Your Next Chapter Continues Here 

Meet the SUNY Poly Alumni Advancing their Careers through Graduate Programs Designed Around Real Life 

For many SUNY Poly alumni, commencement is a milestone they’ll never forget. It’s the day years of hard work culminate in a diploma, new opportunities, and the excitement of what’s ahead. 

For others, however, that day isn’t the end of their SUNY Poly story. It’s the beginning of the next chapter. 

Across industries, more and more SUNY Poly alumni are choosing to return to their alma mater to pursue graduate education. Some enroll immediately after earning their bachelor’s degree. Others come back years later, ready to deepen their expertise, advance their careers, or explore a new professional direction. 

What brings them back is more than familiarity. It’s the confidence that graduate education at SUNY Poly is designed around the realities of adult life. 

Whether balancing a full-time job, family responsibilities, military service, or professional ambitions, students discover graduate programs built to meet them where they are and help them get where they want to go. 

Graduate School Designed Around Your Life 

Today’s graduate students look very different than they did a generation ago. Many are working professionals. Some are parents. Others are recent graduates hoping to build on the momentum of their undergraduate education before launching their careers. One thing they have in common? Life doesn’t stop while they’re earning their advanced degree. 

That’s exactly why flexibility has become a defining characteristic of graduate education at SUNY Poly. 

With online and hybrid learning options, part-time pathways, accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s opportunities, and faculty who understand the demands of balancing multiple responsibilities, students don’t have to choose between advancing their education and continuing their lives. 

Because no two graduate journeys look exactly alike, that student-centered philosophy begins long before the first class. For prospective students, graduate school can feel like a big decision. The Graduate Admissions team works one-on-one with students to answer questions, discuss career goals, explain program options, and help prospective applicants determine what path makes the most sense for their individual circumstances. 

“People often assume graduate school won’t fit into their lives, but that’s usually where the conversation begins,” says McKenzie Albrecht ‘22, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions. “Every student’s situation is different, whether they’re coming straight from their bachelor’s degree, balancing a full-time career, raising a family, or looking to make a career change. My role is to help them explore their options, answer their questions, and find a path that works for their goals and their life. You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. We’ll figure it out together.” 

Three Different Goals, One Common Decision 

Every student’s reason for pursuing graduate education is unique. For SUNY Poly alumni Carly Pimpinella ‘25, John Pertell ‘25, and Geneva Quinland ‘24, graduate school represented different opportunities, but each found that continuing their education at SUNY Poly allowed them to move forward without putting their lives on hold. 

Continuing the Momentum: Carly Pimpinella ‘25 G ‘27 

After completing her undergraduate degree in Community & Behavioral Health at SUNY Poly, Carly Pimpinella wasn’t ready to stop learning. 

She had already built strong relationships with faculty, found a community where she felt supported, and knew the quality of education she could expect. Continuing into graduate study meant she could keep building on that foundation while preparing herself for the next stage of her career. 

Carly’s passions and talents come together in her role with SUNY Poly’s Office of Enrollment Communications & Marketing, where she transitioned from student worker to full-time employee just weeks before beginning graduate school. Rather than putting life on hold, Carly chose a graduate program that fits into it. Its flexibility allows her to grow professionally while balancing the responsibilities of life after college. Her story reflects a growing number of SUNY Poly alumni who see graduate education as a natural next step—one that supports both their careers and their lives. 

Read more about Carly’s story.  

Building Specialized Expertise: John Pertell ’25, G ’26 

For John Pertell, who was admitted to SUNY Poly’s accelerated 4+1 bachelor’s-to-master’s program in Computer Science, graduate education was a natural next step. Rather than starting over somewhere new, he chose to continue building on the faculty relationships, hands-on learning, and research opportunities that had already shaped his undergraduate experience. 

When John arrived at SUNY Poly, he knew he wanted to study computer science but hadn’t yet found his specialty. That changed through coursework and faculty mentorship. A class with Dr. Amos Confer sparked his interest in embedded systems, leading to a nine-month internship at Fulton Thermal, where he developed real-time embedded systems. 

An Internet of Things (IoT) course later introduced him to wireless communications, setting the stage for his research and career. Encouraged by Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty member Dr. Priyangshu Sen, who is affiliated with SUNY Poly’s WINGS Research Center, John joined research focused on next-generation wireless communications. His work exploring the growing demands of connected devices prepared him for his current role as a software engineer at Black River Systems in Utica, where he develops signal processing and wireless communication technologies for Department of Defense applications. 

