Alumni Stories
Juliana Blodgett
Class of 2014
I recently got my Master’s Degree in Public Health. I work as a Youth Substance Use Prevention Specialist for Everett Public Schools, north of Boston. My partner and I also manage a residential program for academically gifted high school students, so I live with 6 teenage boys! I love playing frisbee (still), spending time outside, and cooking and baking.
Grace Cabral
Class of 2019
Since graduating Four Rivers, I have traveled as much as I can: WWOOFing in New Mexico, studying abroad in Panama, winter break in California, living in Maine! I earned my BA from Sarah Lawrence College in May 2024. I’ve continued to play ultimate frisbee and took up cross country while at Sarah Lawrence, where I also started playing acoustic guitar. I’m currently learning embroidery as well! I just moved to New York City in fall 2024.
Kyle Deaver
Class of 2008
I work as a PA in cardiac surgery at Baystate Medical Center. In the past ten years, I’ve had plenty of travels and activities. Got married. Recently got back into rock climbing.
Kai DeLorenzo
Class of 2016
I currently live in Wisconsin, where I’ve recently started a new job writing open source software. I’ve been doing some traveling, including back home to western Massachusetts and to Europe and South East Asia. I’m still playing ultimate frisbee! I’ve been thinking of moving to Europe and/or starting a company.
Jemma Dickson
Class of 2017
After graduating 4R in 2017, I started off at College of the Atlantic, ME but then ultimately transferred to Roger Williams University, RI where I got my BSc in Marine Biology. However after finding out I get violently sea sick, I transitioned into a lab-based role where I became a research assistant for my virologist professor from RWU. I then got a job all the way down in the sunshine state of Florida as a biological scientist where I found a passion for molecular biology. After spending some time in this role, I decided to transition into a clinical job and passed the Technologist in Molecular Biology exam with ASCP. I now currently work as a Medical Technologist II for the University of Florida Pathology Laboratories. In my free time, I adopted 2 cats with my fiance, and we enjoy exploring the natural springs of FL and spending time with our friends 🙂
Renna Earp
Class of 2016
I graduated from Smith with a Biology degree (and Spanish minor) in 2021, and then spent some time in Chile volunteering with animal advocacy groups. I’m currently happy to be working as a veterinary assistant (training & in school to become a certified technician) at the Northampton Veterinary Clinic. I’m 1 of 2 employees who speak Spanish, so I help a lot of clients with translation. I also like to pole dance, and I take care of my 14 year old diabetic cat. I live with my partner David.
Mollie Fuller
Class of 2015
Found my person and adopted two adorable cats. I work at UMass Amherst. I’ve done some traveling, including driving across the midwest and taking an absolutely incredible trip to Thailand.
Rafael Gell
Class of 2023
I have been living and breathing music at Berklee College of Music. My principal instrument is voice and I major in electronic production and design. Which means I’m singing jazz and being a dubstep producer and Dj and of course doing copious amounts of theory homework, oh joy!
I have also been producing and writing for a bunch of vocalists on there music as well as getting into the pop songwriters world as a producer and vocalist.
Jeffrey Kernan- Dufresne
Class of 2010
After time working as a tire technician in Chesterfield, NH and a firefighter in Putney, Vermont, I recently began work at Ashplundh tree company. I’m also planning for my wedding in 2026.
Isaac Larkin- Harmon
Class of 2022
I work as a video editor/videographer for Montague Community Television and been continuing my passion in music!
Gina Magin
Class of 2020
I graduated from UMass Amherst in 2024 with BA & BS (double degree) in Social Thought and Political Economy, & Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. My junior year internship with the Northampton Division of Community Care (DCC) led me down the path of alternative to policing organizing, harm reduction, crisis response, street medicine, and more. I work with the DCC now as a full-time community care responder, under the department of Health & Human Services. With my professional and lived experience with supporting family experiencing homelessness, substance use, crisis, and trauma, I fit into this position as an empathetic responder. I am still in training, and but I am full time at the community center, and learning something new every day! In my free time, I enjoy fiber arts (sewing, crocheting, etc.) and tap dance, and I’m dreaming of going to Greece.
