SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 • VOLUME 96 • ISSUE 2
The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929
QU launches platform for international career development
‘If you want to predict the future, create it’: Marie Hardin's first two months at QU
By MADELYN DURKEE Contributing Writer
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor
Just over two months into her position as Quinnipiac University’s 10th President, Marie Hardin has found a feeling of home in the Bobcat community and looks ahead at her first year. Hardin officially assumed her role on July 1 and eagerly awaited students’ arrival to campus. The Chronicle had an opportunity to sit down with the new president and learn about her first few months in this position and what she has in store for the future.
EARLY DAYS ON CAMPUS Hardin comes to Quinnipiac with curiosity and excitement to learn and get to know students. “I’ve wanted to understand what kind of students does Quinnipiac attract,” Hardin said. “And I’ve been blown away by the excitement that I’ve seen, by the professionalism that the students have, by their eagerness to engage.” A favored part of her experience so far comes from the students and the constant energy. “They have been so welcoming to me,
it’s been remarkable,” Hardin said. “If I’m in my office and I’m feeling a little, maybe I don’t have much energy, all I have to do — I figured this out in two weeks — All I have to do is walk out of my office, walk out into the quad, and you can feel the energy from the students on the sidewalk.” Hardin finds this energy all over campus too, with strong student engagement and things always going on.
See HARDIN Page 2
Former Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse coach is suing QU for alleged sex discrimination By AVA HIGHLAND and ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA
Former Quinnipiac University women’s lacrosse head coach Tanya “TK” Kotowicz is suing the university “for alleged sex discrimination against her in ways that included providing her team inadequate athletic trainer coverage and firing her in retaliation for her complaints about the trainer issue,” according to The Stamford Advocate. The university terminated Kotowicz in January 2024 after allegedly playing an injured athlete. However, The Chronicle’s deep dive into the situation revealed that the internal documents — and the athlete’s dad — said otherwise. The Stamford Advocate reported last
week that “the suit seeks monetary compensation for economic damages such as lost wages and benefits and for non-economic damages such as emotional distress as well as “reinstatement or future economic damages,” punitive damages, interest and attorney’s fees and costs.” Kotowicz filed the complaint in state Superior Court in New Haven on Aug. 21, according to The Stamford Advocate. In the complaint, she alleges that Quinnipiac repeatedly “failed to provide athletic trainers to the women’s lacrosse team in the fall of 2023 — for practices and a one-day tournament — while providing a trainer to the men’s lacrosse team in com-
parable circumstances.” Quinnipiac Athletics announced on Jan. 3 2024 that Kotowicz “is leaving the program.” However, 10 minutes after the post, Quinnipiac’s rugby head coach Becky Carlson called the university’s official statement “outrageous and not the whole story,” “The coach didn’t leave the program,” Carlson wrote in her repost on the social platform “X”. “The truth will come out.” “The university does not comment on pending legal matters,” Associate Vice President of Public Relations John Morgan wrote in a statement to The Chronicle. Read an indepth look at her claim at quchronicle.com
During the past year, Quinnipiac University’s Office of International Students & Scholars and the Office of Career Development & Experiential Learning have collaborated to bring a new platform, called Interstride, to life. “Our office identified a need to provide additional support and tools to help our international students navigate an increasingly complex employment and visa environment,” Sarah Driscoll, director of international student services, wrote in an email to The Chronicle. Interstride is a free online platform designed to assist international students with post-graduate job searches, career development and global networking. The platform launched in June to a small group of student leaders for testing before the office held the official launch party on Sept. 2 for all students. Over 120 Quinnipiac students are already using the platform. Farida Gamuchirai, a graduate student in the Master of Science and Business Analytics program, was one of the first students to test the platform. “It’s great to see it actually come to life now,” Gamuchirai said. One of the challenges international students face is finding U.S. companies that sponsor visas like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Career Practical Training (CPT). Other platforms, like Handshake or LinkedIn, do not have clear information on international hiring practices or effective search mechanisms. Interstride uses advanced job search filters to identify companies in the U.S. that sponsor work visas and green cards. Students can filter opportunities by industry, location and employer sponsorship history. “The process can be quite daunting and overwhelming,” Kristina Galligan, senior director of student & alumni career development said. Interstride “takes a lot of confusion out of the job search process.” The platform “has a lot of added functionality for finding companies that are hiring or have hired internationally,” she said. This function sets Interstride apart from other platforms. “The thing that I love the most about the platform is all the filters that it has to just help you narrow down your search,” Gamuchirai said.“Especially for international students, it is a very useful tool, while still very easy to navigate.” “Interstride helps narrow things down in a more efficient way, it saves time (compared to other platforms),” she added. In addition to advanced search filters, Interstride offers a variety of resources for career development and global networking. Students can access and attend online webinars hosted by industry experts and professionals, such as immigration attorneys. These experts teach students how to pursue sponsorship or navigate the complicated visa process. Workshops for career readiness and immigration resources are also available through the platform. These programs are specifically designed to help international students succeed in the U.S. job market. “Interstride helps international students make See INTERSTRIDE Page 3