Alumni Story

Catawba helped shape me and led me to achieve my dreams in the workforce.”

“Catawba always made me feel part of a community. I had so much support and help from my College family."

Liliane has a successful career with Ernst and Young as a Training Recruiter and Advisor. What many may not know about Lili is that she has several disabilities. 

Lili found a caring community at Catawba College that made her feel part of a family. She is grateful for her communications internship at the VA Hospital in Salisbury which provided real-world work experience.  She also credits her advisor for offering a lot of support and assistance. 

“My internship provided me with tremendous insight into the working world and helped me land my first job after graduation.”

After Catawba, Lili went on to obtain her master's degree in 2019 in Media Communication and Global Development from the University of East London. She was hired as a recruiter by the Surrey County Council, but when COVID-19 hit, she was laid off. Lili took temporary work to prevent any gaps in her employment history. Her persistence paid off.

In February 2022, Lili was hired by Ernst and Young in a new program they are piloting in the UK to increase diversity.

"Be persistent in applying for jobs," offers Lili. "Even if you are first told no, reapply for something else. Keep applying because eventually someone will say yes."