Behind the scenes: Job shadowing at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Brandeis Stories

Behind the scenes: Job shadowing at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health

By David Levin
December 5, 2025

When Esther Bistricer '26 signed up to shadow at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, she expected to explore careers steeped in research. Instead, she discovered something unexpected: a glimpse inside the world of higher education administration.

Through the Hiatt Career Center's job shadowing program, Bistricer spent a day with Samantha Goldman '14, who works in student affairs at Harvard Chan. The experience opened her eyes to careers she'd never considered. "I didn't really know so much about higher ed before coming to college," she said. "You really just think about K through 12. I never really thought about who's involved with education beyond that."

Bistricer said the day offered her a glimpse into the myriad ways administrative teams keep a major academic institution running smoothly. Bistricer, who is majoring in psychology with a minor in Health: Science, Society and Policy, attended strategy meetings and a gathering with the five-person student affairs team before touring the facilities. She also participated in a student convocation award ceremony. Along the way, she watched Goldman coordinate everything from student housing issues to commencement planning, which involved working across multiple committees.

What struck Bistricer most was how much happens behind the scenes. "There are a lot of jobs that were kind of mysterious to me," she explained. "I just see the outcome of something, like an event to sign up for - but what's going on behind the scenes to make that happen?" The shadowing experience gave her a new understanding of those administrative operations, revealing how the T.H. Chan team prioritizes tasks and shapes student experiences.

Beyond professional exposure, Bistricer added, the ability to connect with a Brandeis alum proved invaluable in other areas. Throughout the day, Goldman offered candid thoughts about post-graduation life, job searching and financial planning in general. "She told me that sometimes you're just doing a job, and it might not be your forever job, but it's something to get your foot in the door - and you can learn a lot from every job you take," Bistricer recalled. "As a graduating senior, that was pretty reassuring to hear."