Getting Your Foot in the Door

Andrea Pulido ’14 ’16MA

Senior Learning Design Specialist at Pacific Life

Andrea Pulido is a Senior Learning Design Specialist with Pacific Life. She graduated from UCF with a B.S. in Psychology in 2014 and an M.A. in Instructional Design and Technology in 2016. She began her career in the defense industry before transitioning into the finance industry.

Elle Siebert ’18 
Consultant at Daversa Partners

Elle Siebert graduated with University Honors from UCF in 2018, receiving a degree in advertising and public relations. During her undergraduate career, she served as a Team Leader, AVID Mentor and Peer Ambassador for the Burnett Honors College. Today, she is a Consultant with Daversa Partners, working with venture capital firms to build the executive teams for growth stage companies such as Calm, Headspace and Peloton. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair for the Washington, DC Chapter of UCF Alumni, and as a Burnett Honors College Alumni mentor.

Tom Carpino ’16, MPH
Regulatory and Training Coordinator at ICAP at Columbia University

Tom Carpino (B.S. Biology, UCF ’16) is a researcher and project coordinator at ICAP, a global non-profit which supports programs that address HIV/AIDS and related conditions and works to strengthen health systems. He is an investigator on multiple research projects ranging from HIV, COVID-19, to climate change. Tom also received his Masters in Biostatistics from Columbia University.

Emily Karwacki ’18
Contract Scientist, USGS

Emily began her research career at UCF under Dr. Anna Savage working with amphibian disease genetics. While completing her bachelor’s degree, Emily conducted research in both emerging and well-known pathogens that are drastically reducing amphibian populations globally, attempting to understand epidemiological patterns and more easily identify pathogens in specimen and environmental samples. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she continued to work with the UCF biology department as an associate researcher until being offered a position with the U.S. Geological Survey to study harmful algal blooms (HABs) and cyanobacteria toxin genetics. She currently works with cyanotoxins developing identification methods, determining toxin spatial and temporal patterns, and conducting field experiments looking at HAB interactions with various nutrients. She is concurrently pursuing her master’s in nonprofit management at UCF.

Panel Moderator
Charles Richardson-Gongora ‘15
Scientist II at Amentum LASSO, Kennedy Space Center

Mr. Richardson-Gongora graduated from UCF in 2015 with a B.S. in Forensic Chemistry. During his final year at UCF, he conducted research on the extraction and identification of fentanyl in seized heroin evidence while working as an intern at the Manatee County Sheriff’s office. He has conducted presentations on his research and professionalism/networking in Chemistry at various seminars. After graduating, he worked in environmental chemistry for four years where he increased his knowledge in instrumentation and laboratory quality assurance. Currently, he works at the Kennedy Space Center as a chemist at the Component Refurbishment and Chemical Analysis labs analyzing fuels, gases, and other commodities used at the Center.

College of Sciences Alumni Board Chair
Valerie Moses ’13 ’18MBA
Senior Relationship Manager, Addition Financial

Valerie Moses is the senior relationship manager at Addition Financial and a proud double Knight. In her current role, she manages the credit union’s relationships with community partners to develop financial literacy presentations and build Addition Financial’s overall brand awareness in Central Florida. With a background in communications, she also manages the credit union’s public relations efforts and media relationships. She serves in a leadership role in the Florida Public Relations Association’s Orlando Chapter, UCF College of Sciences Alumni Chapter, and Harbor House Young Professionals Board. In addition, she was featured in the UCF 30 Under 30 Awards for 2019. When she is not at work or a community event, she can be found on her blog and podcast, Wellness & Wanderlust.