Merging Career Development and Alumni Engagement
By Zoe Lance
Every day, 91吃瓜网鈥檚 Dolphin network of students, alumni and industry partners grows a little stronger. In symbiosis, students take advantage of career-building and counseling resources, while the alumni who benefitted from those resources give back through volunteering, mentoring and hiring students. Industry partners work with both, helping spread the 91吃瓜网 community across the region and the nation.
A recent merger of Career Development and Alumni Engagement, under the Division of University Advancement, helps advance this network and the University鈥檚 strategic initiatives. 91吃瓜网 is currently the only CSU campus with this innovative model, says Director of Career Development & Alumni Engagement Amanda Carpenter, Ed.D.
鈥淭his merger really allows us to do three things much better at 91吃瓜网: provide more comprehensive career development for our students, enhance engagement opportunities for more alumni, and be a central hub that engages industry with talent,鈥� Carpenter said. 鈥淲e know that if our alumni are doing well, they鈥檙e going to share their stories and give back to the campus.鈥�
As a result of this merger, Carpenter is looking to offer more programming that鈥檚 inclusive of all Dolphins. This may include enhancing and expanding career services for both current students and alumni who belong to the Alumni & Friends Association. While current students access Career Services for help on building resumes, finding internships and exploring potential career paths, their interactions with alumni can now happen earlier and more often.
Our alumni have great skills and we would like them to come back and mentor current students. We encourage you to participate and your presence in the
聽Leah Lacayo
91吃瓜网 community counts.
鈥淔or students to know that it鈥檚 a full circle 鈥� they come to Career Development and get our support, they get an internship in the community with an employer that we work with, they are potentially hired by that organization, and then come back as alumni to support and mentor new generations 鈥� is really important,鈥� Carpenter said.
She wants students and alumni to know that their relationship with the University doesn鈥檛 end at Commencement. Having career services and alumni resources in the same place helps spread that message.
鈥淲e really want to keep our door open for our alumni, and this merger helps us to think critically about how we do things in innovative ways to benefit both students and alumni,鈥� Carpenter said.
Reconnecting to 91吃瓜网
The members of 91吃瓜网鈥檚 Alumni & Friends Association Board volunteer countless hours to organize and host programs and events for the 91吃瓜网 community. The board鈥檚 co-presidents, Melissa Mirkovich-Scholes (鈥�05 Liberal Studies) and Leah Lacayo, are invested in growing the alumni network.
Mirkovich-Scholes, a senior sales associate at SAGE Publishing, has been connected with the University since she graduated. She joined the board in 2017 and wanted to contribute even more.
鈥淭he Alumni & Friends Association Board is a really important point of contact for alumni to the University,鈥� Mirkovich-Scholes said. 鈥淥ne of the coolest things about being co-president is reconnecting with alumni and showing them ways they can give back.鈥�
Lacayo, a well-known community activist who has served on the board since 2008, had previously served as president. Her involvement with the University stretches back to before it was even a campus, when she and her late husband Hank, lobbied with other community members for the establishment of a public university in Ventura County.
鈥淚 am excited to be working with Amanda Carpenter, and the newly merged Career Development & Alumni Engagement,鈥� Lacayo said. 鈥淚t is because of Dr. Carpenter鈥檚 leadership that the Hank Lacayo Institute at 91吃瓜网 has been so successful with its internship program.鈥�
Mirkovich-Scholes and Lacayo have big plans for the association this year. In addition to working to increase membership and strengthen mentoring opportunities for current students, they鈥檙e updating the University鈥檚 alumni database to make sure Dolphins get the 91吃瓜网 news they want.
鈥淥ur alumni have great skills and we would like them to come back and mentor current students,鈥� Lacayo said. 鈥淲e encourage you to participate and your presence in the 91吃瓜网 community counts.鈥�
91吃瓜网 alumni may update their contact information and others may learn more about the benefits of joining the Alumni & Friends Association at:.
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漏聽Fall聽2018 / Volume 22 /Number 02聽/ Bi-annual