By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart
Spend a few minutes with Alexandra Yarosh, and your day will instantly be brighter. Known equally for her kind heart and artistic flair, Yarosh’s time at SUNY Broome was spent pursuing her passion for helping others in the classroom and honing her creative spirit as a member of the MarCom student team.
Yarosh starts every day with the same goal: to give good back to the world. Deeply empathetic to the struggles and needs of others, she always hoped to have a career with social impact. With her sights set on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and she’s well on her way, thanks to the strong foundation in Human Services she received at her community’s college.
As the lifelong Vestal resident dove into her college and career search, Yarosh was urged to consider staying local by some very special SUNY Broome alumni in her life: her parents.
“I’ve always been someone who genuinely listens to my parents, and hopes to model myself after them,” Yarosh said. “I get to benefit from their decades of life experiences. They were both students at SUNY Broome, so why not follow in their footsteps?”
Yarosh arrived on campus eager to learn as much as possible about human services organizations, counseling theory, and cultural worldview. While she was excited to embark on her new academic journey, one thing was missing – an outlet for her creative energy. Her K-12 years were consistently enriched by the fine arts, and she missed having the opportunity to express herself artistically. Once again heeding her dad’s sound advice, she applied for an open student assistant position in the College’s Office of Marketing & Communications (MarCom).
Yarosh balanced her studies with an on campus job and volunteering in the community. (Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers)
“I have to admit that back then, I didn’t fully understand all of the things that MarCom does,” Yarosh laughed. “I had no idea that I would get to be a part of so many cool projects and events. I spent my first day painting pumpkins for a fall display, and I remember thinking, ‘This job is just what I needed.’”
As a member of the MarCom student team, Yarosh was tasked to help create funny, informative, and engaging digital content to keep the student body connected and involved with campus life. When it came time for her to contribute to creative projects, she quickly realized that all of her content tended to have a theme.
“As a human services student, we focus a lot on how to connect people to resources that will help reduce the obstacles of daily life,” Yarosh explained. “So I tried to gear my content to do that. I highlighted campus services and interviewed professors about their best tips for a successful semester.”
Yarosh has earned high praise in MarCom as an enthusiastic utility player who never hesitates to jump in, lend a helping hand, and keep spirits high. Whether filling 100 gift bags with SUNY Broome swag, delivering lines for a funny reel, or leading Stinger in a viral TikTok dance challenge – Yarosh was your girl. But her positive and dependable nature extended beyond campus. Feeling a personal call to lend a helping hand in her backyard, she balanced her studies with volunteering with the Crime Victims Assistance Center (CVAC) and mentoring a fifth-grade student at Calvin Coolidge Elementary School.
As she continues to map a pathway to her future academic and professional goals, one key thing is clear. Yarosh plans to support the community that raised her.
“There, of course, is a need for social workers everywhere, but I’d love to be a social worker in the Binghamton area,” Yarosh reflected. “I feel really connected to my community and would love to help others locally, even if it’s just in small ways.”
While some might question why a human services student would seek out a campus job in MarCom, Yarosh is confident knowing she’s gaining experience that is beneficial across every field.
“I’m so grateful for my time in MarCom. I’ve learned so much and met some incredible people. One day, when an organization that I work for needs to market a resource, highlight a service, or promote an event, I’ll be able to do it for them. Marketing and communications are behind every business and organization!”
Inspired by Yarosh’s desire to make an impact? Learn more about SUNY Broome’s Human Services A.S. program: Human Services | SUNY Broome
Yarosh hopes to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the Southern Tier. (Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers)
