School of Natural Sciences alumni thriving in STEM fields

Joseph Anello

From the time Joe Anello ’16 was 14 years old he knew he wanted to become a physical therapist. After he tore his meniscus in high school wrestling and got back in shape thanks to the good care of a physical therapist, he knew it was the career he wanted to pursue.

Stefanie Konboz

During January break in her junior year of college, Stefanie Konboz ’20 discovered that she wanted to become an occupational therapist. As a biology major at Caldwell, she had originally thought she might become a physician assistant, but her professor, Dr. Agnes Berki, saw something in her and suggested she try an internship in occupational therapy. So she did, at P.G. Chambers School in Cedar Knolls. 

Koumudi Thirunagaru

Koumudi Thirunagaru ‘16 knows she stands on big shoulders—the shoulders of many women who have trailblazed into careers in the STEM fields. “I think it can be challenging to become a physician … a long road as a woman … it takes true zeal to want to be a part of this group of people.” She has the zeal. She had it as an undergraduate biology major at Caldwell University with double minors in chemistry and Spanish. She had it as a doctoral student at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. And she has it now as a second-year resident at St. Luke’s University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, preparing to become an Ob-gyn. 

Deborah Balthazar

When Deborah Balthazar ’17 was an undergraduate biology major at Caldwell University, her science cell biology class was writing intensive. At first she was nervous because she already had a strong writing course. “But that helped me hone in on what was the beginning of my science writing style—informative and engaging,” said Balthazar, a science journalist and graduate of New York University’s master’s degree program in science journalism in the science, health and environmental reporting program.  

Sean Parente

When Sean Parente ’21 was in Dr. Yang Cai’s Sociology of Medicine class, he learned about three factors that affect a person’s health care: health equity disparities, the cost and geographic disparities.