The Center for Career Development and Political Science Department sponsored a networking trip to Washington, D.C. in April.
“Students benefit so much from the opportunity to meet with our alumni,” said chaperone Lori Moran, coordinator in the Center for Career Development. “They are able to make connections, gain experience with networking, and learn about the resources and opportunities that exist in their fields.”
Stops on the trip included the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Migration and Refugee Services, the Supreme Court and the Capitol Hill Club. Bill Canny ’77, H’07, executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, hosted the group at USCCB, and Carl Thorsen ’90, founding partner of Thorsen French Advocacy, hosted the group at the Capitol Hill Club.
“When I moved to Washington shortly after graduation I knew almost nobody here, so connecting with an alumni network would have been helpful,” Thorsen said. “Things have worked out for me and, due in part to Professor Scully’s legacy and scholarship program, there are plenty of other Scranton graduates in the politics and public policy business. To the extent there are students who want to come to Washington, hopefully we can cultivate an alumni network that’s available as a resource.”
The trip gave students the opportunity to see what life is like after college, as well as get to know alumni with similar interests. “The Washington networking trip was a great way to meet alumni involved in the fields I’m interested in,” said Colin Sommers ’22. “They were all really nice, genuine and eager to help me on my career path.”
The trip was made possible through alumni funding for the Ignatian Global Citizenship Program. “Our students have gained greater insights into 21st century challenges and opportunities, both at home and abroad,” said Mike Allison, Ph.D., a political science professor at Scranton. “Students have also made important contacts with alumni through campus programs, as well as field trips to Harrisburg (2018) and Washington, D.C. (2019). We really appreciate how extremely generous our alumni have been with their time and energy.”
