Under Boldly Elon’s Connect theme, the Office of University Advancement, the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, and the Student Professional Development Center collaborated to make the event possible.

The Study USA Elon in New York students have had numerous opportunities to connect with alumni and other industry professionals, engaging in meaningful networking with New York City-based alumni. Throughout the evening, many conversations focused on the challenges and opportunities of working in such a competitive destination.

Eight Elon alumni were in attendance, representing careers from many different industries, with graduation years varying from 2001 to 2021.

“It was a great time connecting with alumni, reminiscing about our shared experiences and looking forward to future collaborations” says Alexa Morrissey, a current Study USA Elon in New York student. “Learning about their career trajectories helped me understand what I should do to succeed”.

This experience helped to clarify post-graduation paths for many current students and highlighted the Elon network’s role in driving their success in the city.

“The alumni were very helpful, answering questions and giving us advice on how to advance our careers. I had many good conversations with alums across various fields of work and learned a lot about different career paths” says Emma Franco, a current Study USA Elon in New York student.

At the end of the event, many students expressed that they greatly benefited from networking with the alumni and are eager to stay connected. Elon alumni can expect a flurry of LinkedIn connection requests from these enthusiastic students!

The students kicked off their summer in the city with an excursion to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty where they learned about the history of Ellis Island and the immigrants that passed through on their way to a new life.

The students also took a tour of the Tenement Museum and heard stories of the immigrant and migrant experience through a guided visit to a historical tenement building in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Many other excursions are planned for the students to learn more about the history and diversity of New York City.

The students are taking a core capstone course “COR 3620 – Understanding Diversity at Work” with Professor Barjinder Singh. These programming events are planned periodically to reinforce what the students are learning in the classroom. New York City is home to a population that speaks over 200 languages and over 3 million New Yorkers are foreign-born.

As the students settle into city life, they will begin their internships which are a crucial part of their experience in the program. These internships provide an excellent opportunity for the students to explore potential career paths and determine if city life is for them. The Study USA Elon in New York program is open to all majors, with students interning at organizations that align with their major and career goals.