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We understand that selecting the graduate school and program that are right for you can be challenging, and our dedicated team is here to assist you, every step of the way.

Meet Our Admissions Team

Alyssa Orlando

Dr. Alyssa Orlando

Director, Graduate Admission

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Originally from Buffalo, NY, I studied journalism and legal studies at Ithaca College as an undergraduate student. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I moved to Massachusetts to pursue my master’s in higher education administration at Boston College. Since completing my master’s degree and before coming to Clark, I worked at several New England universities supporting students from all backgrounds interested in pursuing their graduate degrees. I recently completed my Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. At Clark, my focus is on leading our admission team through the entire applicant lifecycle and supporting our incoming students through their onboarding process. When I am not at work or studying, you can find me hanging out with my husband, 1-year old son, and beagle!

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Andrea VanWormer

Associate Director, Graduate Enrollment Operations

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Born in Rhode Island and now residing in Connecticut, I have a full house of animals as I foster cats and my dog Nala.  I also enjoy true crime podcasts from my time as a criminal justice major and love reading books about the paranormal. When not working I can be found back in RI with family, reading a book or looking for a new coffee spot.

Tessa Borozny

Tessa Borozny

Engagement Coordinator

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Born and raised right here in central Massachusetts, I went on to attend Worcester State University where I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology. After graduating, I moved down to the wonderful state of Rhode Island! I have spent the past few years as an ESL teacher, and I just earned my master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Rhode Island. I have recently found my passion for working in higher education as a Graduate Admissions Advisor here at Clark University! A college campus has always felt like home to me and as I help students with the application process, I hope Clark will start to feel like home to them. When I am not at Clark, I love spending time outside with my husband and our two dogs!

Perez, Sierra

Sierra Perez

Senior Assistant Director, Graduate Admission

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Formerly from Seattle, WA, I completed my B.S. Degree in Biology at the University of Washington. After mentoring and advising my STEM peers, I obtained my Master’s in Higher Education (M.Ed.) at Central Washington University with an oral defense focused on inclusive advising.

I have since served professionally as a pre-health advisor at Brandeis University and an assistant director at UMass Chan Medical School. I am proud to have found my career niche through the New England Association for Graduate Enrollment Management (NEGAP).

With professional experience covering the entire lifecycle of a university student, from admissions application to degree graduation, I consider myself a specialist for access and belonging in higher education. Outside of the office, I love drinking coffee by the gallons and going on foodie adventures around the city.

Meet Our Recruiting Team

Amy Daly Gardner

Amy Daly Gardner, MS ’05

Associate Dean, Director, Graduate Recruitment

TERRITORIES

Europe, Central Asia

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Born and raised in central Massachusetts, I studied French, Spanish, Polish, and Russian throughout high school and college, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Russian and Eastern European studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. I also earned a master’s degree in professional communication from Clark. I began my career in international education working for the U.S. Department of State in St. Petersburg, Russia. When I returned to the United States, I joined Johns Hopkins Medical and later worked at the Harvard International Office. I came back home to Worcester in 2000 when I became the director of the International Students and Scholars Office at Clark. Since then, I have worked to recruit and support international students during their time on campus and enjoy sharing with them all that Clark and Worcester have to offer!

Yingying Chen

Yingying Chen, MS ’11

Senior Associate Director, Graduate Recruitment

TERRITORIES

China, South East Asia, Taiwan

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I’m from an ancient city in China called Jingzhou. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Renmin University of China and spent two years in Beijing, working in consulting for renewable energy projects, before coming to the U.S. After earning my master’s degree in environmental science and policy at Clark, I started working in higher education. I found my passion for international collaboration while working on a partnership program with Peking University for the Albright Institute at Wellesley College, and at Wellesley’s Slater International Center I provided immigration and on-campus support to international students. At Clark, my focus is also on international students, which I enjoy a lot. Out of work, I like cooking and exploring the world with my young daughter.

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Rachel Chenette

Assistant Director, International Recruitment

TERRITORIES

Middle East, North Africa, China

Email Rachel

I use she/her pronouns and hail from the Worcester area and Bay Area California. I am a proud first-generation graduate and advocate for access to education for all.  My lifelong interest in studying languages and translation has compelled me to study French, Arabic, and Swedish before deciding to study Mandarin as an undergraduate, which ultimately resulted in obtaining my bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mandarin Chinese.  I have five years of experience as an admissions counselor within the Worcester Consortium and am thrilled to help prospective students as they navigate their graduate program search and application process here at Clark! Outside of work, you can usually find me working on my latest creative project (paper crafts, collage, crochet, and knitting), tending to my beloved house plants, and working on my own translations for fun.

Alex Gullotti, Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment

Alex Gullotti ’21, MS ’22

Assistant Director, Domestic Recruitment

TERRITORIES

United States

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After growing up in Massachusetts, I studied here at Clark for my Undergraduate and Master’s degrees. During my years as a student, I was able to work within Worcester for a local basketball team and volunteer with several other organizations, before becoming a part of the Graduate Admissions Team. I have made some great connections during my time in Worcester and I hope to help students do the same. Outside of work, I play for several rec league sports teams, but spend my down time playing drums and singing.

Tereza Lopez

Tereza Lopez ’21, MS ’22

Assistant Director, Graduate Recruitment

TERRITORIES

United States

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Born and raised in Springfield, MA, I completed my Bachelor’s in English and History with a minor in creative writing from Clark University. After a pleasant undergrad experience, I decided to stay at Clark for my Master’s degree in Communications through the School of Professional Studies. Since completing my degrees, I’ve been given the opportunity to continue my journey with Clark as I step into my professional career. I will be focusing on helping domestic students see if Clark graduate programs are the right fit for them! When I am not working, you can find me reading a good book (I’m always up to give and receive book recommendations) or playing with my cat Fantasma.

