Many of our graduates are double majors who find their study of religion extremely helpful in both their personal and professional lives.

Graduates have been successful in pursuing graduate study and beginning careers in a variety of fields. Some have continued their studies in religion at Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, Boston College, and Duke University Divinity School.

Many of our graduates are double majors who find their study of religion extremely helpful in both their personal and professional lives. Recent graduates are employed in law, business, computer science, education, museum curatorship, and the health professions including dentistry and medicine. Still others have occupations as various as group life insurance consultant, psychological social worker, and construction company executive.

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Francesca Pileggi, a double major in religion and psychology graduate, has become a topic expert in mental issues and suicide among middle and high school students.Few recent college graduates can say they appeared on Good Morning America as a topic expert, but Francesca Pileggi ’10 can. Having founded a nonprofit that helps middle and high school students who struggle with mental illness and suicide, Pileggi continues to head The ME Project and its Bully-Free Friends program, plus she speaks on behalf of Minding Your Mind (MYM), a Philadelphia nonprofit organization, as its director of community outreach.

Pileggi has shared her own personal experiences concerning a relative’s suicide and discussed other mental health issues with over 15,000 people as part of MYM’s Aevidum Empowered initiative. “I typically speak with at least one group a week. Depending on the needs of the school or group, I will have either a one-time, whole-school presentation or will present to multiple classrooms over a period of a couple of days. I also attend meetings in the community such as local county suicide prevention task forces,” Pileggi says. Her goal? “Establish at least 25 youth empowerment clubs in Philadelphia area schools during the 2012–13 school year.”

The religious studies and psychology graduate attends Immaculata University, seeking a master’s in counseling psychology. In addition, Pileggi works as a youth minister for St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Chadds Ford, Pa.