Siena College
04/24/2026 | News release | Archived content
Congratulations, You're Hired!
Madison Matice '26 assumed she would need a master's to start her career the way she wanted. Turns out, she just needed a Siena degree, a big heart, and 30 minutes.
Matice nearly blew it off. All week, she planned on attending the STEM Career Expo, one in a series of industry focused job fairs organized on campus by the MacDonnell Career and Internship Center. But, on the day of the fair, life nearly got in the way.
"It wasn't anything major, just school work was piling up. I was busy and probably 50/50 to make it to the fair. Finally, I decided to just give it 30 minutes."
It was among the most impactful half hours of Matice's life. The psychology major came across the Berkshire Medical Center table and struck up a chat with their recruiter, Noel.
"We just had this great conversation. I told her I'd be graduating in May, but I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. She recommended I apply for an open clinical therapist position at the hospital. I asked if I needed a master's, and I was surprised to find out that I didn't."
Within 24 hours, Matice passed along her resume and cover letter. Next, she completed the formal application and was invited to Pittsfield, MA for an interview. She had a job offer one week later.
"I saw Noel when I was there for my interview and she told my future boss, 'She's awesome.' None of this would have happened if I didn't meet her at the Career Expo. Talking to my friends at other colleges, I'm the only one with a job lined up. And I know that's because of the school I go to, and this community, and our professors, and everything Siena stands for."
As a clinical therapist, Matice will meet one-on-one with patients, often providing crisis intervention, while identifying and treating mental health conditions. Matice has always been interested in understanding how the brain works and what influences our behavior and emotional well-being.
"I feel like mental health is very stigmatized. There should be more awareness. People should be able to get the help they need. I want to be out there in the field making a difference. I know I'm going to get a lot of satisfaction from helping others."
That desire, to make a difference in people's lives, has always been a part of Matice's life. It's how she ended up at Siena.
"My guidance counselor at Averill Park High School recommended Siena. She said I'd be a perfect fit for the Siena environment and its community. She knew this place would help me flourish and that it would give me the chance to help others."
Not only is the job lined up before Commencement, but her living situation is as well. Matice and her best friend will be getting an apartment together. The pieces, truly, couldn't have fallen into place any better. Those 30 minutes at the Career Expo squeezed into a busy day of class and work? It's the 30 minutes that changed her life.
Siena College published this content on April 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 28, 2026 at 13:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]