Meet the Staff
Alex Hochman
Senior Director
Pronouns: he/him/his
University of Michigan
BA Communication
John F. Kennedy University
MA Career Development
Favorite Places in the City
Roxie Food Center in the Mission Terrace neighborhood (best sandwich in town!), AT&T Park
Hobbies and Interests
Overly obsessive fan of University of Michigan football and basketball and the San Francisco Giants. Part-time restaurant critic. Traveling near and far with my wife and two daughters.
First internship/job
In high school, I worked at Lombardi’s Sports which was then on Clement Street. I sold sneakers and learned how to deal with a truly diverse group of customers. I once sold Robin Williams a pair of Nikes!
Best piece of career advice I received
“Just because you’re good at doing something doesn’t mean that you like to do it."
Ellen Kelly
Director of Career Success
Pronouns: she/her/hers
University of Missouri - Columbia
BA in Business Administration
Major: Logistics, Minor: Marketing
San Francisco State University
MS Counseling, Emphasis in College and Career Counseling
Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University
MA Theological Studies, Concentration: Christian Spirituality
Favorite Places in the City
Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Twin Peaks, Crissy Field, AT&T Park, anywhere I'm with friends
Hobbies and Interests
Baseball, Reading, KC BBQ, Family, Symphony, Living life by my motto: Carpe Diem
First internship/job
My first internship was at Deluxe Check Printers (yes people used to write a lot of checks!) as a logistics intern. I was offered a management trainee position and worked there for 3 years before deciding I didn't want to focus on shipping checks all over the country for my career.
Best piece of career advice I received
As cliche as it sounds, when I experienced my first career crossroads at 24, someone told me to read "What Color is Your Parachute." Not only did I read it, but I did every darn exercise in the book, conducted a plethora of informational interviews, and finally had the courage to quit my job, travel to Europe for 4+ months, and then apply for and go to the Peace Corps. That road less traveled has made all the difference.
Julia Hing
Director of Employer Relationships
Pronouns: she/her/hers
University of Michigan
BBA with an Emphasis in Marketing
University of San Francisco
MS in Project Management
Favorite Places in the City
Walking through the Ferry Building, grabbing a lunch at one of the food stands, and sitting on a bench by the water.
Hobbies and Interests
I enjoy cooking and love to learn new, easy recipes and pairing appropriate wines. I got into tennis about 10 years ago and play actively on various tennis leagues.
First internship/job
My family owned a small business, a Chinese take-out, and I learned food preparation and customer service techniques there.
Best piece of career advice I received
Early in my career, I was laid off from a company, and my manager suggested that I use the time to look into jobs I felt more suitable for. After a couple of months, I got my first job in marketing/merchandising for an entertainment retailer. It was definitely a better fit.
Stephanie Belfiore
Assistant Director of Employer Relationships
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
BS Retail and Consumer Sciences
University of San Francisco
MA Organization & Leadership
Favorite Places in the City
Crissy Field for running or hanging out at the beach, hiking Lands End, walking the hidden trails of Golden Gate Park, exploring the Ferry Building farmer's market, killing time in Green Apple Books.
Hobbies and Interests
Running with my dog, hiking, kayaking, and spending time at the beach. I also enjoy gardening, crafting, reading, and traveling to new places with my family.
First internship/job
As soon as I was old enough for a work permit, I got a job at Wendy's. After three months of seeing the inner workings of a fast food chain, I decided it was not where I wanted to be. I promptly resigned and got a job working the sales floor at a clothing store which I enjoyed much more!
Best piece of career advice I received
Opportunity often comes when you least expect it and may present itself in unexpected ways. Be ready to jump at it when it comes your way!
Juli-Anne Brockway
Career Counselor
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Borough of Manhattan Community College/CUNY
AA Liberal Arts
Baruch College/CUNY
BA Psychology
Teachers College, Columbia University
MA Higher & Postsecondary Education
Favorite Places in the City
Golden Gate Park
Hobbies and Interests
Hiking, amateur photography, road trips, visiting national parks
First internship/job
Working as a cashier at the Hampton Classic in the summer while in high school.
Best piece of career advice I received
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door."
Yesame Kinfe
Career Counselor
Pronouns: she/her/hers
University of California, Berkeley
BA, Media Studies
San Francisco State University
MS, Counseling
Favorite Places in the City
The Conservatory of Flowers and Ocean Beach.
Hobbies and Interests
Traveling, reading, and cooking/baking.
First internship/job
My first internship was in college as a marketing and editorial intern at a book publishing office where I did market research and created press releases for new books. This internship made me realize I’d rather have a career in helping others and I pivoted to working with students.
Best piece of career advice I received
If you’re in between work and having a tough time getting a job, volunteer! Always be open to opportunities. You can learn a lot about yourself and see what kinds of careers are out there when you try different things.
Corey Kowalczyke
Program Assistant
Pronouns: he/they
ckowalczyke@usfca.edu
University of San Francisco
BA, International Studies
Favorite Places in the City
24th Street Mission District, Russian/Nob Hill (where you can see the water, and the Bay Bridge!), Outer Richmond Clement Street, Any grassy area with dogs!
Hobbies and Interests
Finding new places to eat and hang out with friends! Music, reading, and exploring the Bay Area with my dog, Nacho
First internship/job
My first real job was working at a Starbucks in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. The 4:30 am shifts were brutal, but I was always caffeinated.
Best piece of career advice I received
If you do not sustain yourself, in taking care of your whole self (emotional, physical, spiritual), then you cannot sustain the work you do. If we wish to be present in our work, we must take care of ourselves and listen to our hearts, mind, and body.
Jessica Li
Career Counselor
Pronouns: she/her/hers
jmli2@usfca.edu
University of California, Irvine
B.A. Drama, Minor: Educational Studies
San Francisco State University
M.S. Counseling, Emphasis Career and Specialization College
Favorite Places in the City
The Mission, Ferry Building, Ocean Beach
Hobbies/Interests
Yoga, Indoor Cycling, Swimming, Crafting, Cooking
First Internship/job
The summer before college, I was an event staff at a rock climbing gym as I belayed kids as they scaled up the rock wall. I was also a bus driver at UC Irvine where I had to get my commercial driver's license as part of my job.
Best Piece of Career Advice I received
Know your worth and always negotiate your salary so you don't leave money on the table. Even if they (the employer) say no, 99% of the time they won't take the job offer away from you just because you asked. Remember, that it's purely business and 70% of hiring managers expect folks to negotiate.