Trustee network leads to job for Marlboro student

When Marlboro senior Logan Davis was elected as head selectperson, they had no idea it would lead them (Logan’s pronoun of choice) to an engaging internship and job offer as a software engineer. That opportunity only came about through Logan’s collegial association with Kirsten Newcomer ’82, Marlboro alumna and trustee.

“I first met Logan when they were attending trustee meetings as head selectperson,” said Kirsten, principal product marketing manager at Red Hat, an international open source software provider. “Logan also attended tea with the trustees, and this gave us more opportunity to talk. I learned more about what Logan was studying and we talked about my work in software.”

Kirsten connected Logan with recruiters to explore internship opportunities at Black Duck, another open source software provider based in Burlington, Massachusetts, where she was previously employed. She felt that Logan’s excellent communication skills and computer science experience were a great fit for a variety of roles there.

“In preparing for the interview, Kirsten gave me tips, guidance, and made the connections it took to get my resume in,” said Logan, who worked as a technical support intern and automation engineer at Black Duck last summer and over winter break. “After I started working she checked in with me to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind, and acted as an excellent mentor.”

At the end of the summer, Logan was offered a full-time position in the Technical Rotation Development program at Black Duck, starting as soon as they graduate. Over the next year and a half, they will work in three different engineering departments in the company, then be able to choose which of the three to join in a long-term role.

“Early in my first stint, I realized that Black Duck was more than just a job in my field, it was also a community not too dissimilar from Marlboro,” said Logan. “The company’s low-tiered, self-aware, ethically and technically concerned way of working connected deeply with how I feel about being a student at Marlboro. The opportunity to work at such a phenomenal company was only afforded to me through my connection with Kirsten.”

“Getting to know trustees in informal settings can provide many kinds of benefits,” said Kirsten. “Of course, Logan got the job himself—I only provided the connection—but personal referrals make a difference and help candidates stand out. It is worth getting to know the trustees, who often have wide networks. We all want to help Marlboro students succeed.”