Providence College Athletics
Photo by: INDEPIC
Friar Athletics Hosts Biennial Student-Athlete Career Night
10/30/2025 8:46:00 AM | General
The event was made possible through the generous support of Mark Mandell and Yvette Boisclair '84.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - On Tuesday, October 21, the Providence College Athletic Department held its biennial Student-Athlete Career Night. The event was made possible through the generous support of Mark Mandell and Yvette Boisclair '84, who have sponsored the event since its inception in 2008.
More than 90 student-athletes, including juniors, seniors, and graduate students attended the event, which was held in '64 Hall. The night began with a message from Mark Mandell. He spoke about the importance of being humble and said that the true measure of wealth is what you are able to do to help others.
The keynote speaker at the event was Jill Shah '91, graduate of Providence College and former women's soccer student-athlete. Jill is the President of the Shah Family Foundation, which advances innovation in education, healthcare, and community by using philanthropic funding to improve public programs. She has led initiatives transforming USDA school meals, launched one of the nation's largest Guaranteed Income programs in Chelsea, Mass., partnered with Massachusetts Attorney General, Andrea Campbell, on the "Your Brain on Social Media" toolkit for parents and schools, and co-founded the Center for Comprehensive Healing with Mass General Brigham to study healing and expand whole-person healing in underserved communities. Jill co-hosts the Boston podcast Last Night at School Committee, has produced award-winning documentaries Eat Up and Raising the Floor, and has been honored with the Boston Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Bostonian Award and the Playworks Game Changer Award. Named one of Boston Magazine's 100 most influential Bostonians, she serves on the various boards of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Museum of Fine Arts, Subtle Energy Funders Collective and Providence College.
Student-athletes enjoyed dinner and had the opportunity to network with professionals from various industries including education, finance, real estate, insurance, health care, law, marketing, medicine, and sports administration. The event concluded with a thank you from the student-athletes in attendance from junior Emma Eitchten, a marketing major and member of the softball program.
"The Mandell-Boisclair Student-Athlete Career Night continues to be a cornerstone experience for our student-athletes," said Vice President/Director of Athletics Steve Napolillo '98. "It's inspiring to see them engage with alumni and professionals as they begin to envision life beyond Friartown. I'm deeply thankful to Mark and Yvette for their unwavering commitment to our community—their support is truly shaping futures."
In addition to sponsoring the Student-Athlete Career Night, Mark Mandell and Yvette Boisclair '84 have also established endowed and immediate use scholarships to provide the gift of opportunity and education to Providence College student-athletes as well as funding the Boisclair-Mandell student-athlete experiential learning opportunity which provides funding for student-athletes who acquire an unpaid internship.
Previous keynote speakers at Providence College Student-Athlete Career Nights include: 2014 National Principal of the Year, Dr. Sheila Harrity '87, ESPN Analyst Jay Williams, former MLB player John McDonald '10, ESPN Analyst Doris Burke '87, '92G, & '05Hon and founder of UNTUCKit and Greatness wins, Chris Riccobono '01.
To view photos from the evening, please click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCyWa3
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