YOUR MAJOR MATTERS!

When you declare your major, the world is at your fingertips! Read on to see what these ASK mentors studied
at DePaul and how their major help them in their current jobs.

Mitchell Goldberg, BA in History, JD

“While all of my history professors seemed to genuinely care about my development as a person, I found myself particularly drawn
to (and strongly identified with) a common theme that I detected in their teachings: a seemingly uniform desire to preserve and
report accurate data and facts in its historical context, while clearly identifying bases – including their own…I very much enjoyed the
large variety of topics and the passion of the professors in DePaul’s History Department. While I truly enjoyed many of the classes I
took, I can’t think of any other subjects, which provided the same combination of entertainment and critical thinking. I was
constantly challenged and taught to apply concepts and facts I had learned to answer difficult questions of possible cause and effect.”
Mitch is now Partner at Lawrence, Kamin, Saunders & Uhlenhop, LLC.

Don Ulias, BA in Social Sciences

“My DePaul degree, broad based, opened more corporate doors than the specific major I earned it in, which happened to be Social
Sciences. It told a prospective employer that I had a desire to improve myself and make me more valuable as an employee.
Additionally, it demonstrated my ability to set long term goals, to overcome the obstacles that arose in pursuit of those goals and to
finally achieve them. This goal setting, problem solving and achievement, exactly, parallels the qualities that are sought after in a
new hire in industry.” Don, now retired, was the Director of Field Operations at Bosch.

Joan Thiry, BA and MA in English Literature

“I learned a lot about Ethics, Philosophy, English Literature (my major), and History. I learned more than the subject matter that
earned me A’s and B’s. I learned to love, to appreciate, to be thrilled by stories, by history, by poets, and by a few superb professors…
Did I appreciate Shakespeare, Wordsworth, or other British and American authors at the time I took classes about them? I don’t
think so. But the seed was planted and it bloomed in my life and my work… I have taught all levels of education from primary
through college. My DePaul education influenced my teaching at all levels.” Joan, now retired, has taught students in all levels from
first grade to college. She also served as former Director of Religion for Archdiocese of New Orleans in Parishes and has written
books on religion, family life, and manners.

Jay Stefani, BA in Political Science, JD

“The ability to effectively convey your thoughts and opinions is among the most important skills a person can have regardless of
career field…One of the great benefits of a Liberal Arts & Sciences degree is that you probably spent – for better or for worse –
countless hours writing innumerable papers on topics ranging from American Political Thought to Winemaking in the Rhone
Region. Each paper, whether one page or fifty pages, gives you the opportunity to have your writing critiqued by a professor. That
feedback (again, for better or for worse) helps you strengthen your fundamentals, grasp the language, and discover and hone your
own writing style.” Jay credits the papers he had to write for his political science class as what helped him become an effective
communicator, which in turn made him a successful attorney at Joseph, Lichtenstein & Levinson.

ASK mentors are waiting for you to connect with them. From giving advice on choosing a major to discussing
specific career paths, they are here for you.

The flip side of this page will guide you in establishing a connection.
 Finding an ASK Career Mentor
DePaul Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) is a network of committed alumni and friends who serve as career
mentors, working with students one-on-one, in practice interviews and at job fairs, and speaking at networking events
and open houses throughout the university. By sharing accomplishments, insights and connections, the ASK volunteer
network can help open important doors for professional growth and networking.

There are over 1,000 mentors in ASK at any given time who represent a variety of professional expertise. To connect
with ASK mentors:

1. Log in to http://depaul.experience.com. Click on the “ASK Mentors” tab on the grey toolbar.

2. Define your search criteria:

-Search by the Job Function and/or Industry you’re interested in.
-For the best results, choose only one or two of the above categories.
-The Advanced Search option allows you to choose more specific criteria.

Keep an open mind if you cannot find a mentor who fits your exact criteria. Even a mentor in a seemingly unrelated
field can offer valuable advice and guidance in your future decisions. Remember the value of networking!

Check back frequently. The ASK Program continually strives to recruit mentors who have a broad range of
backgrounds and work in a variety of fields. New mentors are added to the database almost every day!

If looking for local contacts, search by Illinois (not Chicago) to include suburban mentors. Also, remember that
mentoring can be done via email; out-of-state mentors can be great resources.

3. View Mentor Profiles and find those that seem the most appropriate for your needs.

4. To connect with a mentor, click on “Send Mentor Connection Request.”

-Select from the list of email templates the message you would like to send.
-Customize the template by filling in the indicated fields (MARKED IN ALL CAPS) or create your own message.

5. Be on the lookout for an email response stating that the mentor has accepted your request. Proceed to
contact the mentor again and follow through on your original correspondence. Be conscious of a mentor’s preferred
method of contact. -If a mentor declines your request or you do not hear back from a mentor within two weeks, do not
be discouraged, reach out to other mentors and notify the ASK Staff via email/phone.

Always thank your mentor!! Remember that mentors volunteer their time to help you build your professional
network. Show your appreciation by sending a note of thanks.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: ask@depaul.edu / (312) 362-8281 / http://ask.depaul.edu
DePaul University Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) 1 E. Jackson Blvd. Suite 9400, Chicago, IL 60604