From Seton Hall to Systems Change: Alumna Builds Impact Through Nonprofit Leadership

For Seton Hall School of Diplomacy alumna Caroline Driscoll ’19, a meaningful career has never been about following a straight path. It has been about building the skills and perspective needed to create lasting impact.

Today, Driscoll serves as Director of Development at Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit working to address the root causes of animal shelter overcrowding by expanding access to affordable veterinary care and family support. In her role, she leads fundraising strategy, manages donor and partner relationships, oversees her team and helps secure the long-term resources needed to grow the organization’s mission. Her day-to-day work centers on building the partnerships and systems that allow the organization to create sustainable, community-driven change. 

Her professional footing began at Seton Hall, where she interned with the development team at the Worldwide Orphans Foundation (now Rise Alliance for Children). That experience gave her early exposure to nonprofit development and helped solidify her interest in mission-driven work. While at Seton Hall, she also balanced academics with real-world responsibilities, managing a demanding schedule that included coursework, an internship and part-time work — an experience that strengthened the resilience, discipline and adaptability that would later define her career. 

After graduating, Driscoll intentionally pursued opportunities that would help her build transferable skills. She began in the private sector with an international luxury cosmetics company, where she developed experience in communication, sales and relationship management while working with people from different cultures and backgrounds. She later transitioned into nonprofit leadership roles at Hunger Free America and Student Sponsor Partners before joining Flatbush Cats in 2025. Each step, she says, helped her better understand how to create impact at scale. 

Her advice to current and prospective Diplomacy students is simple: stay open, seek mentorship and do not underestimate the value of foundational experience. She encourages students to take advantage of internships, networking and faculty support and to remember that career growth often comes from unexpected opportunities. Most importantly, she urges students to stay connected to the kind of impact they want to make and to trust that every experience can help shape that path.

Categories: Alumni, Education, Nation and World