What's Next for Salve's Class of 2026

Business and Entrepreneurship

Jessicka Alvarado

B.S. in accounting, minor in business administration

Alvarado will move to New York City to join one of the "Big Four" accounting firms, PwC, as a tax intern. Her adventure begins in June when she travels with the firm to Florida to kickstart the internship, aspiring to land a full-time role.  

Matthew Brunton

B.S. in finance, minor in data analytics

Brunton will pursue a master's degree in business analytics at Babson College. He plans to become a business analyst and grow his own expertise, eventually opening his own business.

Emily Capocelli

B.S. in global business and economics, minors in business administration and marketing

Capocelli plans to travel and live abroad and is exploring opportunities, including entrepreneurial ventures. "The business professors here are not just instructors; they take the time to get to know you, support you and push you to do your best," she said. "Those relationships made a huge difference in my confidence and growth, both academically and professionally. Service opportunities helped me see how what I was learning in the classroom could make an impact in the real world. They taught me the importance of giving back, working with others and understanding different perspectives."

Georgia Costello

B.S. in finance, minors in biology and business administration

Costello will enter the Siemens Finance Leadership Development Program, a two-year rotational program where she will complete four six-month assignments across different finance functions while developing leadership skills in corporate finance.

"One of my most memorable Salve moments includes We Mean Business Day, because it is a great opportunity for networking with classmates and exploring the connections that Salve and Newport have to offer, along with really interesting panels and presentations," she said. "For me, it was always a day filled with joy. One of my favorite parts of my time at Salve has also been my business classes. Honestly, any class within the business program stands out because the professors are absolutely incredible, so genuine and truly invested in their students' success."

Caroline Stump

B.S. in accounting, minor in finance

Stump will work as a fund accountant at GP Fund Solutions in Latham, New York. She intends to take the Certified Public Accountant exam in 2026, with plans to move into wealth management or financial advising and, longer term, open her own yoga and Pilates studio.

"As a graduating senior, I wish I could relive this year again and again," Stump said. "I joined clubs, which made my experience 1,000 times more amazing. As an executive board member of the Student Government Association, I have spent quality time with our University president and administrators and got the opportunity to advocate for student needs and wants, while learning about University policies. Finding your group and community at Salve changes your whole experience."

Julianna Vigniero

B.S. in finance, minor in marketing

Vigniero will work at Fidelity Investments as a customer relationship advocate, with long-term plans to work in private equity.

Criminal Justice and Politics

Emily Anderson

M.S. in criminal justice and cybersecurity

Anderson completed Salve's combined bachelor's/master's program in criminal justice and moved to Virginia with her deployed partner. She is seeking a security specialist role on the naval base and aspires to work as an intelligence analyst or special agent for a federal agency.

"All the faculty members in the criminal justice and criminology department had their own impact on me," she said. "They are experienced in their field and have such a passion to teach. They get to know you as a person, remember what your goals are and will get you there. The program is challenging, but that's how it's supposed to be, because the field is challenging. It's meant to get you to have empathy, build your emotional intelligence and expand your critical thinking. Salve was exactly what I was looking for in a college experience."

Jennie Battcher

B.A. in political science, minor in history

Battcher will pursue a master's degree in international relations at Salve, then work toward building a career in political diplomacy. "Hearing lectures from a Supreme Court justice, the granddaughter of a president and a former Secretary of State are opportunities that do not frequently pop up, so experiencing it at Salve will remain one of the most memorable aspects of my education," she said. "Politics and policy reach every aspect of life, even if it is not obvious. Studying political science allows you to find an intersection in other disciplines and understand legislation relevant to that issue. Government happens at different levels as small as our campus Student Government Association and as large as international law, and it is important to understand their roles in our lives."

Read more about Battcher's Salve experience.

