Proud to BU

As the former editor in chief of the Daily Free Press, journalist Saba Hamedy (COM’13, CAS’13) was responsible for publishing a daily newspaper and managing a crew of students, all while completing a full-time dual-degree program at BU.

On this episode, learn about Saba’s career journey from FreeP to covering entertainment, politics, and culture at news outlets such as the LA Times, Huffington Post, CNN, and her current role as cul...

For Mary McManus (COM’76) contracting polio in Kindergarten was just one of the many challenges she faced throughout her childhood. Despite her difficult upbringing, Mary went on to have a long career in social work until, in her early-50s, she was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, a neuromuscular disease that doctors said could cause Mary to lose her mobility.

In this episode, hear how this devastating diagnosis inspired Mary to...

Over more than two decades in media and politics, Marcelo Garcia (Pardee’96) has become a foremost expert and grassroots organizer in digital leadership, fighting the rising scourge of online disinformation and digital violence.

In this episode, hear how Marcelo’s creation of the BU Mexican Students Association lit the political spark which eventually led him to a position in the Mexican Congress, and how his role as the Co-Founder...

As a cello performance grad student, Kendall Ramseur (CFA’12) was thrust into the spotlight when his BU student quartet Sons of Serendip became a national sensation on hit competition show “America’s Got Talent.”

On this episode, hear about Kendall’s incredible musical journey of emotional healing and connection -- from performing for Dr. Maya Angelou to touring across the world with Sons of Serendip to composing solo and symphonic...

After an early career practicing law, Larry Freedman (Questrom’85) took a leap toward his first love of professional sports and moved to Hollywood to manage a portfolio of minor league baseball teams across the country. When his business partner entered the ownership group of the nascent Los Angeles Football Club in 2014, Larry became instrumental in creating the brand new MLS team – from designing a stadium to building corporate p...

It’s been five years since we spoke with NASA Engineer Dr. Jenny Gruber (ENG’99 ‘99) and former Facebook media relations executive Anthony Harrison (COM'81), and a lot has changed! On this episode, Jenny and Anthony come together to discuss the joys & disappointments they’ve experienced these past five years, the hard decisions they’ve made in their professional lives, and what really matters to them as they enter new stages in...

As the VP of Talent and Partnerships for legendary entertainment company Dick Clark Productions, Jeremy Lowe (CGS’12, Questrom’14) manages relationships with entertainers, creators, and brands for numerous dcp shows, including The Golden Globes, Academy of Country Music Awards, and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. On this episode, Jeremy tells us about the qualities it takes to be successful in Hollywood and about how his BU student experie...

As Official White House Photographer for Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, and a respected photojournalist for numerous news organizations, Pete Souza (COM’76) has spent decades on the front lines of history; but it was as a junior at BU that his journey into photography began. On this episode, hear about Pete’s experience working closely with two of the most iconic Democrat and Republican presidents in modern times, his t...

When family concerns led Ayele Shakur (Questrom’87) to change her trajectory from aspiring screenwriter to a business degree, she set in motion a career that’s just as inspiring as any Hollywood biopic. On this episode, hear how Ayele went from being a teacher in Compton to the CEO of BUILD, a national nonprofit supporting students from under-resourced communities, and what brought her to her current role as President of the Redsto...

Robert Vail (SHA’85) first developed a love for the intersection of food, culture, and hospitality as a kid, traveling the globe on his dad’s business trips. Upon completing BU’s Hotel and Food Administration Program and after several years working to open a chain of restaurants around New England, Robert was looking for a new opportunity in the food and beverage industry. When he interviewed to join a small team at the scrappy bre...

When Hannah Olson (SHA’17) contracted Lyme disease as a sophomore Hospitality Administration major, her life was thrown into a difficult world of hospital visits, IVs, and other health challenges. But from that illness came the idea for Chronically Capable, an online platform connecting people with chronic illnesses to supportive businesses. Next, she launched Disclo, an HR tech software startup that streamlines the process of work...

Mary Alice Stephenson (CGS'88, COM’90) spent years at the height of haute couture -- from fashion director for publications such as Vogue, Allure, and Harper’s Bazaar to beauty consultant for major celebrities and style commentator across popular television and news. On this episode, hear how Mary Alice’s drive toward service, inspired by lessons she learned from her parents and as a BU student, led her to create GLAM4GOOD, a nonpr...

Archie Cubarrubia (Sargent’01, Wheelock’02) knew he wanted to work in higher education from his days as a student leader at BU, but it was through an internship with the US Department of Education that he first began to understand the breadth and impact of higher education for students across the country. After receiving his doctorate from George Washington University and leading institutional effectiveness for Miami Dade College, ...

Priyanka Naik (CAS’10) is a celebrated vegan chef, Food Network champion, and author of cookbook THE MODERN TIFFIN. A first-generation Indian American, Priyanka's path took her from pre-med and economics to a career in media & tech, including several years as an executive at X (formerly Twitter), before launching full-time into the culinary world, merging Eastern traditions with Western culinary techniques.

Priyanka joined us t...

The BU Alumni Podcast Returns!

Season 3 of Proud to BU showcases the career journeys of some of Boston University’s most interesting and accomplished alumni. Inspiring BU grads share the highs, the lows, and the challenges they’ve overcome along the way.

Watch for new episodes coming soon! Upcoming alumni guests include a celebrity chef, a fashion philanthropist, a Forbes 30 under 30 CEO, a Boston beer innovator, and more!

Access v...

What’s the best part of being a crime scene specialist? For Andrea Feldman (Sargent’06, MED’09), nothing compares to the instant gratification when her forensic evidence helps bring the ‘bad guys’ to justice. As an undergraduate at BU, Andrea earned a degree in health studies from Sargent College and she went on to earn a master’s in biomedical forensic sciences at the School of Medicine. While she may not have followed the path sh...

Leaving the field to take a corporate job at HBO wasn’t an easy decision for Jay Roewe (COM’79). Looking back on it today, he says it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. Jay graduated from BU’s College of Communication in 1979 with a degree in television. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President for West Coast Productions at HBO and is a driving force behind some of the network’s most groundbreaking and successful shows....

Ivellisse Morales (COM’12) is on a mission to build a national network of creatives who can help illuminate the important issues that need attention and action in America. She is the founder and CEO of bombilla, a branding and design firm with an intentional focus on reimagining the creative agency model and embodying representative storytelling to advance social change. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the College of Commu...

Hyeji Byun (Pardee’11) is a licensing project manager at Big Hit IP. One aspect of her dynamic job is to find meaningful ways to bring the South Korean boy band sensation, BTS, closer to their fans. From animated characters to pop-up stores around the world, there is no shortage of opportunities to expand the reach of this cultural phenomenon. On this episode of the podcast, Hyeji shares her story and identifies the common threads ...