College is about more than choosing a major or program of study. It’s about preparing for what comes next. At Sacred Heart University, career development begins in your first year and continues throughout your time at SHU and well beyond graduation. Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumni, receive tailored career coaching, experiential learning, and lifelong professional support focused on their specific career goals.
Career preparation starts on day one. At SHU, career development is integrated into your undergraduate experience. You begin exploring options early, so you gain clarity, confidence, and hands-on experience long before graduation.
Career exploration begins in your first year with Discover You, SHU’s guided program that helps students identify interests, strengths, and values and explore career paths related to your major. Interactive tools, reflection exercises, and alumni engagement help you connect your academic work to real opportunities before making long‑term decisions.
As you move through your program, you build essential professional skills with support from the Center for Career & Professional Development. Students receive support including:
You also gain access to Handshake, SHU’s career platform featuring 3.5 million internships and jobs, and more than 850,000 employers, along with Pioneers Connect, which links students to SHU alumni for mentorship and networking. Graduate students receive specialized coaching that reflects their professional experience, academic focus, and career timeline—whether advancing in their field, changing industries, or pursuing leadership roles.
Hands‑on experience is a core part of the SHU experience. Students begin early, participating in internships, job shadowing, service-learning, leadership roles, and applied projects tied to their academic programs. Employer partnerships span health care, business, finance, media, technology, education, and nonprofit organizations. Direct train access to New York City and Stamford further expands internship opportunities.
By graduation, students are prepared to take their next step with confidence. SHU students are supported through career fairs, employer networking events, interview coaching, and job‑search strategy and guidance. Additional resources include professional headshots, LinkedIn profile support, and targeted coaching for competitive fields, helping graduates stand out in the job market.
Graduate students enter SHU with focused goals and receive career support designed to help them achieve their goals more quickly. Our career development team includes dedicated industry-focused advisers who understand the nuances of fields such as business, health care, technology, education, and more. Whether you are advancing in your field, pivoting industries, or preparing for leadership roles, you’ll gain expert guidance aligned with your ambitions.
Annie Suffredini, Executive Director 
“From their first day to their first job, we guide students as they grow into confident professionals ready to succeed.”
Connie Cuccurese, Assistant Director
“Being undecided is where discovery begins. We help students explore possibilities, gain clarity, and move forward with confidence.”
“The job search is more than applying—it’s building a strategy, showcasing strengths, and making meaningful connections. We help students gain the confidence to turn goals into real opportunities.”
Steve Marks, Director 
“We help students turn their college experiences into powerful resumes that show employers exactly what they’re capable of.”
Cicely Poggi-Gedacht, Associate Director
“Through interview prep and practice, we help students turn preparation into confidence—and confidence into opportunity.”
“Networking is about building real relationships that open doors. SHU connects students with employers, alumni, and mentors—turning conversations into internships, opportunities, and building the confidence to take the next step.”
Justin Triscari, Associate Director
“Internships help students explore careers, build skills, and find the right path forward—and we guide them every step of the way.”
Sheila Lillis, Associate Director
“Students don’t need all the answers to start—just preparation, persistence, and the confidence to keep moving forward. That’s what we help them build.”
“We prepare students to advocate for themselves—because knowing your value and negotiating your future is key to career success.”
A Sacred Heart education delivers measurable outcomes across industries. Students gain access to 3.5 million internships and jobs and 850,000 employers.
Whether you’re starting your college journey or advancing your career through graduate study, Sacred Heart University offers the support and connections you need to succeed.
