Welcome to the newest RWU Athletics weekly feature, Alumni Profiles. Here we will be featuring a former Roger Williams student-athlete and catching up with them on their career since graduating from RWU.
 
Our next entry comes from Marilu Gonzalez-Yanez. Marilu was a four-year member of the Women's Volleyball team and graduated from RWU in 2012 with a Bachelor's Degree in Media Communications. She finished her career with 595 digs and 102 service aces in 116 matches played. Over the course of her career, she helped the team win three consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference Championships. In her junior year, she played a major role in helping the program achieve its first undefeated regular season in CCC play (10-0) as well as set a school record for wins in a season with 29.

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What is your current job title and what does that entail?
I work as a Marketing Coordinator for Brandow & Johnston Structural & Civil Engineers. I work in the A/E/C (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. I actually started at my firm as an Executive Assistant to the President because there were no entry-level jobs in my field at the time. My boss at the time said I was overqualified for what I was doing, but I told him I didn't mind because I planned to work my way up to their marketing team one day. After six months of working as an Executive Assistant, an opportunity opened up in Marketing and they gave it to me. I've now been their Marketing Coordinator for almost five years.
 
My day-to-day consists of proposal coordination, strategy, writing, and submission for project pursuits, as well as producing marketing collateral (brochures, printed product information, web content, and visual aids). I designed their website and maintain it and I also run their social media. We also hold weekly marketing/business development meetings with the executives to go over the company's growth, increased revenue, client development, market awareness, and image/brand recognition. One of my favorite things I get to do is coordinate our corporate events.
 
How did your athletic involvement at RWU help you in the path that you chose following graduation? Well I knew I wanted to keep the sport relevant to my life so after I graduated I became a head volleyball coach for a private club and still coach part time to this day. As far as working in Corporate America, I believe it made me gravitate towards a competitive industry.
 
What is your most fond memory of RWU Athletics?
Ending my senior year as one of the team captains with two of my best friends and teammates (Natasha Sopchak and Marybeth Torpey). We ended our season with a 28-4 record, our third CCC Championship, and my 100^th career victory for the Hawks.
 
What would you say were your greatest athletic and academic accomplishments during your time at RWU?
To add to my previous fond memory answer, I received "Hawkmate of The Year" in my senior year. We also earned the New England Women's Volleyball Association Team Academic Award all four years.
 
Why did you choose to attend RWU?
I was originally accepted to RWU's Marine Biology Program and recruited to play volleyball.
 
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities outside of athletics? If so, what?
I was a member of SAAC during the 2010-11 academic year, a women's club basketball member from 2010-12, and a RWU Bridge to Success volunteer.
 
What piece of advice would you have for current RWU student-athletes?  

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Are you a former RWU student-athlete interested in being part of our Alumni Profile series? If so, please contact Athletic Communication Director at nwilliams@rwu.edu for more information!