On the evening of September 24, 2008, 37 engineering alumni returned to campus to share their professional experiences and insights with engineering students. A panel discussion was followed by a reception, and in this casual setting students had the chance to speak with alumni from a wide range of professions and get the insiders’ scoop on the working world.

“During the reception, I talked to someone from a relatively small startup and others from large multinationals like Northrop-Grumman,” says Shirley Leong, a chemical and biomolecular engineering graduate student. “The great thing was that all of the alumni had vast networks I could tap into. One person I met forwarded my resume to his friend at a company I’m interested in. It’s a tough job market this year and any connections I can make will definitely help.”

Alumni panelist Ken Loeber ’84, the executive managing director of CB Richard Ellis Global Project Management, is committed to improving the transition from college to the working world for Hopkins graduates. “Hopkins was a great place to learn how to think at a higher level, but when I graduated, if you weren’t going on to grad school, there was little to no support to help you enter the business world,” he recalls. “Over the past few years I have felt a recognition by Hopkins that we needed to improve this. I always tell my three kids they’re not allowed to complain about something unless they’re prepared to engage in a solution-so I offered my help.”

Says Mark Presnell, director of Student Career Services, “There is no better source for information about career opportunities than alumni in the field who can describe duties, tasks, and challenges that they face every day.”

If you are interested in becoming involved with the SEA’s activities, including opportunities to serve as a professional mentor and resource to current students, please email [email protected].