Marie Newkirk
Assistant Director for Experiential Learning
Marie recently repatriated to the United States after 16 years of living and working in the Middle East. With 12 years of experience working in higher education in career development, she enjoys challenging, empowering, and training individuals for career exploration and growth. She is certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory and holds a certification as a Career Development Facilitator from the National Career Development Association, where she is also a member.
Before joining the University of Pittsburgh, she worked as the Career Services Manager for Northwestern University’s Qatar campus. She is experienced in career coaching, mentoring, professional development, administration, operational leadership, and experiential learning.
Marie holds a B.A. in Social Science and an M.S. in Education. She enjoys traveling, has been to over 20 countries, and likes gardening.
Alex Aleco
Experiential Learning Consultant
Alex Aleco joined the Career Center in August 2023. Aleco comes to the Career Center with a diverse background in education and multimedia art, coupled with a passion for creative research and empowering students. They have first-hand experience navigating Pitt’s undergraduate experiential learning opportunities, including undergraduate research awards and internships, workshops, and networking events. In addition to their role as Experiential Learning Consultant, Aleco continues work as a mixed-media artist and independent researcher.
Asha Seshan
Experiential Learning Consultant
Asha Seshan joined the Career Center staff in January 2024. She has lived in India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and various cities in the Unites States including Boston, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. Prior to joining University of Pittsburgh, she has a worked at a consulting company and an online marketing start-up. She also held led STEM (robotics/computer science) and sports-related non-profit organizations.
Asha graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Economics. She also has a Masters degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago.
In her spare time she leads an international LEGO robotics community for adults, serves on the board of a STEM non-profit, and mentors FIRST robotics teams.
Asha works with all majors at University of Pittsburgh, guiding students on their search for experiential learning opportunities and helping them reach their full potential.
