Alumni Profiles
Where Are They Now
Eyliena Baker - Class of 2020
Sociology Major with Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor
Business Analyst for Peak Performance Solutions
How did Moravian prepare you for your current role?
Growing up, I was overshadowed and talked over. I still am at Christmas. When I got to Moravian, I fell into such a comfortable place. I still look back fondly because I found my voice, I found being comfortable, I found people who would listen wholeheartedly. I had so much love for authentic conversations and connections, which is 100% the theme of being at Moravian. I was such a timid thing growing up, and then I got to Moravian, and realized I can be a leader. I gained so much confidence. My boss recently left to peruse something else and I was able to step up and become the interim development manager.
How did Moravian help shape your career path?
I started at Moravian intent on law school. I was president of the Pre-Law Club and interned at Northampton County Courthouse. Then covid hit. Yes, law school sounded great, but when I had a minute to reflect, I was like, I don't know if I want to do this. My degree is in sociology, which could be applied to many things, and it does. I am in software right now, and I absolutely love it! My entire curriculum, my entire way of life when I was there was law school and now I'm not doing any of that. I don't think I would have been comfortable accepting my promotion to manager without the authentic connections and experience that I had at Moravian. I will always be grateful for that.
What is your favorite book at the moment?
I've been reading a lot of fantasy. That's been my escape from the world right now. I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses series and I loved Fourth Wing.
What is something you wish you could tell your 20 year old self?
I would say, you have a really good head on your shoulders and you just have to trust that you do. Your experience and your connections with people is only going to get better. You don't have to have a million things on your resume, you don't have to have all these things. If you have a good mindset and a good head everything will be just fine.
What are your current future plans?
I'm looking forward to a new chapter. My boyfriend and I have been in Tallahassee for 5 years and we have both really focused on our professions and integrating into the workforce. He's been working on getting his PhD, and I wanted to really throw myself into becoming a successful person in the work field. So now we're both excited for me be comfortable with my new leadership role, in this very new field to me, because software was never on my radar. We're excited for the next chapter of life, where we're situated and can kind of like enjoy life to its fullest without working our butts off. Preferably abroad.
What is your fondest memory of your time at Moravian?
I was asked to give a speech on what scholarships and donations have done for me at the Comenius Dinner at Hotel B. Which was crazy for me to get up and do. I come from Kunkltown, PA, my mom was a single mom with 6 kids, and it helped immensely for me to be able to come to a school like Moravian. In my speech I reflected on my time here. It was such a wonderful stage, literally and figuratively, to be on. I felt so empowered. I actually still have framed pictures from that night.
Andrew S. Benner - Class of 1997
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Cumberland County
How did Moravian prepare you for your current role?
I took a counseling class and we would do counseling-type role-playing, and I remember the professor saying to me, ‘Are you sure you want to be criminal justice? You're pretty good at counseling.’ I've really found that as a juvenile probation officer, you have to wear multiple hats. At times you have to do law enforcement, but a lot of the job is more counseling and sociology-oriented. I would say the best probation officers have both skill sets.
How did Moravian help shape your career path?
The spring semester of my junior year, I did a Washington semester at American University. I took classes, did a major research project and got an internship. My internship was with federal probation in Alexandria, Virginia. Once I worked in federal probation, I was like, oh, this is perfect for me. This is exactly what I want. To get that internship during the Washington semester really set me on my career path.
Do you have any advanced degrees?
I did go on and get my master's degree at Shippensburg University in Criminal Justice Administration through a program within the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges Commission that sponsors a master's program.
What is your favorite book at the moment?
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. and Tattoos On The Heart by Father Greg Boyle. I would highly recommend. They are great books.
What is something you wish you could tell your 20 year old self?
Make sure you take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you. I never, even today, close doors, so I never think, this is it, I'm going to be in this role for the rest of my career. I'm always searching. And sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to look for possibilities and open doors. And make sure that you explore them. Don’t get locked into thinking you're going to go a certain way with your career, or just your life, keep your options open.
What goal are you working toward?
I'm really involved in the movement of what juvenile justice looks like in Pennsylvania. I get to be a part of building what I think is a national leader in juvenile justice in Pennsylvania by really focusing on evidence-based practices, the implementation of science into our field, and using research and data to help inform our decisions. Systems have really changed to be more interactive, working with youth, trying to work on risk and need areas, develop skills, provide interventions in those areas. With the ultimate goal of reducing the number of youth that end up in the adult criminal justice system. We've reduced recidivism significantly over the years by changing the way we do business. It used to be, you check in with kids, make sure they're not committing crimes, make sure they're not doing drugs, and you'd go on your way. Now we do assessments, we're figuring out what areas youth are struggling in and really try to provide services in those areas. I think is very important to make sure we continue to refine our system in the years ahead.