John’s journey reflects what many SUNY Poly alumni discover: when you’ve found the right mentors, opportunities, and momentum, the next step isn’t starting over—it’s continuing to build where your success began. 

Learn more about John’s experience. 

Finding Stability and Possibility: Geneva Quinland ’24 G ’26 

Geneva Quinland’s educational journey has taken her from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree and now a master’s degree, all while building a successful career in healthcare. 

Originally from Barbados, Geneva came to the United States looking for an opportunity to build a stable future. After earning an associate’s degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) from Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Geneva took advantage of the HIT to bachelor’s in Health Information Management (HIM) transfer articulation agreement between BMCC and SUNY Poly, which ultimately led her to pursue a master’s in Health Informatics. Today, she works in New York City’s Office of Mental Health, where she manages health information systems supporting forensic psychiatric services. 

As a full-time professional, she needed a graduate program that could work around her schedule without sacrificing quality. She found exactly that at SUNY Poly. The flexibility of the program, and the support of Health Informatics faculty, has allowed her to continue advancing her education while strengthening her skills in workflow optimization, healthcare systems, and organizational improvement. 

For Geneva, graduate school isn’t simply about earning another credential. “It’s not just about the data,” she explains. “It’s about creating positive change for the people you serve.” 

Now that she’s completed her degree, she sees limitless possibilities ahead. “The possibilities are endless,” she says. “Now it’s about figuring out where I want to go next.” 

Read more about Geneva’s story. 

Graduate Education for Wherever Your Career Leads 

Whether students are looking to advance within their current profession, pivot into a new field, or specialize in emerging technologies, SUNY Poly’s portfolio of graduate programs reflects the evolving needs of today’s workforce. Known for offering advanced study in high-demand fields that prepare graduates for leadership, innovation, and meaningful careers, SUNY Poly consistently ranks among New York’s leading public polytechnic institutions for academic quality, value, and return on investment. 

Graduate programs include: 

• Technology Management (MBA) 

(Concentrations in accounting & finance, business management, health informatics, human resources management, and marketing management) 

• Accounting (MS) 
• Advanced Technology (MS) 
• Civil Engineering (MS) 
• Computational Mathematical Modeling (post-bachelor’s advanced certificate) 
• Computer Science (MS) 
• Cybersecurity (MS) 
• Data Analysis (post-bachelor’s advanced certificate) 
• Data Science & Analytics (MS) 
• Forensic Accounting & Valuation (post-bachelor’s advanced certificate) 
• Health Informatics (MS) 
• Information Design & Technology (MS) 
• Nursing Education (MS & post-master’s advanced certificate) 
• Family Nurse Practitioner (MS & post-master’s advanced certificate) 
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP & advanced post-master’s certificate) 

The Value of Taking the Next Step 

Returning to SUNY Poly for graduate school isn’t simply a matter of convenience. For many alumni, it’s about building on the experiences, relationships, and momentum you’ve already created: the professors who already know their strengths, the classrooms where curiosity is encouraged, the personalized support that doesn’t end at graduation, and the confidence of learning in a community committed to helping every student succeed. 

Graduate students continue to benefit from the same close-knit environment that defines the SUNY Poly experience, where accessible faculty, small class sizes, and hands-on learning create meaningful opportunities for growth. 

The choice to return to SUNY Poly is about more than familiarity; it’s an investment in your future, opening doors to new opportunities while continuing to build where their success began. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with a master’s degree earn a median weekly salary of $1,840, compared to $1,543 for those with a bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree holders also experience lower unemployment rates, highlighting the long-term value of advanced education. 

Graduate education can also help you: 

✔ Increase your earning potential 

✔ Prepare for leadership roles 

✔ Develop specialized expertise in high-demand fields 

✔ Expand your professional network 

✔ Build confidence tackling complex challenges 

✔ Increase your career flexibility 

✔ Strengthen your competitiveness in today’s workforce 

✔ Prepare for doctoral or professional study 

Your Story Doesn’t End at Graduation 

Every alumnus has a different reason for considering graduate school. 

Some are preparing for leadership. 

Some are changing careers. 

Some want to deepen their expertise. 

Others simply aren’t finished learning. 

Whether you’re exploring graduate school for the first time or returning after years in the workforce, SUNY Poly offers graduate education designed around your life, your goals, and your future. 

SUNY Poly’s Graduate Admissions team is here to help you explore your options, answer your questions, and find the path that’s right for you. Learn more about graduate programs and the application process at connect.sunypoly.edu/portal/grad or contact the Graduate Admissions Office to schedule a personalized conversation. 

After all, graduation isn’t always the final chapter. Sometimes, it’s simply the beginning of the next one.