As the end of the spring semester rapidly approaches, many students are facing the question of how to make the most of their summer. For communication students, internships, apprenticeships, and other hands-on experiences are great ways to apply their skills in real world media and business environments. But how does one acquire one of these coveted positions? The answer often lies in one key strategy: networking. To support students in their search, the Communication Department hosted an alumni networking event on March 18.
Designed to help students practice their professional pitches pitching and connect with professional insiders, the event provided a chance to learn more about the careers of successful communication alumni. Sponsored by the prebiotic soda brand Poppi, the event featured light bites and refreshments, creating a relaxed yet engaging atmosphere for students, faculty, and alumni to network and share insights.
Alumni in attendance included DaVonn Brown ‘19, Katheryn Christy ‘09, Mirabel Fizzano ‘04, Julia Homa ‘08, Maura Jacobs ‘13, Giordanna Verrengia ‘23, and Maya Santana ‘23. The event began with a brief introduction of each of these alumni, detailing their current roles and past experiences in the field. Alumni were then positioned all throughout the Communication Department on the 14th floor of the Cathedral of Learning, and students participated in a Bingo Networking activity.
Livia Paoletti, a senior Italian studies student who is currently working as the Event Coordinator Intern for the department, created the Bingo cards that students used in this activity. The goal was to ease some of the nerves that come with having professional conversations by offering students specific questions to discuss with alumni.
“The bingo card incentivized students to go out and network as there was a tangible, achievable goal they were tasked with accomplishing,” Paoletti said. “It helped make the conversations smoother and provided a clear set of guiding questions for students who might get stressed in these situations. The whole activity made the tone of the event more lighthearted and fun.”
After completing their bingo cards, students were invited to visit another COMMRC Connect Intern, Katelyn Giraldo, a junior studying Communication and Psychology, at the Comm Club table. Giraldo was able to introduce the up-and-coming Comm Club to students who might wish to join in the upcoming school year. The networking event served as an example of the types of events the club hopes to sponsor in the future.