Meet the Students of SGS
Nathan Baker
Master's in Community Health Education
After Nathan Baker graduated from SUNY Cortland with his BSED in Physical Education, he thought his career would be set. He’d land a job and start doing what he loves best: teaching and coaching kids. “I applied for a job right out of school, but I didn’t get it,” Nathan says. “The guy who beat me out had an undergrad degree in phys ed and a master’s in health.” Nathan applied to other schools, but couldn’t find a full-time position. So he began a long slog as a substitute teacher. “I realized that even though I’m a good teacher—everyone praised my work with the kids—there was one big gap in my education: the health education certificate.” Discouraged, Nathan briefly left education to work as a loan officer for a mortgage company. “It was good money, but I didn’t enjoy myself,” he says. “I’m so much happier in a school setting teaching the kids and coaching soccer.” “It’s like I was stuck with a big wall standing in front of me,” he recalls. “Somehow I had to break through.” For Nathan, the key to the locked door was a master's in Community Health Education from Sage. “The master’s degree makes me more marketable and gives me more career versatility.” “Sage will give me a clear advantage over other applicants. I’m absolutely confident I’ll find the right job.”
Mariamma "Nima" Jose
Master's in Occupational Therapy
Nima Jose could have gone anywhere to earn her master’s in Occupational Therapy. But after four years as a Russell Sage undergrad, she couldn’t imagine going anywhere else but Sage. “You just have more of a relationship with your professors here,” she says. “Classes are more like passionate discussions. You feel comfortable voicing your opinion. And if you don’t grasp a concept, you just raise your hand and say, ‘Hey wait a minute, I don’t understand.” It is this intimate, open learning environment that is preparing Nima for her life’s goal: to become an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics. She chose the pediatric route after an off-campus observation at Whispering Pines Pre-School. What she saw there left an indelible impression: “I saw how incredibly excited the children were to be with their therapist. The bond between them was such an eye-opener for me. I knew right then I wanted to work with children.” The Sage emphasis on hands-on learning has been an important learning tool for Nima. “You can read about issues and learn from class discussions, but until you experience children with sensory integration problems, tactile defensiveness or oral motor issues, you’ll never really grasp the therapy techniques. To see the children is so much more valuable than just learning through textbooks.” Now she’s well on her way to her Occupational Therapy master’s. “I enjoy my classes so much,” she says. “I get so into the discussions—it almost feels like a therapy session. I know that I will be a better occupational therapist because I’m learning in small classes.”
Dakota Alvarez
Master’s in Guidance and Counseling
I saw early retirement not as the end of one career but as the beginning of another. Sage helped me make that transition. I have a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, and my first career was in law enforcement, working for agencies such as the NYPD and NYS Corrections. Now my master’s degree from Sage will kick off my second career: as an inner-city high school guidance counselor. The most valuable part of my education at Sage has been my year-long internship at Troy Alternate Learning Center, working with inner-city students in grades 7-12 who are unable to succeed in traditional learning environments. I have counseled students, individually and in groups, had a lot of contact with the parents as well as the kids, and often worked hand-in-hand with the principal. My background in law enforcement gives me insight into the pressures that push troubled youth toward the wrong side of the law. Now, with the abilities and skills I’ve developed at Sage, I can guide at-risk students through the education system and counsel them on ways to overcome their disadvantages to succeed both in school and in life. I have enjoyed Sage tremendously. I’d like to return here as a teacher someday.
Thomas Faulkner
Master’s in Literacy Education
I knew that Sage was the right choice for me when I first visited campus. I met with a faculty member, and we talked about our profession: teaching. She made me feel comfortable as a life-long learner and an educator. I have a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and have been a teacher for several years. But I knew that in order to become a better teacher, I had to become a better reading teacher, because all education starts with reading. So I came to Sage for a master’s in Literacy Education. The program’s greatest resource is its faculty. They make sure you develop the skills and abilities you need to apply your learning in new ways. I knew teaching strategies for everything except reading. At Sage, I’ve learned those strategies and have been able to apply them every day to my work with my elementary school students.
Andrea Hurin
Doctorate in Physical Therapy
Sage was the first, last and only college I toured. I have wanted to be a physical therapist ever since I volunteered at a physical therapy clinic in my hometown of Hudson, N.Y. during high school. When I attended orientation at Russell Sage and met the faculty and staff, I was sold by their professionalism and personal attention. So I applied early decision and was offered the Science Rehabilitation Scholarship to attend. I majored in Biopsychology at Russell Sage, and then entered Sage Graduate School through the accelerated PT program. The best thing about the program is the faculty. They are talented PTs and dedicated to our success, and the hands-on clinical experiences I have had in different health care settings has been extremely rewarding. I like the challenge Sage and this program give me. If you can do well in this, you can do well in anything. Once I graduate with my Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy, I plan to work with patients with neurological disorders, and Sage has given me the confidence to know that I will succeed and make a difference.
Nathan Mosher
Doctorate in Physical Therapy
When my career goals changed, Sage was right there, helping me succeed every step of the way. After college, where I earned a bachelor’s in Health Science, I thought I wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor. But through experience as a fitness trainer and a year in a post-bachelor’s pre-med program, I discovered that I was more interested in treating ailments with rehabilitation rather than drugs or surgery. Physical therapy seemed like the perfect choice. I began searching for a good graduate PT program, preferably in New York state, and discovered Sage Graduate School practically on my doorstep. I was impressed with Sage’s reputation as a top-notch school with a strong curriculum and with the great pass rates that Sage PT grads have on the state licensure exam. I started at SGS in the fall of 2003, and the program is great. It’s busy and there’s a lot of work, but I believe you have to work hard to be satisfied with your achievements. My fellow students in the program are one of Sage’s greatest strengths, and really make the program and the experience what it is. We all have a good rapport with each other, and there’s no competition — just cooperation and encouragement.
