CFPCA Alumni Resources for Students
Leverage the experience of Wayne State alumni to maximize your academic and career potential.
Get answers to career-building and life-changing questions from people who at one time walked in your shoes and have found success. Our alumni volunteers have a broad range of talent, experience, interests and skills:
New in 2025!!
We have expanded our services to provide two types of mentoring experiences:
• Traditional mentoring, where students will be paired with a mentor who best matches their needs and experiences.
• A less structured chat format where one can post questions, request advice and watch videos that address the most frequently asked questions.
Some of the most requested discussion topics:
• Resumé building, review and refinement
• Time management and prograstination
• Job search and networking strategies
• Establishing their professional brand
• Interview techniques and mock interview role play
The process:
• Complete a short application here
• Meet with the Alumni Relations Officer (brief 10 minute meeting)
• Gain access to our Alumni Resource Chat Board and begin working with students immediately!
• If you are interested in a traditional mentoring format, you will be paired with a mentor that best suits your interests, needs and preferences.
Meet our 2024-2025 CFPCA Mentors:
Name: Helena Bouchez
Degree: BA in Art, ‘90
Specialties: Freelancing Profitably, ADHD Management, Expanding Professional Network
Helena Bouchez is a multi-passionate, neurodivergent creative person currently making a living as a professional freelance writer and nonfiction book editor—her third career.
As a mentor, Helena is known as a deep listener who provides on point, actionable advice.
Pick Helena if you want guidance on starting a freelance business that actually makes money (or how to make more money if you’re already freelancing), you want to learn proven structures for managing your ADHD, or want to know strategies for expanding your network, which really is your net worth.
Name: Ray Day
Degree Info: ’98 B.A. in Journalism
Specialties: Interview skills, networking and differentiating yourself.
Ray Day is Vice Chair of Stagwell. His role supports the integration, innovation and growth of Stagwell's more than 70 global agencies, with a particular focus on communications, public relations, corporate affairs, reputation and directly serving as senior communications counsel for major clients around the world.
Name: Bryce Denison
Degree: MA ‘90
Specialties: Nature, Landscape, Portraiture, Fashion, Macro, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, Fashion, Fine Art Nude, Sports and the Business of Art and Photography, photographic portfolio review.
Bryce Denison holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from The College for Creative Studies in applied photography and holds a Masters degree in photography from Wayne State University (where he spent many years as an adjunct professor). Bryce travels throughout the United States and Canada where he lectures at various photographic events. He has lectured on behalf of Ilford Corporation and was a representative for Westcott Corporation at national meetings and conventions for over 15 years each. Bryce has work exhibited nationally has many pieces represented in the permanent collection of several museums, galleries, and private collections across the country. Recently, Bryce retired as an Arson Investigation Photographer for the Detroit Fire Department. He is a certified Evidence Technician, Arson Instructor, and has served as the Director of Midwest Photography Workshops since 1980.
Name: Charlie Kadado
Degree info: Juris Doctor, B.A. in Journalism
Specialties: Networking, navigating internships/jobs, multitasking, time management
Charlie Kadado is a litigation attorney at the southeastern Michigan offices of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. He practices in the areas of commercial litigation, media/First Amendment law, and family law. Charlie earned his Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism, magna cum laude, from Wayne State University, where he was named Journalism Graduate of the Year. He earned his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School, cum laude, where he served on the Wayne Law Review and Moot Court team. Charlie was named a Dick Goehler Scholar by the American Bar Association and was granted the Joseph Grano Prize for Excellence in Constitutional Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, Charlie worked as the Real Time Manager at WXYZ-TV, the Detroit ABC affiliate.
Name: Shannon Kurzyniec
Degree: B.A Art, ‘19
Specialties: Jewelry/Metal Fabrication, Installation Art, Thinking outside the confines of creative culture.
Shannon Kurzyniec (b. 1984, Detroit, Michigan) is a jeweler, metalsmith, and social activist based in the United States. She is currently a Post Master’s Teaching Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and a recent graduate of VCU's MFA program in the Department of Craft/Material Studies in Richmond, Virginia. Kurzyniec earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University in 2019, with a minor in Textile Design and concentrations in Jewelry/Metalsmithing and Fibers.
Utilizing body adornment, installation, performance, and video, Kurzyniec explores new ways in which to express her opinions on the personal and social impacts of prescription medication on the human condition.
During her undergraduate studies, she served as the Peer Mentor for the Gallery Learning Community, helping students understand the operations of galleries and navigate the broader art community. From volunteering in 2018 to becoming the lead instructor for the annual Mobile Arts workshops in 2019, she embraced her passion for creating and teaching art.
