Gagliardi Career Panel Connects RWU Math and Science Students with Alumni Mentors

October 31, 2025By Kelly Brinza

RWU alumni representing careers in biotechnology, data science, engineering, and public health returned to Roger Williams University for the annual Gagliardi Career Panel, sharing insights on how their RWU experiences shaped their professional success.

BRISTOL, R.I. - For more than a decade, the annual Gagliardi Career Panel has helped Roger Williams University math and science students explore pathways beyond the classroom by connecting them with alumni working in research, health care, engineering, and biotechnology.

Earlier in October, alumni returned to campus to share their career journeys and offer insight about how experiences at RWU helped shape their professional success.

"The goal of this event really is to give students interested in the science and medical fields a better sense of the range of professional opportunities that are available," said RWU Board Member Chris Gagliardi.

"Students get to hear from the alumni panel about their experiences at RWU, how those experiences have informed their career path," said Cliff Murphy, RWU Associate Professor of Chemistry. "They come away with these stories at the front of mind and can then meet with their academic advisors to talk about how to incorporate similar experiences within their own academic trajectories."

During the Gagliardi Career Panel in the Marine and Natural Sciences building, RWU alumni engaged with students about navigating college, building networks, and applying classroom learning to real-world scientific careers.

The event was established through a gift from the Gagliardi family. The donation also helped launch the Gagliardi Distinguished Lecture Series, which has since brought world-renowned scientists to campus, including Nobel laureates Roald Hoffman and Carolyn Bertozzi.

Gagliardi, who earned a B.S. in Biologyand a B.S. in Chemistryfrom RWU in 2007, was a former research student under Professor Emeritus Cliff Timpson. He then went on to earn his doctorate and build a career that spans academia, consulting, and biotechnology. Now a principal at Sanofi Ventures, he focuses on investing in early-stage biotech and digital health companies.

This year's panel featured five alumni representing a diverse range of scientific careers.

Applying Science to Public Health

Jane Pellegren '11 earned a B.S. in Mathematicsfrom RWU. Now a data analyst for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, she shared how mathematics led her into biostatistics and epidemiology. "A huge part of my job is taking really advanced statistical information and being able to talk to people who range in expertise," she said. "My advice to students is to take classes outside your major because those communication skills matter."

Engineering and Networking

Charles Flynn '17, who earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineeringfrom RWU, is now at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport. He urged students to value relationships as much as academics. "The people you're taking classes with now could potentially be future coworkers," he said. "You should always try to maintain good relationships."

Research Opportunities That Launch Careers

Matthew Houck '13 earned his B.S. in Biologyand Chemistry. He is now a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and credits his undergraduate research at RWU with launching his career in chemistry. "It's very uncommon at the undergraduate level to walk into a lab and produce publishable results," he said. "That opportunity at RWU was a major asset."

From Lab Work to Leadership

Stacey Helming '08 earned her B.S. in Chemistryand Environmental Scienceand is now a director at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. She said her hands-on lab experience, combined with close faculty relationships at RWU, set her apart from the competition. "You have a really unique opportunity to be in the labs and get to know your professors on a level that a lot of my colleagues didn't experience," she said.

The Importance of Soft Skills

Morgan Stafford '15 earned two degrees from RWU, a B.S. in Biologyand a B.S. in Mathematics. She's now a team manager at Veeva Systems, emphasizing that communication and collaboration are key to success. "Speaking from the lens of a hiring manager, I was recently in an interview with someone very technical but without soft skills," she said. "I wasn't interested in hiring them because those skills are just as important."

Organizers said events like these exemplify RWU's commitment to providing powerful combinations of classroom learning and real-world preparation.

"Connecting students with alumni who've walked the same halls and built meaningful careers shows them what's possible," Gagliardi said. "It helps them see the direct link between their education and their future."