant for two years. So it has been a varied, busy and fascinating four years with plenty of travel. Current projects we are working on include Camp Management for displaced persons in Timor, Cyclone relief in Bangladesh, Health in Laos and Livelihood security in Cambodia”.

Sirin Akrouk
(Business Studies, Class of 2005)

Sirin Akrouk, who graduated in 2005 with a BS in Business Administration, is working for USAID on the Sustainable Development of Business Expansion and Quality (SABEQ) program as a PR & Communications Specialist. So far she is finding it interesting!