ELINA GRAHAM
Rudy Colombini, class of 1976, majored in Economics
Post Grad Journey:
Owner of entertainment hub Music City San Francisco, Founder and Lead Vocalist of The Unauthorized Rolling Stones.
How has your time at USF and USF’s values affected your worldview, or the way in which you’ve built your business?
“[USF’s] open theater, kind of avant garde philosophical teachers really helped me along my path […] I continually went back [to this one philosophy of comparative religions class], I continually had that open mind of […] being able to see the world through a lens of religious, spiritual philosophy, [it] did a lot for me at that time.”
What advice would you give to any USF students, or students interested in business or the music industry?
“Make your relationships in life your priority. You don’t get anywhere with just money, you don’t get anywhere with just brains. The way you get happiness is your brother and sister—the way you get to God is your brother and sister.”
Megan Robertson, class of 2024, majored in Performing Arts and Social Justice and media studies
Post-grad journey:
Freelance journalist, playwright, artist, features editor of the Richmond Review/ Sunset Beacon newspapers
How did your studies or experience at USF prepare you for life after graduation?
“This play I’m working on now, I actually started at USF. It’s part of my senior project for the PASJ program. So really, I think everything that I’m doing correlates to the work that I was doing at USF. […] Double majoring in […] theater and journalism through PASJ and media studies has really [given] me that freedom to be able to combine the things that I love and start doing that in college. Post grad has been really lovely, and something definitely that USF kind of geared me up for.”
Any advice for graduating students?
“I think what I would say is to just follow your passions as much as you can. And especially for these creative fields, it can feel a little daunting, and it can feel a little like, ‘oh, there’s not a whole lot of money in this opportunities like I spent so many months after graduating, applying for jobs and just being rejected from everything’…I think it’s definitely possible to be working in these creative fields and sustaining yourself that way in the Bay Area, you’ve just got to put yourself out there and see kind of what companies or what work is aligning with your personal values and interests, and then just really diving into it.”
Stefan Gartrell, class of 2006, Business Administration
Post-grad journey:
Former baseball player, founder of “Ripple Effect 22,” a community-focused initiative
As a student, how did you balance baseball with your studies and other passions? How did establishing that balance as a student carry over into your post-college life?
“At first, it was challenging. Although I am from San Francisco, my life as an athlete meant I lived in the dorms, where I had to navigate newfound freedom and a lack of accountability. Transitioning from doing the right thing out of fear of getting into trouble to doing it simply because it is the right thing to do was more difficult than I had anticipated. I realized that if I put in hard work across all areas of my life—academically and, most importantly, in my faith—I could then focus more on my athletic pursuits. Finding that balance has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve come to realize just how important prioritization really is in my life.”
What advice would you give to current or graduating USF students, especially to those who are interested in pursuing a career in athletics or looking to work in the nonprofit sector?
“Know your ‘Why’, whether you’re aiming for a career in athletics or the nonprofit world, clarity of purpose is everything. Network with intention: don’t just ask for a job; ask about their journey. Build a reputation of integrity: character travels faster than your resume. Keep Learning: passion is powerful, but strategy builds sustainability. Keep showing up: the breakthrough often comes after everyone else quits.
Faith and Values matter: let your faith or principles lead your decisions—not pressure, hype or fear.”
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
