Skip to content

GOLD: Graduates of the Last Decade

GOLD stands for “Graduates of the Last Decade,” those crucial first 10 years after graduation when Clarkies are getting established in life and careers. The GOLD Council consists of 20 to 30 young alumni spanning class years from the previous decade. Council members host events, serve on committees, participate in University initiatives, and otherwise engage with the Clark community.

GOLD Council objectives include:

  • Maximizing the impact of the University’s most recent graduates
  • Increasing young alumni engagement in Clark events and initiatives
  • Encouraging  classmates to volunteer
  • Helping to grow annual philanthropic support among recent graduates

GOLD Council Subcommittees

  • Student and Young Alumni Engagement
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Philanthropy

View the 2022-2023 Impact Report

photo of Alex Turgeon

Alex Turgeon ’16, MBA ’17
Washington, D.C.
Co-Chair

Alex graduated from Clark University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He then went on to earn a Master of Business Administration in 2017, with a concentration in Marketing, Information Management, and Business Analytics. 

Alex, a Worcester County native, co-founded the technology startup WooConnect while at Clark University with fellow Clark alumnus Abhijit Singh. WooConnect connected college students with local events, activities, and experiences in Worcester, and provided small businesses a platform to market to students. Alex held several leadership positions across Clark programs, including Freshman Orientation, Senior Class Gift Committee, Senior Week Planning Committee, and for the Clark University Men’s Lacrosse Team. In honor of his contributions to improving students’ collegiate experience, he received the Russ Granger Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Award in 2016. Alex has continued to support Clark initiatives. He serves as an advisor on the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Advisory Board, is a frequent guest lecturer and Alumni mentor for the School of Management’s Consulting Group, is co-chair of the GOLD Council, is the young alumni representative of The Clark Fund Advisory Board and Alumni Council, and was a planning member of the 2016 Reunion Committee. 

Alex has supported a wide range of clients since graduating from Clark, including startups, B2B companies, commercial businesses, and public sector organizations. Empowering the rise of the digital citizen as a strategic management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, a top management consulting services company, he worked with federal government agencies such as the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) in support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Alex also founded the digital experience, marketing, and creative services agency Valere Digital (formerly First Pulse). Providing “big business impact on a small business budget,” Valere Digital has established a successful track record of developing and implementing effective strategies and solutions that have yielded thousands in revenue, downloads, and increased traffic— while also getting storefronts featured by Etsy, local and national publications, and more! 

After a successful career designing and launching digital experiences and products, Alex partnered with Valere Labs, an Expert Verified, Top 1% and Top 100 Company on Upwork and Clutch.co (leader in B2B reviews), respectively, to provide an all-in-one, inclusive service offering centered around rock-star talent to enable startups and businesses alike to execute, launch, and grow their vision from beginning to end. Together, Valere has re-invented the way software design and development agencies operate — mitigating issues related to communication and process inefficiencies. The result has allowed the team to build, launch, and scale over 100+ successful web and mobile applications and grow to over 100 team members.

Emilee Cocuzzo

Emilee Cocuzzo ’18, MBA ’19
Boston, MA
Co-Chair

Emilee Cocuzzo is currently a senior management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she leverages data analytics and visualizations, strategy, and change management to drive impactful change for the government. She graduated from Clark in 2018 with her bachelor’s degree in management and entrepreneurship and with her M.B.A. with a concentration in information management and business analytics in 2019.

During her time at Clark, she led organizations, such as the Worcester Student Government Association (WSGA), Speaker’s Forum, and the Clark Entrepreneurship Club (CEC). She also founded and led the Clark University Consulting Group (CUCG). In addition, she was also involved in the Student Alumni Relations Committee (SARC), Peer Advising, and Student Council while also working on-campus jobs and interning at local companies.

Emilee is honored to serve on the GOLD Council, and she looks forward to giving back to the Clark community!

Maya Fox '16

Maya Fox ’16
Baltimore, MD
Co-Chair

Maya Fox is currently a recruitment manager at Tribute, where she cultivates relationships with schools, organizations, and individuals to find the best care providers in the mid-Atlantic region. In addition, she assesses compensation, benefits, and hiring decisions to ensure equity and accountability in the workplace. She graduated from Clark in 2016 with her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in education. She is currently pursuing her M.S. in human resource development and will graduate in December 2022.

During her time at Clark, she was a RA in Bullock, Wright, and Maywood Halls, and a housing complex manager for the south complex. She also was a peer mentor with the Center for Counseling and Personal Growth, as well as a founding member for Active Minds and National Residence Hall Honorary. In addition, she was also involved in Senior Class Gift Committee, interning at YOU Inc., and working as an Office Assistant in Residence Life and Housing. In honor of her individual contributions to improve students’ overall wellbeing, Maya received the Outstanding Contribution to Wellness Award in 2016. That same year, due to her contributions and investments at Clark, both inside and outside of the classroom, she received the Rose M. Sachs Award, which is granted annually to someone who best exemplifies “the spirit of Clark University.”

Maya is honored to step into this leadership position, and she looks forward to continuing to ignite excitement and belonging in the alumni community, while continuing to support current and future Clarkies for years to come!

Members

  • Justine Berard ’19, San Diego, CA
  • Drashhti Bilimoria ’21, MBA ’22, Hapeville, GA
  • Sarah C. Clay ’15, Saint Augustine, FL
  • Juliette Coatsworth ’13, MBA ’14, Norwood, MA
  • Emilee Cocuzzo ’18, MBA ’19, Boston, MA
  • David M. Corn ’16, Londonderry, NH
  • Manning DelColgliano ’23, M.S. ’24, Worcester, MA
  • Ben DiFilippi ’21, MBA ’22, Brooklyn, NY
  • Parker Freedman ’21, Quincy, MA
  • Maya Fox ’16, Baltimore, MD
  • Andres Gvirtz ’18, Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • McKenna I. Hunter ’17, Phoenix, AZ
  • Asniya Iqbal ’14, Brooklyn, NY
  • Taylor Laflamme ’23, M.S. ’24, Worcester, MA
  • Faaiz Masood ’20, Sommerville, MA
  • Abdur Rahman Muhammad ’20, New York, NY
  • Julianne X. Murphy ’17, M.S. ’18, Chicago, IL
  • Anabel Riggio ’22, MPA ’23, Oakland, NJ
  • Utkristaa Shrestha ’20, Fairfield, CT
  • Erin M. Thayer ’14, Worcester, MA
  • Gabrielle Totten ’19, MBA ’20, New York, NY
  • Alex Turgeon ’16, MBA ’17, Washington, DC
  • Michelle Y. Yun ’18, MBA ’19, Elgin, IL

GOLD: Graduates of the Last Decade

GOLD Nuggets

GOLD Nuggets began in 2019 to help young alumni stay connected. This e-newsletter features GOLD Council updates, profiles and articles on young alumni, and upcoming events.

View our recent editions:

August 2023
June 2023
April 2023
February 2023
December 2022

Not receiving GOLD Nuggets and other alumni news?

Update your address and contact information

GOLD council meeting

Recent Meetings

The GOLD Council meets on a quarterly basis to discuss current initiatives, how to support Clark and its current students, get updates on committee work, and determine the most effective ways to connect with fellow GOLD alumni.

May 2023, Agenda
February 2023, Agenda
November 2022, Agenda
September 2022, Agenda

Ask Questions or Share Feedback

If you have a general question about the GOLD Council, want to share feedback or an event idea, or if you’re interested in applying to serve on the council, please fill out this interest form or email gold_council@clarku.edu.

Contact Information

Alumni and Friends Engagement

Office Information