人妻少妇专区

Class Notes

Katie Schwertz 鈥�08鈥攁n optics major turned senior designer at Edmund Optics鈥攍ives in Tucson and wanted to stay involved with the University after graduating but wasn鈥檛 sure how.

About five years ago, the Hajim School asked her to join a new group, the Hajim Young Leadership Council, whose goal is to connect alumni through educational opportunities, provide networking, and keep the school鈥檚 faculty members and leaders up to date about the state of the engineering industry. She has been on the council ever since. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to keep networks open, create and sustain connections, and give back,鈥� she says.

John Pershing 鈥�10, a computer science and math double major who now is vice president of software engineering at 1010data in New York City, has been involved from the early days, too. His engagement began when he volunteered for a Hajim class that undergraduates are still required to take, called Communicating Your Professional Identity. Part of his current job involves hiring interns, so staying connected with students helps tremendously.

Schwertz and Pershing are two members of the group, which includes about 25 people and runs like a collective鈥攚ithout official leadership or a chair or cochairs. 鈥淥ur structure works well,鈥� says Pershing, noting that people can be as involved as their schedules allow.

Both say they appreciate being able to make a difference for future engineers. 鈥淎s fairly recent graduates, we can provide timely insight into what skills job candidates need and what鈥檚 happening in the industry now,鈥� says Schwertz.

The council also organizes alumni events geared toward engineers. In 2017, the group hosted a behind-the-scenes tour of New York City鈥檚 South Ferry Subway Station before it reopened to the public. (The station had been flooded and closed for renovations after Hurricane Sandy.) 鈥淲e strive to offer our alumni experiences they can鈥檛 get elsewhere,鈥� says Persching.

Jim Zavislan, the Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor and associate dean for education and new initiatives at Hajim, says the group鈥檚 feedback has been valuable as the school evaluates its programs and initiatives. 鈥淭he council mirrors in many ways the evolution in how people do business.鈥�

For more information about the council and its programs, visit Hajim.rochester.edu/hajim_young_leadership_council.html.

鈥擪ristine Thompson