Team

Mary Santoro, Associate Director, Career Services, MS.L, CCSP, GCDF

Mary graduated from Roger Williams University with a Master of Science degree in Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has served in several roles within the Center for Career and Professional Development prior to advising the Cummings School of Architecture and Gabelli School of Business. Currently, Mary serves as the Associate Director of Career Services and enjoys working with students directly, assisting fellow hawks in confidence building, and career coaching, through all aspects of professional development.

Career advisor for the following majors:
Gabelli School of Business: All Majors | Cummings School of Architecture: All Majors |

Kevin Deeb earned a B.A. in Educational Studies with a double minor in Psychology and Business Management from Roger Williams University and recently an M.Ed. in School Counseling from Providence College. Throughout the past six years of undergraduate and graduate school. Kevin has been working on university campuses in a variety of student focused areas including student programming, career development, student conduct, residence life, cultural programming and academic advising. Now, Kevin is excited to channel his passion and commitment of helping others in a professional role at RWU. He is thrilled to mentor students as they discover their passions and develop their skills as leaders and citizens in our emerging society, in addition, he is assist in allowing students to grow in their professional, academic and personal lives throughout their time at RWU and beyond.

Career Advisor for the following majors:

School of Social Sciences: Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology & Sociology, International Relations

School of Justice Studies: Legal Studies, Security Assurance Studies, Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity & Networking

School of Humanities, Arts & Education: Communication & Media Studies, Creative Writing, Cultural Studies, Dance/Performance, Educational Studies, Elementary Education, English Literature, Graphic Design Communications, History, Journalism, Modern Languages, Music, Performing Arts, Philosophy, Public Relations, Secondary Education, Special Education, Theatre, Visual Arts and Web Development

Molly Williams, M.Ed. – Career Advisor

Molly Williams earned a B.A. in Medicine, Health, and Society with a double major in Human & Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont. Between undergraduate, graduate, and professional roles, she has been working on university campuses for nine years in a variety of areas including residence life, admissions, fraternity & sorority life, academic affairs, and now career development. Molly is excited to accompany students as they discover their passions and develop their skills as leaders and citizens, and to help them connect their experiences inside and outside the classroom to their journey beyond Roger Williams.

Molly is the Career Advisor for the following majors:
School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management: All Majors
School of Social and Natural Sciences: Applied Mathematics, Aquaculture & Aquarium Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Mathematics, Modeling & Simulation, Public Health

Rena Piller-Thurston ‘97, Assistant Director, Experiential Learning 

Rena Piller-Thurston graduated from Roger Williams University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Leadership at University College. After graduating with her BA, she began a curatorial position and later a development position at the Newport Historical Society.  Following her time at the Newport Historical Society, she worked at the Preservation Society of Newport County managing their Annual Fund.  Rena returned to RWU in 2004 to work in the Office of Institutional Advancement and later the Honors Program.  She took over coordination of the internship program as the Assistant Director, Experiential Learning in the Center for Career & Professional Development in April 2018. 

Sierra Zschirnt, Associate Director, External Relations 

After graduating from Salve Regina University with a degree in Administration of Justice Sierra worked for a luxury, wedding and event planning company in Newport Rhode Island for 5 years. In that 5 years Sierra also served as the Director of Development for the non profit the Confetti Foundation. Sierra joined Roger Williams University as the Associate Director of External Relations in July of 2018. She works to establish new and grow existing, alumni and employer partnerships to help develop programs and events that support and enhance students’ professional skills.