Employee Spotlight - Maria Canales

What is your current role at Yale University?
I currently work as an Analyst at the Yale Alumni Association, where I support alumni engagement initiatives and collaborate with both staff and volunteers to help strengthen connections within Yale’s alumni community.

What are your main responsibilities?
My responsibilities include supporting alumni access and outreach efforts through email communications, events, and engagement initiatives. I work closely with volunteers and internal staff to help connect alumni populations with Yale resources and programming. I also collaborate on internal system projects, process improvements, and data-related initiatives that help our team work more efficiently and effectively. 

What do you like most about your work?
What I enjoy most is being able to help create meaningful connections between alumni and the university. I appreciate the collaborative nature of my work and the opportunity to support projects that have a direct impact on engagement and community-building. I also enjoy working with people from different backgrounds and learning from both colleagues and volunteers.

How did you begin your career?
I began my career by pursuing opportunities that allowed me to build strong analytical, operational and interpersonal skills. Over time, I discovered that I enjoyed work that combined technology, communication, and community engagement. Those experiences eventually led me to my current role at Yale, where I’m able to use those skills in meaningful ways.

What steps would you recommend one take to prepare to enter this field?
I would recommend gaining experience in communication, customer relations, project management, and data or systems-related work. Building strong interpersonal skills is important because much of the work involves collaboration and relationship management. Staying curious, being adaptable, and being willing to continuously learn new systems and processes are also very valuable. 

What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field?
Strong project management skills are essential, along with attention to detail and the ability to multitask. Collaboration, patience, adaptability, and problem-solving are also important. I believe empathy and cultural awareness are especially valuable when working with diverse communities and stakeholders.

If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?
Yes, I would choose a similar path because it has allowed me to grow professionally while contributing to meaningful work. If I could change anything, I would probably trust myself earlier and take more chances on opportunities that challenged me outside of my comfort zone.