December 2007

ALUMNI NEWS

Career Connections Abound at Annual SPA Networking Event

Attendees talk about all things career-related at the recent networking reception

Nearly 100 alumni, students, and employers gathered in Mary Graydon Center last month for the annual School of Public Affairs Alumni/Student Networking event. Hosted by the AU Career Center, the evening brought together current students with both alumni and nonalumni recruiters in careers connected to their areas of study.

Students unsure of their career direction had the chance to see some of their options from alumni who once took the same classes at AU. The reception hosted employer/recruiters from a range of businesses, including Deloitte Consulting; National Strategies, Inc., the USDA; the National Academy of Public Administration; and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Most of them had current job and internship openings, and each spoke briefly about the opportunities available to students. 

Although the evaluation forms were anonymous, reactions from attendees were overwhelmingly positive.  One student called the event “very well organized,” and a nonalumni employer said that the students were “professional and spoke clearly and effectively.” One alumnus was so impressed that he volunteered to work with the Career Center to promote the Spring 2008 Career Fair.

The SPA alumni staff coordinates six networking events throughout the year with the help of their Alumni Career Committees (ACCs). The ACC program was launched in June 2006, after determining that the majority of SPA alumni work in careers in one of five areas: congressional offices, federal agencies, government relations offices, nonprofits, and legal professions. Accordingly, ACCs for each area were formed with alumni professionals of all levels to encourage more involvement and networking with each other and with current AU students. Each ACC holds its own networking event throughout the year, and all five committees come together for one joint reception as well.

For more information, visit the AU Alumni Career Services Web site.

-Tara Sherwin

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