YAC Chairs
Alicia Kolling (Chair)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Latrobe, PA
Current Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Graduation Year/School/Major: ENGR ’14 (Bioengineering w/ Minor in German)
Favorite Pitt Memory: Pitt Basketball 3OT win over WVU my freshman year (2010)
Favorite Pitt Tradition & Why: Lantern Night - It’s Pitt's OLDEST tradition with meaningful symbolism. I love the idea of being a flame bearer and to pass the Light of Learning to my future children.
Advice to Current Students: Study less! This advice isn't giving you permission to not study, instead it is meant to encourage you to say "yes" to plans with friends and explore all the University has to offer on and off campus. You're more than a GPA and these are the memories you'll remember after your graduation from Pitt.
Favorite Oakland Eatery: Half price grilled cheese at Hem's
Employer & Job Title: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh - Senior Advanced Practice Provider
Hobbies: All things Pitt, running, Netflix, making lists.
Fun Fact: It's easy to see how impactful my Pitt experience was! My husband and I met at Pitt and were married in Heinz Chapel, our cat Shady is named after LeSean McCoy, and our pup Fitz is named after the great Larry Fitzgerald.
What motivated you to apply (or drew your interest) to YAC? Moving back to Pittsburgh following graduate school, I was eager to reengage with Pitt but unsure how. I attended some PAA events in the area and, while entertaining, I was always looking to engage with more recent Pitt graduates. Through social media I came across a call for YAC (formerly YAAT) applicants. Drawn to its mission I applied and the rest is history.
What are your goals for YAC this year? My broad-brush goal is to encourage continued engagement of recent Pitt graduates as they transition from students to alumni by offering programming that is applicable to all interests, whether hosted by YAC or another Regional or Affinity Network, and provide opportunities for young alumni to give back to the Pitt community in whatever way they comfortable doing so.
Nasreen Harun (Chair-Elect 2023 – 2025)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Wallingford, PA
Current Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Graduation Year/School/Major: CBA ’16 (Human Resources Management & Marketing)
Favorite Pitt Memory: My time spent with SGB- I will never forget the opportunities and lifelong friendships it gave me.
Favorite Pitt Tradition & Why: Oakland Zoo- School Spirit and Dippin' Dots at the Pete!
Advice to Current Students: Get involved outside of the classroom to give you a well-rounded Pitt experience.
Favorite Oakland Eatery: Hemingway's Cafe
Employer & Job Title: HR Business Partner Associate - PNC Financial Services, Inc.
Hobbies: Trying new classes with Peloton
Fun Fact: My senior year, I had the honor of introducing (at the time) Vice President Joe Biden for an It's On Us event
What motivated you to apply (or drew your interest) to YAC? I joined YAC because I wanted to deepen my involvement with the Pitt Community as an alumni and find ways to help other alumni do the same.
What are your goals for YAC this year? For all recent Pitt Alumni to know at least 1-2 ways that they can remain connected to Pitt after they graduate.
Events Committee Co-Chairs
Ali Rich, A&S ‘19 | Rockville, MD
James Woods, SHRS ’16 | Philadelphia, PA
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Current Location: Philadelphia, PA
Graduation Year/School/Major: 2016/SHRS/Rehabilitation Sciences
Favorite Pitt Memory: Nights at G Door
Favorite Pitt Tradition & Why: Singing Sweet Caroline at the end of the 3rd quarter because we all knew the game was unofficially over after that!
Advice to Current Students: Don't postpone joy and live in the moment as best you can.
Favorite Oakland Eatery:Red Oak Cafe
Employer & Job Title: Axuall, Associate Product Manager
Hobbies: I love running!
Fun Fact:I've run a half marathon every year since 2017.
What motivated you to apply (or drew your interest) to YAC? I wanted to be closer to the Pitt young alumni community and expand my network.
What are your goals for YAC this year?I want to see YAC grow and become an essential part of the Pitt Alumni mission.
Outreach Committee Co-Chairs
Calen Cygan, A&S ’12 | Pittsburgh, PA
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Slippery Rock, PA
Current Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Graduation Year/School/Major: 2012/Arts & Sciences/Anthropology and Linguistics
Favorite Pitt Memory: Taking advantage of all the free admission with our Pitt ID - like Phipps and the Carnegie Museums!
Favorite Pitt Tradition & Why: All the chants and cheers during football and basketball games - the whole crowd feels so united as one!!
Advice to Current Students: Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you and don't be afraid to seek out opportunities for things that interest you.
Favorite Oakland Eatery: Fuel & Fuddle
Employer & Job Title: AAA, Branch Manager
Hobbies: Traveling - I want to go to every state and every country. So far, I've been to 40 states and 62 countries!
Fun Fact: I taught English in South Korea for four years.
What motivated you to apply (or drew your interest) to YAC? I was always so proud of Pitt throughout my travels and being back in the Pittsburgh area motivated me to be more involved!
What are your goals for YAC this year? I want to see us grow more members in YAC and be useful for our Young Alumni Network in networking, job opportunities, socializing, etc.
Danielle Siegel, A&S ’14 | NYC, NY
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Westchester, NY
Current Location: New York City, NY
Graduation Year/School/Major: 2014, A&S, Political Science and History
Favorite Pitt Memory: Friday Night Shabbat Dinners at Hillel and Chabad.
Favorite Pitt Tradition & Why: The Nationality Rooms holiday tours and party, because it really gave me (and so many others) the chance to wear cool costumes, meet new people, and learn about other cultures and traditions in a fun and unique way.
Advice to Current Students: Meet new people-you never know where you're going to find a drinking buddy, best friend, or even future employer.
Favorite Oakland Eatery: 7-11 (for the Slurpees). I keep kosher so...lol.
Employer & Job Title: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., Legal Counsel
Hobbies: Baking!
Fun Fact: I'm a triplet-and my sisters and I all went to Pitt together.
What motivated you to apply (or drew your interest) to YAC? I love meeting new people and networking, so I attended a few alumni events. I wanted to help encourage other young alums to network and make new friends too.
What are your goals for YAC this year? I want to see YAC grow and expand by helping new people get involved and stay involved with YAC and the wider Pitt community.