UWM’s strong ties to businesses and nonprofits in southeastern Wisconsin give students experiences and connections to kick-start their careers, and many leave college with full-time jobs.
UWM’s Center for Student Experience and Talent helps students find internships and provides career planning and other helpful resources. Students can also get involved with Panthers Connect, which provides mentoring and networking opportunities with UWM alumni.
Here’s a look at just a few of the UWM students who have secured full-time jobs before graduation.
Jeremi Lukos
Architectural studies major Jeremi Lukos turned his internship at RINKA into a full-time designer role, where he will develop design concepts and visual presentations. His time at UWM, including roles in student government and the American Institute of Architecture Students, helped him build skills and experience. He also took advantage of UWM’s alumni network, connecting with graduates for insight, guidance and professional connections that supported his growth.
“I owe a lot of my success as a student to UWM’s strong alumni community,” Lukos said.
Grace Barden
Grace Barden was hired at the Heidi Lowe Gallery, where she will work on jewelry repair, custom commissions and gallery operations. Her time as a Jewelry and Metalsmithing major, along with guidance from faculty mentors, helped her confidently step into a professional creative environment.
Jack Linge
Through UWM’s investment management certificate program, finance major Jack Linge gained hands-on experience managing real investment portfolios and skills in financial analysis and modeling. He will use that experience in his role at a private investment fund in Tampa, Florida, where he will evaluate public equities and private deals to identify strong investment opportunities.
Sara Dharani
Sara Dharani was hired as a social studies teacher at South Milwaukee High School, where she will teach U.S. history and government. Through the grades 4-12 social studies education program for grades 4-12, she gained classroom experience and built connections around campus. “I was able to meet so many leaders and mentors, directly connecting me with the opportunities I have today,” Dharani said.
Suzanne Gorman
Through UWM’s mechanical engineering bachelor’s program and accelerated master’s degree program, along with her work in the College of Engineering & Applied Science makerspace, Suzanne Gorman developed strong technical skills. “I had tons of support from faculty and other students,” she said. Gorman will bring that experience to her role as an applications engineer at Lucas Milhaupt, where she will develop customized brazing solutions and support production projects.
Mason Middaugh
Information Science and Technology student Mason Middaugh turned an internship at IEWC into a full-time information technology support specialist role, where he will provide end-user support and access control administration. He said hands-on coursework in networking, system administration and project management gave him a strong, well-rounded foundation and the confidence to take on a wide range of responsibilities in a professional IT environment.
Khatera Nazari
Hired at Northwestern Mutual as a full-stack data scientist, data science student Khatera Nazari will apply her skills in generative AI to improve response accuracy and efficiency. She also plans to pursue a graduate degree at Georgia Tech in 2027, focusing on advancing AI solutions. She said her experiences connecting with employers at UWM career fairs, along with her technical coursework, helped her secure the role and prepare for success in the field.
Vanity Conroy- Muñoz
Through UWM’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and clinical experiences, Vanity Conroy- Muñoz developed the skills needed to deliver effective, patient-centered care. “UWM has given me a strong academic foundation, hands-on clinical experience and the confidence to apply evidence-based care to real patients,” she said. Conroy- Muñoz will bring that experience to PT Solutions as a physical therapist, helping patients recover movement, reduce pain and improve physical function.
Brijohnne Ferguson
Nursing major Brijohnne Ferguson was hired as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she will care for critically ill newborns. Her time at UWM, including faculty mentorship and hands-on clinical experiences like her cohort’s obstetric simulation, helped shape her passion for neonatal care. “My professors’ passion for neonatal care was truly infectious and helped me discover a passion in nursing I didn’t know I had,” Ferguson said.
