The power of the Hampden-Sydney alumni network is something that students hear of before they ever set foot on the Hill. Ranked third in the nation by The Princeton Review, it offers students opportunities to make dynamic and robust personal and professional connections. This access is supported by the Ferguson Career Center and the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, which work to connect students and alumni and open doors for students after graduation.
From the moment they arrive on campus, students have the opportunity to work with the Ferguson Career Center"We endeavor to make sure that our students know what they want and are ready to achieve their goals,” says Assistant Director of Career Education Patrick Jourdain '88. “We prepare them with mock interviews, a professional resume, and a tailored LinkedIn profile. On top of that, we develop personal relationships with invested alumni and make connections between students and alumni who work in the fields that students are interested in. As an alumnus myself, I communicate to students the importance of building good relationships with alumni early in their college careers.”
The Career Center works with students to create plans based on their goals. First-year students can develop four-year plans to get the most out of their college years and establish vital connections with alumni, bringing them one step closer to their desired careers upon graduating. To effectively engage alumni, the Ferguson Career Center leans on its strong working relationship with the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement.
Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement Cameron Marshall '12 echoes Jourdain’s sentiments: "Mentorship and our alumni go hand in hand. Many alumni are eager to help our students find internships and jobs." Programs like Hire a Tiger—an online network for alumni to review student resumes and connect with students searching for internships or jobs—and events like career fairs and alumni panels are some of the best ways alumni can engage with current students. "We have a great relationship with the Career Center," Marshall says. "We work together to develop unique opportunities that attract alumni back to campus to connect with the College and build relationships with students."
As the Career Center helps to introduce students to alumni working in their fields of interest, the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement further tailors students’ alumni engagement experience by introducing them to alumni living in cities that students are interested in, Marshall explains. This highly personalized, two-pronged relationship-building approach helps students tap into the alumni network to improve post-graduation career prospects and quality of life.
These relationships are often life-changing for students who work the network. English major and four-year Tiger basketball forward Harrison Taylor ’23 was exploring his interest in creative marketing when he connected with Ted Wright ’89, a College trustee and the founder and CEO of the pioneering word-of-mouth marketing firm Fizz. After learning more about Wright’s innovative approach to marketing, Harrison knew he wanted to work with Wright and learn more from this industry leader, but Fizz does not typically hire interns. Nevertheless, Harrison persisted—respectfully. Impressed with Harrison’s initiative and determination, Wright offered him a spot as an executive intern during the summer of 2022, and Harrison headed to Atlanta.