Liberal Arts students: Find your path at Future Fest

The Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences will host Future Fest on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. in the JSAC Ballroom.

An opportunity for students to network and connect with working professionals, Future Fest is designed to introduce students to successful alumni of the college’s various departments and programs. The concept is simple: Students in attendance will receive an autograph sheet which they can then fill with alumni “autographs.” Students earn said autographs by reaching out to alums and asking about their chosen career fields. Participants who earn six autographs can then trade in their sheet for a free Pamplin t-shirt.

Prior to networking, department chairs will briefly introduce the attending alumni to students, and Career Services will provide students with a few helpful networking tips. After that, it’s entirely up to the students to make their own potentially life-changing connections.

The event is free and open to all majors. Student Activities will provide free food for all student participants.

According to Dr. Martha Ginn, associate dean of Pamplin College, the idea for Future Fest originated from a focus group with Pamplin students.

“The students indicated that they wanted to learn more about career opportunities in the liberal arts,” she said. “So, I reached out to  Julie Goley in Career Services about the idea, and she suggested a ‘reverse career fair’ model where the students would meet with Pamplin alumni to learn more about their career paths.”

Some students have already been going above and beyond to help out. The college’s newly selected Pamplin Student Ambassadors will be in attendance to help alumni visitors find parking, navigate the JSAC, and welcome them back to their alma mater. In addition, the Agency—a capstone course for majors of the Department of Communication that simulates working for a professional public relations agency—has worked closely with the dean’s office to produce promotional materials.

“Our main goal is for students to learn and appreciate the diversity of career options open to them,” Ginn said. “We’re really excited about this event.”

For more information about Future Fest, contact Martha Ginn.