Before becoming the associate director for the Center for Career Readiness & Internships for Lasell University, Jessi Orlando had a myriad of experiences that helped shape her into the extraordinary individual she is today.
Orlando grew up in Westborough, Massachusetts, and she spent the entirety of her childhood there. She described her career path as non-linear, although the expectation in her family and from those around her was always to go to college. Orlando’s collegiate journey started at Assumption University, where she spent a year and a half of her college career before transferring to UMass Amherst in 2011. Orlando wanted a challenge and a way to get away from home.
“Despite transferring, I ended up graduating a semester early. I worked really hard, I wanted to be done with school, and I think looking back on it now, I certainly could’ve benefited from taking a gap year,” Orlando added.
Orlando majored in psychology with a minor in education. Throughout her years in college, the expectation was to become a first-grade teacher, but she didn’t describe this as her dream. It wasn’t until her internship during her final year of undergrad that she realized the teaching life wasn’t for her.
It was already so late into her collegiate career, and Orlando began to feel like she had already run out of time. After a tough year of corporate retail, Orlando learned a lot about herself, and then she made her way back to school.
“I went back to get my master’s in school counseling, and I did my year-long internship in my second year of the program at a high school. It was fine, but I still didn’t feel like it was exactly the right fit,” Orlando added.
Orlando shockingly made her way back to Assumption University, mainly because of its esteemed graduate program. She found that she still wanted to be involved in education, just not as a teacher. This year was key for Orlando to get to where she is now. Although teaching wasn’t her desire, being in education in some form was. Orlando earned a graduate assistantship in the career center at Assumption, and through this, she learned that directing others to find their calling was what she wanted to do.
After getting her master’s degree, Orlando applied to an endless number of high schools and only one college. Lasell University was the one college, and of course, where she landed. Applying here was a complete shot in the dark. Orlando has now been with the university for the last 12 years, helping students and alumni find their place in the world. The motivation for Orlando to keep helping people comes easily.
“I just love talking to students, and I love hearing success stories. Knowing that I had just a tiny little part in them finding success is really rewarding for me,” Orlando explained.
Orlando has grown far too accustomed to the Lasell ecosystem to leave. Having been inspired by the people at Assumption left her with the unyielding motivation to help students through their journeys.
What Orlando wants the student body and alumni of Lasell to know is that the services of the career center stretch far beyond the campus. The career center is always available, whether you are three months or 20 years removed from graduation. A level of intimidation has always been placed upon the career readiness center, and Orlando is one of the people trying to break it. The career center will always be here for students looking for guidance or a change, and as long as Orlando’s passion continues to burn bright, so will she.
–May 15, 2026–
