Michelle Fage (Class of 2002)

What made you come to RSC?
I had a friend that was a student at RSC. She encouraged me to apply for a scholarship while I was in high school (Student Sage Scholarship). I was awarded the scholarship and decided to visit RSC one more time. Upon arriving at RSC for my second campus visit, I was greeted by students that were obviously excited to be at the College!
I spent a weekend on campus and felt completely comfortable and realized then that RSC was going to be my home for the next 4 years. What does this program offer you that will give you a competitive edge in the workplace? The business program at RSC allowed me to learn things both in and out of the classroom. From analyzing spreadsheets to learning how to
deal with different personalities in the workplace, each class I took truly prepared me for my career. I also learned many things about the business world through the two internships I took part in my junior and senior years at RSC. The structure of the curriculum allowed me to take varied classes, each teaching me different things about both large organizations and small businesses. What are you doing now? I am currently working as the Office Manager/Sales Assistant for ASA Events in Marina del Rey, CA. ASA Events is the largest action sports event and television production company in the U.S. The company develops, manages and executes over 250 events annually in skateboarding, freestyle BMX, FMX, and inline skating, ranging from large-scale competitions like the World Championships and Action Sports Championships to a variety of smaller grassroots demonstrations, tours and exhibitions. ASA Events also distributes more than 120 network television programs each year that highlight the world of action sports and its athletes. Write one or two sentences that you would communicate to a high school student thinking about the business program at RSC. The support I received from faculty and administration in the Business Department definitely made a difference in my educational experience compared to my friends that attended large universities. The low student to faculty ratio was a major plus when it came to the attention I received as a Business student. The experiences I gained from Russell Sage College allowed me to develop as a business woman and definitely prepared me for life after college.

Laura Barshefsky (Class of 2007—Business major)

What made you come to RSC? I chose RSC because I wanted to come to a school where I wouldn't get lost in the crowd, but where my relationships with my professors was more than just a name in their grade book. I enjoy the one-on-one communication I have with every teacher and how they not only know my name, but about aspects of my life outside of the classroom. This makes me thing of a story my friend told me last year. She attends a state university with 8,000 or 9,000 students in each class. She is in lectures halls with a couple hundred students. Near the end of the semester she needed help on an assignment and made an appointment with her professor for a non-class time meeting. She told me that when she began talking to him it felt like he was a celebrity because she had not once communicated one on one with him the whole semester, but had rather just observed his lectures. I would never want my college experience to be like that. What does this program offer you that will give you a competitive edge in the workplace? It offers an array of classes, viewpoints, and topics that give students a large overview of what life in the workplace can be like. I feel classes like Conflict Management and Mediation and all the social responsibility classes are wonderful because of their uniqueness to Sage. To be completely honest, I have carried what I've learned in these classes and really implemented them into my everyday life. They are not just "straight from the textbook" classes, but rather classes that teach you about life and possible situations that you will face in places other than at work. Write one or two sentences that you would communicate to a high school student thinking about the business program at RSC. After only two years in the program I truly feel like I have gained a great deal of knowledge not only in the realm of business, but in life as well. I find myself questioning a lot more than I had in the past and now realize that change is not necessarily a bad thing. People can live being socially responsible and ethical while still obtaining high levels of success.

Sarah Galimore (Class of 2004)

What made you come to RSC? The reputation of the institution, the comfortable atmosphere on campus and its convenient location. What does this program offer you that will give you a competitive edge in the workplace? The quality of the students creates an environment that propels you to higher levels of academic excellence. There is also sincere dedication to provided students opportunities for real world professional development through out the four years of study. What are you doing now? I am working in economic development, an exciting field that suits me professionally and personally. I am the Director of Economic Development for the Rensselaer Gateway Development Corporation, located in Troy, NY. Write one or two sentences that you would communicate to a high school student thinking about the business program at RSC. Be ready to step outside of your comfort zone, explore new concepts and experience the melding of traditional B-school instruction with challenging non-traditional educational style.

Student Testimonials

Quotes from students enrolled in BUS348-Special Topics: Conflict Management & Social Responsibility in the Spring 2002 semester prior to New York State's Department of Education's approval of the degree in Business and Organizational Management:

Roni Schneider (Class of 2002-Business major)

"It is not every day that you take a class where you can apply what you learned to situations in your life, present and future. You can apply what you learned into your work, family, and social life. The class was empowering. Knowing you can be the doer is a great feeling."

Amy Danieli (Class of 2002-Business major)

"The feeling of DOING as opposed to just KNOWING was what had the most dramatic impact on me."

Dody Owens (Class of 2002-Business major)

"The class has changed the way I think about business and their obligation to society. It has helped me learn that none of us is powerless to make change and that it doesn't have to be of global proportions to be effective. The Social Action Day activity helped raise public awareness and if we can change the way people view certain situations, it is the first step in changing behavior."

Kristen Lemanski (Class of 2003-Business major)

"The class worked to inspire me to inspire others and create change. It helped by offering examples of how organizations are responsible and are still able to make a profit. The course material opens your eyes to the world around you. It illustrates the effects of capitalism on society. It offered great resources. The open discussions, videos and Social Action Day helped to make everything 'more real'. It taught me to examine the world and not accept scripts."

Nicole Hanks (Class of 2004-Business major)

"Social Action Day was held on April 23, 2002. This was a great day for the Sage community a well as for our class. It was a time to learn as well as to teach others the importance of being socially responsible."

Karla Washington (Class of 2003-Psychology major)

"In the process of taking this class I have been able to look at the world differently. I want to become more socially responsible; I want my family and friends to become more socially responsible. I've come to realize that if I don't change my way of thinking, I am making the world a harder place to live in-I am helping to continue poverty, racism and the lack of respect for human rights. This is a tough idea to deal with."

Gari Lynn Carver (Class of 2003-Psychology major)

"I feel after learning about all of the oppression in Mexico that I want to help. Because of this class I feel like I CAN help. That is important because you always hear about horrible things in the news and you get depressed because you can't do anything. But now I realize we can do something; I feel more empowered."

Jennifer Hart (Class of 2002-Business major)

"The primary course objective was to open students' minds on different topics surrounding conflict and social responsibility. As a business student I am very business minded; however, this class has made me more aware of the truth about many businesses as well as the environment. The Korten book* was like a rude, sarcastic awakening. The Roddick book* brought these images to life. Zen at Work brought these ideas to my center and taught me that in order to make change you need to be comfortable with yourself."

Veneshia Smith (Class of 2003-Psychology major)

"In class I learned how to deal with people and problems as they arise. This worked for me; I now see people in a different light. I am more open to listening to what people say and not shut them out." *Korten, David, When Corporations Rule the World
Roddick Anita, Take It Personally.