Mount Saint Mary’s students had the opportunity to meet and connect with Mount alumnae during an intimate networking event hosted by the Alumnae Relations Office in partnership with the Office of Career and Professional Development on November 16th. The event took place in the Doheny Mansion’s Pompeian Room. Students honed their networking skills and discussed their career goals with Mount graduates who shared their professional journeys and tips for success. Students were encouraged to remain resilient in the face of challenges and told not to expect a linear path to success.
Susan French ’79, who has worked as a nurse for the last 43 years, talked about the importance of staying confident throughout different challenges, career path changes or uncertain moments. “I never knew what I would be doing at this point in my career when I graduated in 1979, but the Mount gave me the tools to feel empowered,” she said.
This mixer and similar events foster and sustain engagement between alumnae and students and is one way the Mount supports its community. Mariam Khwajazada, the new Director of Alumnae and Volunteer Engagement, explained that one of her top priorities is to collaborate with teams across campus to deliver meaningful programs and services to students and alumnae. “Our focus is to strengthen the connection between students and alumnae in ways that will prepare our students to be the leaders of tomorrow,” she said. Another example of these initiatives is Mount Connect, an exclusive online platform for connecting students with alumnae and other members of the Mount community.
The Office of Career and Professional Development is one team working in close collaboration with Alumnae Relations. Leezel Ramos, the new executive director for Career and Professional Development Services, shared that her team is “revamping our programs and services to better support students and alumnae in pursuing their career goals, especially in this season of economic uncertainty.”
With a developmental approach aimed to equip students and alumnae with the skills and tools to navigate their lifelong career journey, the office offers in-person and virtual career coaching, career education workshops and various opportunities throughout the year to connect with recruiters and professionals from across industries. “Grounded in our CSJ and Catholic intellectual tradition, we frame our guidance on asking students and alumnae to reflect upon these three key questions: Who am I? What does the world need me to be? How am I becoming that?” explained Ramos.
Students who participated in the mixer expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity to talk with alumnae. They were excited about the connections they made and shared that they looked forward to the next opportunity to expand their networks.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with different alums and to see how each of them chose different career paths,” said Elissa Doering ’23. “When you're an undergrad, it can feel daunting to think ahead about different career options, but hearing about their experiences of eventually finding their path and their calling was inspiring and reassuring.”
Original source can be found here.
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