#  Alumni Career Snapshots 

 



##  Alumni Career Snapshots 

Students at HDS prepare for a wide range of professions, including ministry in faith communities; community development, advocacy; and education to name a few. Explore their stories and see how HDS assisted them on their journey.

[**MDiv Alumni** ](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots/mdiv-alumni-career-snapshots "MDiv Alumni Career Snapshots") **|** [**MTS Alumni** ](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots/mts-alumni-career-snapshots "MTS Alumni Career Snapshots") **|** [**MRPL Alumni** ](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots/mrpl-alumni-career-snapshots "MRPL Alumni Career Snapshots")



 

 

 

       ![Swartz Hall Summertime](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-09/08172021-SwartzHall-001.jpg?h=0d0a9c2a&itok=yL1RqZyw) 

 

 



 

 



 

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  [### Curating Vibrant Community Experiences

 ](/news/2026/05/01/curating-vibrant-community-experiences) May 01, 2026 

As the head of community at CreativeMornings in New York City, **Exa (Alexandra) Kutler, MDiv '17**, creates vibrant community experiences in a variety of ways, helping folks feel seen in communal spaces.



 

 

   ![Exa Kutler headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Exa%20Cutler.jpg?h=a35d1325&itok=-cRo0FlO) 

 



 

 

   [### 'Don't Compromise on What Gives You Meaning'

 ](/news/2026/05/01/dont-compromise-what-gives-you-meaning) May 01, 2026 

Now working as a writer, **Abhijith Ravinutala, MTS ‘19**, says HDS taught him never to compromise on what gives his life meaning.



 

 

   ![Abhijith Ravinutala headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Abhijith%20Ravinutala.jpg?itok=m-C1XVev) 

 



 

 

   [### Ethically Informed Clinical Heart Care

 ](/news/2026/02/26/ethically-informed-clinical-heart-care) February 26, 2026 

As a cardiac electrophysiology fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, **Danish Zaidi, MTS '16**, provides ethically informed clinical heart care, emphasizing healing and patient rights.



 

 

   ![Danish Zaidi in blue scrubs posing by a window](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/IMG_8425.jpeg?itok=cUVcjsl7) 

 



 

 

   [### Advocating for Civil and Human Rights

 ](/news/2025/12/11/advocating-civil-and-human-rights) December 11, 2025 

As counsel for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, **Chavis Jones, MDiv '16**, advocates for the advancement of civil and human rights across a broad range of issues.



 

 

   ![Chavis Jones headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Chavis%20Jones.jpg?h=229342a8&itok=_ra0gGCF) 

 



 

 

   [### Building Grassroots Communities

 ](/news/2025/12/10/building-grassroots-communities) December 10, 2025 

**Sara Smirin, MRPL '24**, credits HDS with helping her to interrogate assumptions, to be capacious in her thinking, and to always embrace the moral imagination.



 

 

   ![Sara Smirin headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Sara%20Smirin%20wide%20crop.jpg?itok=w3OCKCVx) 

 



 

 

   [### 'HDS Strengthened Me as a Whole Person'

 ](/news/2025/12/10/hds-strengthened-me-whole-person) December 10, 2025 

**Melissa Coles, MDiv '17**, a postdoctoral research associate at the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame, says the pastoral and academic skills she acquired at HDS helped strengthen her holistically.



 

 

   ![Melissa Coles posing in office setting](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Melissa%20Coles.jpg?h=6cdda988&itok=o_IY3-IT) 

 



 

 

  

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##  Alumni Career Snapshots by Degree Program 

 



 [ MDiv Alumni arrow\_circle\_right ](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots/mdiv-alumni-career-snapshots) [ MTS Alumni arrow\_circle\_right ](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots/mts-alumni-career-snapshots) [ MRPL Alumni arrow\_circle\_right ](/community-life/career-services/alumni-career-snapshots/mrpl-alumni-career-snapshots)