Morendah Lesperance

B.A. in criminal justice and criminology, minor in applied behavior analysis

Lesperance will pursue a master's degree in criminal justice and cybersecurity at Salve. She has a conditional offer with a government intelligence agency and will begin training in the fall while completing her degree online. She aspires to become an agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is already training for the required tests with the goal of completing them before she turns 27.

A first-generation college student, Lesperance asked to include an excerpt from her speech to new Salve students during Seahawk Orientation: "Your first year might be hard. But you will get through it. You are not alone. At Salve, we want you to succeed - not just academically, but emotionally, socially and spiritually. If you're struggling, reach out. We are here for you - your peers, your leaders, your faculty and staff. We will sit with you in your lowest moments and walk beside you toward healing."

Leah Spengler

B.A. in communications and political science, minor in history

Spengler will stay in Newport after graduation, coordinating communications efforts for a statewide political campaign, with long-term plans to work in the communications field for nonprofit or political sectors.

"The greatest thing about Salve is the chance to step into a place where you get to shape your own experience. At Salve, I have added majors with ease and support from academic advisors, traveled abroad and experienced new cultures, created programs and clubs to add to our campus life, taken part in a variety of internship and campus work experiences, and throughout each year, I've continued to forge new connections with faculty and staff and build friendship and connection with my peers. There is truly no shortage of opportunity if you commit yourself to building the experiences you want to define your next four years."

Read more about Spengler's Salve experience.

Education

Olivia Augustine

B.S. in early childhood education and special education

Augustine, one of the Class of 2026 valedictorians, will return to her home state of Connecticut to pursue a career as an elementary educator. Longer term, she plans to attend graduate school to study literacy instruction and pursue certification as a reading interventionist. 

Health Care and Nursing

Madison Mirabile

B.S. in nursing

Mirabile will enter the post-baccalaureate premedical program at Harvard Extension School. While completing the part-time program, she plans to work as a nurse at a Magnet-accredited hospital, building clinical experience before taking the MCAT and applying to medical school to pursue her Doctor of Medicine.

"The nursing community at Salve is personable, and my academic success has been aided by my ability to always feel supported by my professors and academic advisor," she said. "Salve taught me to always be on the lookout for opportunities that excite your passions, because the best things come from doing what you love."

Valeria Parmenidez

B.S. in nursing

Parmenidez will work at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, through a program that also repays a significant portion of her student loan when she passes her nursing board state licensure and begins her three-year commitment with the hospital.

Humanities and Communications

Rebecca Dawson

B.A. in American history, minor in cultural and historic preservation

A December 2025 graduate, Dawson is a catalog assistant for the Papers of the American Revolution Project at the Newport Historical Society and a library assistant at the Dedham (MA) Public Library.

Thomas Langan

B.A. in philosophy and political science, minor in creative writing and publishing

Immediately after graduation, Langan will begin a two-week residency in Austria with the Hildebrand Project, learning about personalism and realist phenomenology. This fall, he will pursue an online master's degree in information and library science at the University of Buffalo, with a long-term focus on a career in librarianship.

Gabrielle Miller

B.A. in European history, minor in global business and economics

Miller will pursue a master's degree in history at Tufts University. Her long-term plans are to become a foreign relations officer and/or professor.

"One of the most meaningful parts of my journey was being able to write on topics that brought all of my interests together, giving me a sense of purpose and connection across my studies," she said. "I would advise prospective history majors to embrace curiosity and build a path that reflects their own interests. The humanities will never die; we need to continue to understand our past to prepare for our future."

Science and Mathematics

Jackson Brenek

B.S. in biology, minor in chemistry

Brenek was accepted into multiple programs and has chosen to study at Pennsylvania College of Optometry. His focus is to become an optometrist with long-term plans to open his own practice.

Read more about Brenek's Salve experience.

Colleen Brown

B.A. in biology, minor in political science

Brown will work as a seasonal field research assistant for the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, supporting water sampling and chemical processing throughout the Hudson River and its tributaries. She is interested in ecological research that can help drive policy change.