Gaelen Mast
Class of 2020
Since graduation, I’ve been bouncing between Vermont and Colorado every six months. I’ve been working at ski resorts in Colorado during the winter months, and then traveling back to the east coast and taking on various seasonal summer jobs while I wait for winter in the Rockies to return!
Nicolas Mesloh
Class of 2011
After 4 years in the Coast Guard, I earned my bachelor’s degree and finished dental school last year. I am now a practicing dentist in CT. I’m married to high school sweetheart Chelsea Mesloh (class of 2011), and we have a 4 year old daughter.
Laura (Campbell) Perham
Class of 2013
I was a founding member of Alice’s Table, leading Product & CX until that company was aquired by 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. I now work for them on the enterprise level, leading Innovation from a Technology and Marketing point of view.
My husband Thomas (class of 2013) and I welcomed our first baby girl (Birdie Lou Perham) in March 2024! We currently live in South Carolina and we love it.
Zach Rutherford
Class of 2022
Since graduating Four Rivers, I’ve been College-ing at Clark University: studying political science, environmental policy, and economics. This past summer I canvassed with PIRG and worked in an Americorps teaching program in Holyoke.
Jayden Skelly
Class of 2019
I finished most of my undergrad degree at Western Colorado University by 2022, then spent my senior year working in Wyoming and ski patrolling. After graduation (BS in Biology, certificate in GIS), I worked in Alaska for the summer, moved to Denver area for 8 months (but not a fan of cities) and switched it up and joined Yale for the last 4 months working in the Brazilian Amazon. As of fall 2024, I’ve just started at Montana State University as a NSF graduate research fellow working on a project with mapping, spatial analysis and migration of large mammals. I love to spend time running, biking, and being outside.
Sarah Slade
Class of 2017
I’ve been living in Australia in a small costal town working towards a career in retail sales. It allows me to foster my love of fashion and have a job where I interact with new people daily. This job plays to my social nature and pushes me in a very positive way.
Isaac Slaymaker
Class of 2019
I finished my undergraduate degree this spring, and I just started graduate school to get my Masters in Education!
Eli Smith
Class of 2019
I graduated from Bard college, and I am now working through the Cornell University school of integrative plant sciences for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. I map and performing fieldwork in New York wetlands. I have been doing some traveling in South America. I am a photographer and musician as well.
Kennedy Strakose-Griffin
Class of 2014
I’m currently working as a media manager and writer, and while most of my time outside of work is spent with my family, I also enjoy making home goods – vanilla extract, candles, cosmetic products, canned foods and such. I have two amazing daughters, Emilia and Rosie.
Ashley Tardif
Class of 2012
I’m a Geospatial Data Scientist working for the Sanborn Map Company. I have a Masters in Biodiversity and Conservation and would love to work for the state department of Fish and Game to combine these two passions. I have been considering getting my PhD because I really want to continue learning and focus on studying population genetics in wild cat species (specifically the elusive small-medium sized wild cats). In my free time, you’ll find me dancing west coast swing. I travel the country to compete and hope to one day compete in the All Star division. I’m also starting to work on a Pro-Am routine. Otherwise, I play video games, do jigsaw puzzles, read, hike, swim, and kayak.
Vex UrsaNova-Sadowsky
Class of 2009
Since graduating, I’ve done some travelling and have learned so much from my experiences. I’m still in pursuit of higher education, and I’m happily working as an LGBTQIA+ Specialist, co-facilitating after-school activities for queer and gender-diverse youth. I’m married to an awesome person (another nerd like me), and we are proud parents of a black cat, a ball python, and two parakeets.
Evan White-Tolbert
Class of 2008
After being a Western MA native for the last 33 years, I moved to Chicago with my partner this summer and am loving city living. After majoring in music, I did what any songwriter would do: realize I can’t make any money and pivot to office work. I’ve worked in ServiceNet’s HR department for the last 8 years, and have worked to make my position fully remote. This privilege, in addition to my generous non-profit vacation time, has resulted in a relatively stress-free life with a lot of freedom & travel.