Professional Staff

rswelch@hamilton.edu

A native of Upstate New York, Sam graduated from Hamilton with a BA in English and a minor in economics. Over 25 years, he built a career in marketing, communications and advertising, acquiring extensive strategic and personnel leadership experience, and establishing a track record of building teams and understanding the needs of diverse stakeholders. Most recently, Sam was global group president for Publicis Heathcare Communications, the world’s largest health communications network, overseeing 13 companies and nearly 2,000 employees worldwide. As the head of a company that recruited, interviewed and hired numerous college graduates every year, Sam has direct experience with the needs of employers, as well as the challenges students face in securing a position in their chosen career.

rking@hamilton.edu

(315) 859-4346

Rebecca joined the Career Center staff in August 2017. She previously worked on campus in the Oral Communication Center where she helped plan OCC events and assist with office administration. She also worked part-time as a local preschool teacher. Before staying home to care for her three children, Rebecca worked in graphic design and taught 7th/8th grade Social Studies. She earned a BA from Hillsdale College in art and history, and a MS from the University of Rochester in teaching secondary social studies. As a current freelance photographer and local resident, she also photographs many Clinton youth athletics, high school seniors, and children.

momariet@hamilton.edu

Melissa is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in American studies. She received her Master of Arts in museum studies from SUNY Oneonta’s Cooperstown Graduate Program. Through her experience as the manager of Educational Leadership Programs at the Baseball Hall of Fame, Melissa directed the Frank & Peggy Steele Internship Program and realized she wanted to pivot her career to focus on college student career development.

She has nearly 15 years of experience in higher education and career development. Through her work at Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta, Melissa served as the director of their career centers. In 2014, she received her Global Career Development Facilitator certification, and she participated in the National Association of Colleges and Employers Career Coaching Intensive Training. She enjoys learning and sharing with other professionals in the industry. She presented, “Prototyping Design Thinking Strategies in Career Development”' at SUNY Career Development Organization’s drive-in workshop in 2019.

Melissa enjoys hiking, writing, and spending time with her family and a menagerie of pets.

vvarguli@hamilton.edu

Victoria has a B.S. in Social Work and a Minor in Psychology from the College at Brockport, State University of New York. She also earned a M.S. in Education in Counselor Education with a concentration in College Counseling from Brockport. While earning her degrees, Victoria worked at both Brockport and Nazareth College in career services. Most recently she has served as the Assistant Director of Career Development at Utica University.

vdosch@hamilton.edu

Ginny joined the career advising team in August 2022. Previously, she served as the Student Fellowships Coordinator since 1998. In that position, Ginny advised students and provided oversight for all aspects of the fellowship program. Ginny earned her B.A. in English from the College of New Rochelle, an M.A. from the University of Denver in College Student Personnel/Higher Education Administration and a Certificate of Advanced Study, Counselor Education from New York University.

erickard@hamilton.edu

Elizabeth “Liz” Rickard joined the Career Center as Associate Director, Career Development in September 2022. Liz earned her B.S. degree in Sociology from SUNY Oneonta. She was a Career Services Intern at SUNY Poly and worked in a number of increasingly more responsible roles for Otsego County including Planner Intern, Planner Trainee, and Economic Development Specialist. Most recently she was employed by ONC BOCES as Director of Career Opportunities in Rural Education.

krichard1@hamilton.edu

Korrin joined the Advancement Office Career Center professional staff in November 2021 as the manager of the Discovery Team, a group of students who offer appointments and workshops on career development across Hamilton’s campus. She also helps coordinate additional programming in the Constituent Engagement division as it relates to the recruitment, hiring and retention of students and professional staff. Prior to this role, Korrin spent 4 years managing a Suny Apprenticeship Program at Mohawk Valley Community College. Before this, she owned and ran her own Child Care Center for over 10 years. She has a B.S. in Human Resource Management from Western Governors University.

ralarcon@hamilton.edu

Rosario “Rose” Alarcon graduated from Hamilton College in 2022 with a double major in Creative Writing and Hispanic Studies. Rose served as a Network Associate on the Connect Team for two and a half years planning events featuring Hamilton alumni who work in the communications and education and nonprofit sectors. Her positive experience on the Connect Team motivated her to continue working as a staff member on the career development team helping to prioritize and research DEI initiatives.

aetaylor@hamilton.edu

Abby oversees Hamilton's employer engagement team which manages on-campus recruiting, new employer development, the Snap internship program, and the Snapshot shadowing program. She is a member of the Summer Internship Funding (SIF) committee and the Student Emergency Aid Society (SEAS) committee. Abby graduated from William Smith College and Antioch University, Los Angeles.

ameyer@hamilton.edu

Alison graduated from Hamilton in 2000 with a B.A. in English and Philosophy. Following graduation she initially worked in Publishing. However, in 2006, she moved to the financial industry most recently serving as Senior Registered Service Associate with Raymond James in Bedminster, NJ.

ccronin@hamilton.edu

Cheney joined the Career Center in October 2014 as the Office Coordinator. She now oversees all on-campus recruiting and employer visits. As part of the Health Professions Advising Office she is a main point of contact for experiential learning aspects for pre-health students. She is a 2010 graduate from the University at Albany with a B.A. in Sociology. Employers can contact Cheney to set up on-campus visits.

sahirshf@hamilton.edu

Shauna graduated from Hamilton in 2006 with a BA in Women’s Studies and a minor in Computer Science. After earning her Master's degree in Higher Education from Syracuse University, she went on to work in a variety of roles across Career Services at several institutions. Shauna returned to Hamilton in 2016 to establish the Career Center’s Connect Team, a student team that coordinates alumni-led industry programs. She then helped to launch the Hamilton Career Network (HCN), an initiative that connects alumni, students, and community members around shared career interests. Most recently, Shauna has come to oversee the Career Center's - the largest student employer on campus - student staff, as well as the office's operations, data, and analytics.

sshannon@hamilton.edu

Shannon is responsible for developing, planning, executing, and evaluating marketing strategies that will foster strong long-term relationships with alumni, parents, students, and friends of Hamilton College and drive engagement. Additionally, she is responsible for administering the Career Center's Summer Internship Funding program. She joined the staff as the Front Desk Coordinator in January 2005 and has grown her role at the Career Center to Assistant Director of Advancement Promotion in 2019. Shannon completed her Associates Degree in Applied Sciences from Herkimer College with a major in Marketing.