Gina Rodriguez ’18 recently joined other alumni on a virtual panel designed to help students navigate their internship experience this summer, especially in the work-from-home world.
Rodriguez, who moved to Chicago two months after graduation, says her first experience as an alumni volunteer was both fun and interesting. Although Rodriguez was an Orientation Workshop Leader and heavily involved as a student, her move to Chicago after graduation had previously kept her from volunteering. She was excited to share her story virtually with those who may be hesitant to make the kind of leap that she did.
“I had a really great experience at Bloom and I was really excited to help because my experiences could be valuable to students,” explained Rodriguez “I found that making a big leap is doable, even if you’re scared and wanted to give people motivation to do that same. It was nice to give back to my alma mater in some way.”
Rodriguez focused on the challenges of a work-life balance when working remotely and how young professionals can maintain their health and well-being in a world where employers have constant online access to employees. Her advice was to resist the urge to respond to off hour messages, make self-care a priority, and make time for family and friends.
“I feel we get caught up in the fact that we are so readily available to everyone all the time,” explained Rodriguez. “If you want to perform well you need to remember it’s ok to say no.”
Despite the challenges of staying at home during a global pandemic, Rodriguez says she has never been happier.
“I had time to settle in before COVID hit but it’s tough staying home in a city apartment with no yard.” Said Rodriguez “It’s Interesting and I’m taking it as it comes.”
Through such a whirlwind two years, Rodriguez encourages students and alumni alike to follow their dreams despite how intimidating some of the changes may be.
“The biggest thing I learned was just take that big leap, whatever that looks like for you,” shared Rodriguez. “As students, we think because we picked a major we have to stick with that path. That was me. But at the end of the day, I knew I wanted to do something bigger and that’s what drove me. Regardless of how difficult it may seem, you have to do what makes you happy.”
Colleges of Science and Technology and Liberal Arts host Alumni Volunteers for Pathways and Symposium
Two BU colleges organized career events during Homecoming weekend to help their majors get a handle on the transition from college to career. Pathways in Science and Technology, hosted by the College of Science and Technology, and the Liberal Arts Symposium, hosted by the College of Liberal Arts, both welcomed alumni back to campus to serve on professional panels, provided information sessions on internships, study abroad opportunities, financial literacy and graduate school, and invited inspirational keynote speakers, faculty and staff as a way to help students navigate their way from student to professional. More than 2600 BU students attended the programs collectively, and the two colleges welcomed over 170 alumni.
“We wanted to allow students to explore the liberal arts in a setting that expands their understanding of the value of such a degree” explained Joyce Bielen, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and coordinator of the symposium “We’ve invited alumni to share how they have used their liberal arts degrees to find jobs and give students the opportunity to network with alumni who share their interests.”
Alumni played a major role in both events as they returned to share stories and advice on working in their field, how they obtained their current positions, and how the skills they learned within their major have translated into other professions.
“It’s like Thanksgiving or Christmas for a traditional family” said Dr. Scott Inch, Professor in the Department of Mathematical and Digital Sciences who said that the event is his yearly favorite, as it brings former students “home” to BU and provides invaluable industry insight to current students.
“I appreciate how willing our graduates are to go out of their way to be helpful to the program and to our current students” said Inch “They all generously donate their time and are so happy to help.”
The alumni panels for both events were enhanced by presentations on various career topics such as the importance of study abroad experiences for cultural understanding and language, confidence in interviewing, preparing for the world of work through job shadowing and searches, internships and other career experiences, as well as how to apply one’s major in an unrelated career field, such as using a music degree to advance toward an MBA.
“This is a great way to help prepare for the job market, internships or graduate schools” said Angela Ciucci, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Science and Technology, and organizer of the Pathways event “It’s a great opportunity to interact with alumni, businesses, and professionals who work in the field of science and technology.”
The Pathways program involved a networking luncheon among returning alumni, current student and faculty/staff, as well as a Dean’s Reception later in the evening. A Communication Studies networking reception was also held in another part of campus where alums, students and faculty shared some food and drink, a few BU stories, and some business cards.
“The networking luncheon is a great opportunity for these upperclassmen to directly network with alumni working in prospective career fields” explained Dr. Ellen Kehres, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry “It is a great way to help prepare for the job market, internships or graduate school.”
Kehres added that while Pathways may have been seen as something for upperclassmen closing in on graduation, it was also an opportunity for students, especially freshman and sophomores, to gain insight on making the most of their college experience and thinking about career fields they may not have thought about before.
Likewise, Bielen pointed out that the COLA Symposium was not designed solely for career advice and networking, but also to help students understand how to use the skills gained from a Bachelors of Arts degree in real life situations. For example, students had the opportunity to attend presentations about resiliency and relationship communication, proper money management, saving and investing for retirement, how technology is changing the way we live, the nuances of ethics in media, and how to control one’s body language. There was also a gallery talk in Haas by exhibiting artist, Catharine Haggarty and a student discussion of digital and public history in the humanities.
In addition, the symposium’s keynote was given by Dr, Elijah Anderson, Lanman Professor of Sociology at Yale University, and addressed the ways in which people of different races and classes interact with each other in various environments, and the role that race plays in those interactions. The evening lecture, The Cosmopolitan Canopy: Race and Civility in Everyday Life, was well attended by students and the general public.