Brad Wall Headshot Clark

Bradley Wall

Assistant Director, Graduate Recruitment

TERRITORIES

Africa, South Asia, Canada

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I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri which is located in the heart of the mid-western United States. Later on in life, I moved to a small town in New Hampshire and I have found that the East Coast is now my home. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts at the University of New Hampshire. During my undergraduate program, I worked as a Lead Ambassador and an RA. I really started to learn more about international students in those roles and their stories. After finishing my degree, I began my professional career at Southern New Hampshire University where I worked as an International Recruiter. Following that, I transitioned to my current role at Clark University and have enjoyed every minute of it. I love to travel and have explored many places worldwide. My passion involves helping international students achieve their academic goals and supporting them throughout their journey. Outside of work I enjoy playing video games, listening to podcasts, and camping.

Jayantunaj Das

Jayantunaj Das

Recruiter

TERRITORY

India (based in India)

Email Jayant

I love to travel and that’s what has driven me to work in the international education sector. In a career spanning more than a decade, I have worked with international education providers like The Princeton Review, IDP and Navitas. Massachusetts has a special place in my heart because it was the first place I visited in the U.S. I am fascinated with the educational quality and diversity of Clark University, and am excited to be part of the Graduate Admissions team.

Meet Our Graduate Assistants

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Sharmila Pentapalli

Graduate Assistant

MS in Business Analytics

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Hi, I’m Sharmila. I come from a city that is a melting pot of cultures, art and cuisines- Hyderabad, India.
My passion for statistics and the belief that leveraging valuable data can be one of the most powerful tools to foster inclusive progress brings me to business analytics.
I have held leadership roles in my schooling and college. These stints, along with my active participation in extracurricular events, have connected me with diverse people and have gotten me to experience interactions that contributed to my learning curve.
I’m an avid reader and will happily discuss books, movies and music for hours! Working as a graduate assistant knits me tighter to the Clark community which is as vibrant as it is welcoming. To be able to help students feel heard here is an opportunity I value incredibly.

Choudhury, Raya headshot

Raya Choudhury

Graduate Assistant

MS in Environmental Science and Policy

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Hi! I am Raya Choudhury hailing from the country of rivers and lush greenery known as Bangladesh, and I am pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Science & Policy at Clark.

I completed my Bachelor’s in Environmental Science in my home country and worked as a research assistant on various projects related to the environment and climate change which allowed me the opportunity to deal with issues of current times that are of great concern. I also believe that it has been able to show me a specific direction in life. I discovered my passion and enthusiasm for scientific research on topics such as environmental socialism and climate justice which led me to pursue higher education and obtain my Master’s degree from Clark.

I enjoy watching movies, catching up on my favorite TV shows or discovering new restaurants in my leisure time. Coming to Clark and becoming a Graduate Assistant has been a very rewarding opportunity for me as it has allowed me to gain valuable experiences and assist future students to also attain memorable experiences.

Riya Headshot

Riya Joshi

Graduate Assistant
MS in Data Analytics

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Hello! I am Riya Joshi, currently pursuing MS Data Analytics at Clark University. I was born and raised in a small city in the northern region of India before moving to US to pursue Bachelor of Science in Computer Science as an Academic Excellence Scholarship Recipient in 2016.
After serving as a summer Application Developer Intern at Harland Clarke in 2019 and graduating from University of Texas at Dallas in 2020, I worked as a Quality Assurance Software Engineer for almost an year at Dematic in US and then went back to my home country to join my dream company Amazon where I served as a Software Support Engineer for 2 years.
After working for 3 years in the software engineering industry, I decided to challenge the conventional path for software engineers and pursue my true passion – data analytics and business intelligence by joining the prestigious Clark University for my post graduate education. I enjoy listening to music, painting and watching TV in my free time. I am excited to use my experience and serve as a Graduate Assistant to current and prospective Clark students at the Graduate Admissions office.

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Samson Williams

Graduate Assistant
MS in Computer Science

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Samson Williams, hailing from a small town in India, is currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science (MSCS) at Clark University. He successfully obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Christ University in Bangalore. Prior to joining Clark, Samson accumulated approximately three years of valuable experience as a Software Developer at various organizations, including Oracle Health and Accenture (Merck).

His professional journey not only provided him with hands-on experience but also fueled his passion for development. This realization led him to seek further education, motivating him to pursue a Master’s degree in computer science at Clark.

In his leisure time, Samson engages in diverse activities such as drumming, basketball, and cooking. A fitness enthusiast, he enjoys spending time at the gym, lifting weights, and connecting with new people.

xinyu zhang headshot

Xinyu Zhang

Graduate Assistant
MS in Marketing Analytics

Email Xinyu

Hello,

I’m Xinyu Zhang from China Inner Mongolia, a city known for its vast grasslands and the bold, warm spirit of its people.

My passion for marketing, coupled with my belief in the power of project management, has driven me toward a focus on marketing analytics. My journey began with a background in international trade, which naturally led me to pursue brand development and project mangement.

Throughout my academic and professional experiences, I’ve taken on leadership roles and actively engaged in volunteer work. These opportunities have connected me with diverse individuals, broadened my understanding, and significantly contributed to my personal growth.

I’m also an outgoing person who loves discussing music, swimming, and more. Working as a Graduate Assistant with the recruitment team has deepened my connection to the community. I greatly value the opportunity to make a positive impact and contribute to our shared success. I am a very focused person, passionate about my work, and hope that my passion can be perceived by more people!

Say Hello – we’re here to help!

Contact Information

Graduate Admissions

Office Location
  • Graduate Admissions
    122 Woodland Street
    Worcester, MA 01610

  • Office hours:
    Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mailing Address