January 30, 2012
In today’s day and age, your education isn’t complete until
you’ve stepped outside the classroom and seen the professional
world up-close and personal. Thanks to the Alumni Insider’s View…
Program (AIV) – and thanks to the tremendous support of alumni and
friends – our students can do just that.
This
unique series of events invites alumni back to campus to give
students a behind-the-scenes look at some of today’s most exciting
careers. These programs even take students on-site to watch our
alumni in action, giving them a true insider’s view into their
particular industry.
“We have an incredible lineup planned for Spring 2012,” said
Michael R. Daniels, who joined the University last October as
Associate Director of Alumni Relations for Academic and Student
Programs. “The Fall 2011 semester generated a record numbers of
student attendants – over 1,000 in total. We also featured over 150
alumni participants, so we’re excited about the future of the
program. And with so many exciting opportunities on the horizon, I
encourage all of our alumni to get involved.”
Some of the notable events coming up this semester include the
AIV…Roundtable Discussion with Broadridge, in which alumni working
for Broadridge Financial Solutions will come to campus and discuss
the future of business technology. The AIV…Hospitality Management
program will take students on-site to the Marriott Marquis in Times
Square where they’ll learn from seasons professionals of the hotel
industry. And the AIV…New York State Capitol Program will bring
students to Albany, meeting legislators, attending panel
discussions and witnessing the political intrigue of the Capitol
with their own eyes.
A
new opportunity debuting this semester is the AIV…St. John’s
College Virtual Mentorship program. This exceptional opportunity
pairs up undeclared Liberal Arts students with alumni, encouraging
phone communication, e-mails, instant messaging and Skype
conversations between them on a regular basis. The insight and
guidance from our alumni will help students figure out which major
is right for them, and in-person meet and greets throughout the
semester will further enhance the mentoring.
Students who participate in AIV often mention what a profound
and significant impact the programs have had on them.
“I came into St. John’s completely undecided about my major, and
I was nervous about it,” said Gabrielle Norton ’13CPS, an AIV
participant. “But meeting so many alumni and hearing their stories
helped me realize that figuring out your major, and your eventual
career path, is a long-term process. I met alumni working as FBI
agents, TV and film writers and business professionals, and they
all had a unique journey. I eventually decided to study Hospitality
Management, and thanks to these events, I’ve landed some great
internships and made important connections.”
Stephanie Mazzone ’12CPS, a Mass Communications major, is
impressed by how “real” alumni are and how practical their advice
is.
“They don’t just tell you clichés like ‘follow your dreams,’”
she said. “That wouldn’t be very helpful. Instead, they’re very
honest with students, openly discussing not only their success, but
the problems they encountered along the way. They give out their
business cards and I know that when I graduate, I’ll be getting in
touch with a number of them.”
You can see more student testimonials through myAIV, a
social-media initiative in which students post videos about AIV
programs and encourage their peers to attend. You can also read
about some of the marquee events from the Fall 2011 semester,
including the
AIV…Day on Wall Street,
AIV…U.S. Capitol and
AIV…Investment Management programs.
Do you want to join the growing number of alumni AIV
participants? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (718)
990-6232 or by e-mail at alumni@stjohns.edu to find out
how you can get involved. Your expertise will help our students get
the most out of their St. John’s education!