LGBTQIA alumni participate in career panel

As part of the event, organized by the LGBTQIA Alumni Network, the Student Professional Development Center, the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Gender & LGBTQIA Center, alumni panelists shared their experiences and answered questions from students, as well as from moderator René Jackson P’08, a career advisor with the Student Professional Development Center.

Topics included ways to find out whether a workplace is LGBTQIA-friendly, navigating job applications and interviews, coming out at work, finding networks and mentors, and resources available to students as they job search.

“This panel was an amazing way for students to hear from alumni in a wide range of career fields,” Matthew Antonio Bosch, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, said. “They had the chance to get real answers from alumni who have had similar experiences to their own. It added value to our student’s time at Elon and gave them connections to prepare for their lives after graduation.”

The alumni who served on the panel were:

• Joshua McIntosh ’97, dean of academic services at Johns Hopkins University
• Lisa Ciaravella ’98 and Tatum Robinson ’99 G’02, co-founders and co-owners of Phoenix Physical Therapy and Sports Performance
• Annie Chalmers ’03, clinical social worker
• Darris Means ’05, associate director of the Elon Academy
• Peyton Jenkins ’10, middle school history teacher

After the event, students were invited to informally network with the panelists, which led to meaningful connections, said John Pickett ’03, outreach and networking co-chair of the LGBTQIA Alumni Network.

“I would say that was one of the most exciting aspects of the event,” Pickett  added. “I overheard so many wonderful connections being made between alums and students during this time.”

Information submitted by Hillary Bruce ’08, coordinator of alumni engagement – affinity programs in the Office of Alumni Engagement.