When it was time for Yasaman Mahmood Kalayeh from Iran to find a postgraduate program in line with her goals, the options were plenty. While enrolled in another university in pursuit of a Master of Architecture, she received an offer from Jefferson to pursue the same. Although she was happy where she was, all it took was a visit to the Jefferson campus to change her mind.

During her studies, the atmosphere was friendly and her teachers were supportive. “As a student without family or friends around, it was very important for me to feel welcomed and not to feel like an outsider. The faculty, staff, and students definitely made this place feel like home for me,” she says.

Her Jefferson journey set her on a path of academic achievement and professional development. With guidance from the university, Kalayeh was able to land an internship at Stantec, a global architecture firm with over 350 offices in communities worldwide.

“Through a design expo that was held on campus, I was able to get a couple of interviews and offers. Stantec was more aligned with what I had envisioned for myself. I did a full summer internship and a part-time internship for two semesters there until I graduated,” Kalayeh shares.

Today, Kalayeh can still be found perfecting her skills at Stantec, no longer as an intern, but as an Architectural Designer. She credits Jefferson for providing her with the toolkit for professional growth. “Firms have really good experiences with Jefferson alumni and they usually talk highly about them which makes it easier to find a job after graduation,” she explains.

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