Marguerite George

B.S. in biology, minor in chemistry

George will pursue a master's degree in global health epidemiology at the University of Michigan, with aspirations to work with outbreak task forces, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.

Morgan Peritz

B.S. in chemistry, minor in mathematics

Peritz will pursue a master's degree in forensic science with a concentration in chemistry at the University of New Haven.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Ethan Cavacas

B.A. in psychology, minors in creative writing and publishing and criminal justice and criminology

Cavacas will pursue a master's degree in behavior analysis at Salve and plans to continue his research, present at conferences and teach undergraduate research assistants. Long term, he aspires to continue publishing his research and would like to write books and teach on the subject of behavioral economics, as well as pursuing screenwriting.

"I was fortunate enough to be thrust into the world of graduate-level research as an undergrad," he said. "I was given the chance to make mistakes without it harming my grades or reputation, which eventually pushed me towards mastery of the subject. Dr. Buddiga really insists that her students gain independence, and often has upperclassmen teach the underclassmen. It's an amazing way to learn, and really helps you get a good grip on the subject. Because of Salve's behavior analysis faculty, I feel fully ready to debate and defend my ideas all on my own."

Dillon Coblentz

B.A. in cultural and historic preservation

Coblentz served as battalion commander for the Army ROTC program, the highest position a cadet can hold. He will be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant the day after Commencement, then will serve for eight years. His long-term plan is to re-establish his family's heritage dairy.

In his junior year, Coblentz participated in the cultural and historic preservation program's field school in northern Maine, where the group discovered an Ice Age-era occupation with artifacts dating back more than 12,000 years. "My classmates and I got to learn and experience things that you simply cannot replicate in a classroom," he said. "We engaged with the past in a way that a handful of people have, and for that I am grateful."

Elvira Garamy

B.S. in social work, minor in healthcare administration

Garamy will pursue a master's degree in social work at Bridgewater State University, with long-term plans of becoming a medical social worker in a hospital.

Tracy Hawes

M.A. in clinical counseling

Hawes is looking to expand her private practice in somatic bodywork into a wellness center that addresses multigenerational needs with a blend of accessible wellness supports.

Alexia McConaghy

B.A. in psychology, minor in applied behavioral analysis

McConaghy, one of the Class of 2026 valedictorians, plans to take a gap year before looking into pursuing a master's degree in organizational behavior management. During her gap year she will return home to New Jersey for her fourth year working at a preschool to contemplate which master's program will best suit her needs and goals.

"Studying abroad was the most memorable experience I could ever achieve thanks to the support that Salve gave me through the process," she said. "By embarking on this journey I was able to explore new opportunities and go far beyond my comfort zone. Without the independence and confidence that I've gained from Salve, I would have never been able to engage in such an adventurous feat. Salve is all about trying new things and giving yourself the ability to reach out for experiences that you would have never deemed possible. Whether it's studying abroad, trying new classes or becoming involved in leadership positions, Salve has taught me that trying new things may be daunting, but it is always rewarding."

Elizabeth Mueller

B.A. in dance and psychology

Mueller will pursue a master's degree in behavior analysis at Salve.

Cailey Waldron

B.A. in psychology, minor in human services

Waldron will pursue a graduate program at Southern Connecticut State University as a step toward becoming a marriage and family therapist, with aspirations to run her own private practice.

Visual and Performing Arts

Anna Annese

B.A. in theatre arts, minor in music

Annese is going to Disney World - as a parade performer.

Mahek Das

B.A. in theatre arts

Das will pursue a master's degree in curriculum and teaching at Columbia University, focusing on theater engagement.

Abigail Gibson

B.A. in studio art, minor in marketing

Gibson will work for Fenway Sports Management as a creative associate for teams like the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Common Golf. She will complete her MBA at Salve in the spring of 2027, with a concentration in entrepreneurship.

Jillian Schena

B.A. in theatre arts

Schena is a finalist for the acting apprenticeship at Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island.