While at VCU, Kurzyniec co-chaired the Ethical Metalsmiths Students Chapter, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible practices in jewelry and metalsmithing. Her recent exhibitions include the Radical Jewelry Makeover: Artist Project Pop-Up Exhibition (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA), Bring On the Gems(SNAG, Online Exhibition), and Truth or Dare (Adorn Axis, Brooklyn, NY). In addition, she was an invited speaker at the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference (Chicago, IL), representing the international juried exhibition and competition So Fresh + So Clean 2023.
Name: Alexandra “Alex” Leroux
Degree: ’18 BA Broadcast Journalism, minor PR and communication studies
Specialties: Communications, broadcast journalism, marketing, sports communications, social media, unique career path, crossover of PR/journalism/marketing/comms, moving for work, thinking/learning about different jobs you didn’t know existed, resumes, LinkedIn, ethical AI use, working as a female in news/sports
Alex Leroux works as the Manager of Business Communications for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. An avid storyteller, Leroux has been able to share stories through television news as a reporter, social and digital media work, marketing and communications roles, and has been able to combine her love of storytelling and sports while working as an Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and now with the Red Wings and Tigers. A dual citizen, who grew up in Ontario, Leroux chose Wayne State from the beginning and four years later was honored as the commencement speaker during graduation. Leroux is passionate about giving back to the school and city that gave her so much and paying forward the mentorship and guidance she received. She loves sharing her unique career path and showing students that focusing on WHO you are and not WHAT you do, will ultimately lead you to success.
Name: Taylar Mical
Degree info: BA in Public Relations, minor in Italian (Wayne State University), MS in Health Communication (Northwestern University)
Specialties: Digital communications and public relations, project management, editorial expertise
Taylar Mical is a senior manager of digital at Jarrard Inc. With more than a decade of experience in healthcare communications, she helps hospitals and health services organizations achieve optimal growth, visibility and ROI through a rich concentration in social media, digital strategy, website development and integrated marketing.
Prior to Jarrard, Mical worked for Finn Partners as an account supervisor and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as a social media specialist. She is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming professionals in her field, having been involved previously with America Needs You, the CFPCA mentorship program and as a teaching assistant at Northwestern University.
Name: Matt Morawski
Degree Info: ’05 B.A. in Journalism
Specialties: Communications, broadcast journalism, media relations, social media, networking, interviewing skills, project management, leadership
Matt Morawski is an Emmy Award-winning communications leader and a results-driven strategist with more than 20 years of experience in media relations. Currently serving as the Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Wayne County Airport Authority, Morawski manages media relations and leads key projects for Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport (YIP). As WCAA’s spokesperson, he oversees communications across a 24/7 operation, spearheading social media management, media outreach and the production of impactful content. Prior to his role at WCAA, Morawski spent 15 years at WDIV-TV Local 4, where he served as Executive Producer of morning news. He played an instrumental role in launching Detroit’s first expanded weekend morning newscast and managed the station’s critically acclaimed morning and streaming newscasts. Morawski was also a mentor to the next generation of journalists, leading teams, training new talent, and shaping editorial direction across various platforms. Beyond the newsroom, Morawski is deeply committed to education and innovation, serving on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Board for Grosse Pointe Public Schools’ Television Production program, where he helps drive innovation and supports fundraising efforts to advance student learning. Morawski is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE C.M.) and holds a B.A. in Communications/Journalism from Wayne State University.
Name: Danté Richmond
Degree info: Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts and Studies
Specialties: Social Media Management and Creative Direction
Danté Richmond is from Benton Harbor, Michigan. He moved to Detroit after high school to pursue a degree from Wayne State University. He is currently employed by VaynerMedia as a Senior Content Creator. He enjoys sharing his journey and encouraging students as they navigate their final semesters and begin their careers.
Name: Constance Thomas
Degree Info: BA Public Relations ’12 WSU, MA New Media and Journalism,’13 Full Sail University
Specialties: PR & Marketing Strategic Planning, Content Planning, Copywriting & Editing, Data Analysis, Event Management, Project Management, Voiceovers
Constance Thomas works as the Campaign Marketing Manager for Detroit Public Schools Community Detroit. Constance has extensive experience in PR and Marketing enhancing brand awareness for companies and organizations such as General Motors, Congressional Black Caucus, National Urban League, NAACP, NNPA, Detroit Pride Month, USHLI, and the North American International Auto show.
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Detroit Alumnae Chapter. Constance is a native Detroiter, where she resides with her husband and their four sons and recent rescue dog King Thomas.
“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well, I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” — Denzel Washington
Apply Here
Questions? Please contact April Hazamy at ahazamy@wayne.edu