“It [Liberal Arts education] really is like a ‘Swiss army knife’ of skills learned” said Bielen, referring to the symposium logo. “We hope that students gain understanding of how valuable their liberal arts education will prove to be as they move through their lives.”
Joe Dutkiewicz ‘18 credits the Career Intensive Boot Camp for having a professional position lined up before graduation. Just 48 Hours after receiving his degree, he started his career as a Technical Business Analyst.
Last year at this time, Joseph Dutkiewicz was a student majoring in Information Technology Management with very little idea on how his life after graduation would look. Dutkiewicz had started with some very general aspirations, but during his time at BU, he had the opportunity to intern at Scantek and attend events offered through the Ziegler Institute for Professional Development. Even with these experiences, however, he still felt he needed an edge in finding a job.
With less than a year left at BU, his focus had shifted to gaining employment and decided to attend the Career Intensive Boot Camp, a 2.5 day professional development experience, part of the Professional U collaborative, that is designed to prepare students for the transition from student to professional.
“I had concentrated so much on learning the IT stuff and ignored preparing for the business world” explained Dutkiewicz “Boot camp focused on the transition and the importance of networking. I hadn’t even started to think about networking yet when I attended.”
While at the event, Dutkiewicz learned how to use keyword searches for job openings, how to apply to positions, the finer points of business etiquette when meeting with a prospective employer or client, and suggestions for tweaking his resume from alumni volunteers.
“At first I was so nervous.” recalled Dutkiewicz “I didn’t realize the business culture; I didn’t understand that aspect or realize all of the little things associated with it.”
While Dutkiewicz benefitted from the entire event, it was mock interviews that he found to be the most helpful, citing the fact that he felt much better prepared to answer questions about himself after going through a few trial runs.
“Mock interviews were the biggest challenge until I did it” recalled Dutkiewicz “I was so scared, but afterwards, I was thinking how awesome it was. I felt that the first one was intimidating, but I was able to do really well in my last one.”
Dutkiewicz not only credits the mock interview process and involvement of BU alumni in obtaining his first professional position, but the emphasis on networking and submitting applications as well. After attending the Career Intensive Boot Camp, Dutkiewicz realized that he had a competitive advantage compared to his peers.
“Alumni at the event helped a lot” explained Dutkiewicz “I looked at my friends who are just starting to apply now and I’m thinking ‘Oh my, you don’t even know the processes! This stuff takes time; if I had just started applying now, I wouldn’t be working until end of summer.”
Dutkiewicz started his position as a Technical Business Analyst a mere three weeks ago -just 48 hours after he received his degree. As he explains it, he will use the information in the company databases to make their products better and their process more efficient.
“I’m nervous, but I’m also really excited” he said. “I finally get to see how I can apply everything I’ve learned.”
“I’m happy.”
As for the future, Dutkiewicz plans to return to school for his MBA and earn a rank in upper level management. He also plans to help fellow Huskies as an alumni volunteer at a future Career Intensive Boot Camp.
“If I didn’t go to Boot Camp, I probably wouldn’t have a job” explained Dutkiewicz “I wouldn’t have known what to say, the interviews would not have gone as well, and I wouldn’t have started applying as early as I had.”
To learn more about the Career Intensive Boot Camp, to register for the event, or volunteer, visit: http://intranet.bloomu.edu/career-boot-camp
BU Alumni Give Back to the Next Generation of Huskies
Celebration and Camaraderie as Alums are Honored by their Alma Mater
May, 8, 2018 A powerful atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration set the mood in the Kehr Union Ballroom of Bloomsburg University during the annual Alumni Awards Dinner on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Over 200 alumni and guests from eight decades gathered with current students to acknowledge and honor five BU Alumni for their achievements and contributions to Bloomsburg University; and to celebrate their alma mater and connection with each other.
Honorees for the Distinguished Service Award included longtime BU Board of Trustee member, LaRoy “Lee” Davis '67; BU Tennis Coach, Martin Coyne ’83; and PA Bar Association Director of Member Services, Elizabeth Swivel ’84. President and CEO of the United Way of Columbia County, Adrienne Mael ‘08 was awarded the Maroon and Gold Excellence Award and former Ames True Temper President and CEO (retired) Duane Greenly ‘72 was awarded the William T. Derricott '66 Volunteer of the Year Award.
The guests of honor spoke passionately about the life changing impact of their experience at Bloomsburg University, as well as the joy of giving back to the university and its students. Legacy families were recognized as current students stood with their alumni parents and grandparents, and an additional 79 alumni were honored as Grimes Loyalty recipients for their involvement with the university in 2017.
“You never know what impact you can have on someone” said Distinguished Service Award recipient, Elizabeth Swivel “I am where I am because of Dr. Bryan.”
“Giving back can be very, very rewarding” added William T. Derricott '66 Volunteer of the Year Award, Duane Greenly “Whether it be your time, your talent or your wealth, there is a high correlation between giving and having something given back to you.”
Alumni involvement is a vital part of Bloomsburg University students’ success and the university is proud to honor our distinguished alumni! Thank you!
