University of New Hampshire Class of 2025: What's Next?
What's next after college? How does college help prepare you for future success?
We’re celebrating the UNH class of 2025 by putting the spotlight on three members of the class. We asked Gabe Dennett, Molly Gearhart and Samantha Filipi five questions about the best parts of their UNH journeys. Hear what they have to say about how UNH prepared them for life after college graduation.
UNH commencement ceremony
What is your major?
Gabe:
My majors are exercise science and nutrition: health and wellness.
Molly:
My majors are history and anthropology, and my minors are Classics and art.
Sam:
My major is business administration with a focus on marketing.
Gabe collecting data for a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant study on Circadian Misalignment and Metabolic Flexibility
What are your plans for after UNH?
Gabe:
After graduating from UNH, I will complete a summer internship at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) in their Military Nutrition Division. There, I will collaborate with researchers to develop optimal nutrition interventions that support warfighters in the field, while addressing energy balance and the extreme deficits that can occur in combat settings. My work will focus largely on sex-specific differences in the nutritional needs of male and female warfighters. After my internship, I will head west to the University of Montana, where I have accepted a graduate assistantship to pursue a Master’s in Integrative Physiology: Exercise Science. In this role, I will assist in teaching classes and conduct research in muscle physiology and exercise metabolism, further honing my skills as a scientist.
Molly with a painting that she wrote the object label for in UNH’s Gallery of Art
Molly:
My goal is to work in the museum and public history field, so I plan on taking one or two years to work in the field before going back to school to get my master's and maybe one day a Ph.D.! This summer, I have a joint internship lined up with New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and Preservation Timber Framing, where I’ll be helping to preserve historic buildings. I’m also excited to stay in New Hampshire for a bit longer; I’m not ready to say goodbye!
Sam serving as a moderator for the Marketing Professionals Panel at the UNH Marketing and Advertising Club's Summit for Marketing and Advertising Careers (MAC SMAC), the biggest event she led and organized
Sam:
I am still in the process of job hunting, and I am hoping to end up with a marketing career somewhere in the Boston area. It’s a new chapter that I’m looking forward to with both excitement and a little bit of nerves. Thanks to UNH, I feel ready for whatever comes my way! I feel like I have gained so much independence in the past four years, and I am forever thankful for that.
Gabe collecting data for a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant study on Circadian Misalignment and Metabolic Flexibility
In what ways did UNH help prepare you for your future?
Gabe:
UNH has exposed me to diverse career paths, hands-on clinical experiences and opportunities to work with various special populations. My nutrition and exercise science courses included real-world, applied experiences through one-on-one nutrition counseling, the clinical cardiac rehab program, one-on-one personal training and volunteer shifts at the employee fitness center.
I was also able to hone my professionalism and prepare oral presentations for numerous conferences, including the New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, UNH’s Undergraduate Research Conference and the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Each year, professionals from UNH’s Career and Professional Success office aided me in proper professional communication, resume writing and seeking out employment opportunities, which helped set me apart from other students pursuing internship and graduate school positions.
Molly helping with an archeological dig at UNH for an anthropology class
Molly:
I believe my liberal arts education has taught me how to think critically, ask the right questions and develop strong arguments. Empathy, creativity and curiosity have also been promoted in all my courses, which I think were essential in shaping who I am today. Not only have these skills aided me in classes, but they have also helped me with job applications and interviews. The UNH College of Liberal Arts has also provided me with professional and personal connections that I hope to use in the future.
Sam at a Young Alum panel she planned for the UNH Marketing and Advertising Club
Sam:
My involvement in the Marketing and Advertising Club had a major impact on my growth and leadership. Serving as the director of events gave me firsthand experience in planning, organizing and promoting events for Paul College. Senior Lecturer Diane Devine was a great faculty advisor that has taught me so much about what it takes to be a leader in event planning and marketing. Thank you for everything, Diane!
My internship experience through Paul College also helped me gain so many new skills. As a lead events intern for the Paul College Influencer Team, I was responsible for assisting with event logistics, coordinating with vendors and speakers and promoting events across the college. This role gave me a real taste of what it’s like to balance multiple projects at once, which I know will be used in my future career.
Gabe collecting data for a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant study on Circadian Misalignment and Metabolic Flexibility
What people and opportunities at UNH had the biggest impact on your post-grad plans?
Gabe:
The unique undergraduate research opportunities at UNH were instrumental in shaping my professional goals and decision to pursue further education. I began my research journey as an assistant in Assistant Professor Michael Brian’s cardiometabolic research lab while taking his Exercise Lab Techniques course. Through this experience and Dr. Brian’s mentorship, I gained exposure to and eventually mastered various exercise testing and laboratory techniques.
This foundation led me to apply for a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, generously funded by the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research, where my colleague Nathan Goodwin and I co-led a study on the effects of circadian misalignment on cardiometabolic health and exercise performance. Most importantly, I am deeply grateful to Dr. Brian for his unwavering mentorship throughout my four years at UNH; his guidance in the classroom, the lab and in life has been invaluable in preparing me for a future in academic research.
Molly at the Athenian Parthenon during UNH’s Summer Abroad in Greece
Molly:
While I had many amazing experiences at UNH, my journey would not have been the same without three amazing UNH staff and faculty members. Sarah Stinson, digital collections coordinator, has been a pillar of support and amazing supervisor during my time as a student employee at Dimond Library. Professor Gregory McMahon of the Classics department has renewed my love for ancient societies while also introducing me to a new way of thinking. Lastly, Senior Lecturer and Director of Museum Studies Kimberly Alexander has guided me both as an academic advisor and a career mentor. The support I have received from these faculty and staff members means everything to me and the impact they have had on my college career will stay with me forever.
Sam at Family Weekend with her best friends
Sam:
Several people and experiences have had a major impact on my journey throughout the past four years. Shayna Sylvia, marketing events specialist for Paul College, has given me so much potential to grow through my time as an intern the past two years. Her support and guidance not only helped me grow academically and professionally, but also personally, and I’ll always be grateful for the ways she encouraged me and was always there for me.
I would also like to give a huge shoutout to the girls that have been there since our first day in Stoke Hall freshman year! I know we will all stay friends after graduation, but I couldn’t have done it without you guys. How lucky we are!
Molly at Pompeii during UNH’s J-term study abroad in Rome
What excites you most about your future after UNH?
Gabe:
The most exciting part of moving on from UNH is embracing the unknown ahead. My degrees have equipped me for success in a variety of professional settings, and while I am drawn to research, the day-to-day in this field can vary greatly. As I pursue my master’s and eventually a Ph.D., these opportunities will only expand. This summer, working with USARIEM and then the Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism (WPEM) Center in Montana, I look forward to a unique opportunity to study warfighters and elite performers, striving to optimize and enhance human performance and recovery.
Molly:
While I am sad to leave UNH, I am excited to take everything I have learned and apply it to my career. UNH has provided me with so many experiences and lessons that will ease my transition out of college and into the real world.
Sam:
Although I am sad my journey is over, what excites me most about the future is the opportunity to continue learning and growing. UNH gave me a strong foundation, but I know this is just the beginning. I’m excited to meet new people, face new challenges and keep building a life and career that I’m passionate about.
Sam at a Paul College Influencers meeting with her manager Shayna and coworker Kayla
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience at UNH?
Gabe:
UNH offers more opportunities for undergraduates than I ever could have imagined when I submitted my deposit four years ago. Your experience here is entirely what you make of it, and opportunities won’t find you; you must seek them out. For me, that meant working closely with faculty, securing mentorship and building lifelong friendships while preparing for the future. I immersed myself in roles that shaped my growth, from working at the Employee Fitness Center and serving as a Resident and Community Assistant to conducting research, mentoring fellow students academically and volunteering with the Perinatal Exercise Initiative. UNH is the promised land for those willing to chase opportunity — whether you choose to keep your world small or embrace all it has to offer!
Sam:
I just want to say how thankful I am for my time at UNH. The people, experiences and memories I made here will always have a special place in my heart. I’m proud to be a Wildcat and can’t wait to see what the future holds!
related posts:
6 Questions with a UNH History Major
Every historical “fact” that we understand is the culmination of a multitude of diverse perspectives and experiences. The study of history is all about discovering new perspectives that enhance or contradict our current understanding of events and then synthesizing new conclusions. read more about Max
