Coming Back and Giving Back

By Patrick Bohn, November 10, 2023
Alumni Weekend serves as an opportunity for past generations to share expertise with current students.
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Events throughout Alumni Weekend gave current students the opportunity to connect with and hear from successful former Bombers. (Clockwise, photos by Jackie Vickery '26, Nathan Zakim '25, Simon Wheeler, and Elle Wilcox ’26.)

Events throughout Alumni Weekend gave current students the opportunity to connect with and hear from successful former Bombers. (Clockwise, photos by Jackie Vickery '26, Nathan Zakim '25, Simon Wheeler, and Elle Wilcox ’26.)

Ryan Johnson ’26, Nathan Zakim ’25, Elle Wilcox ’26, and Jackie Vickery ’26  reported this story.

During Alumni Weekend 2023, hundreds of IC alumni returned to South Hill to reminisce with classmates and see the changes that have taken place on campus since they graduated.

But many also came back with another purpose in mind: to inspire and guide the next generation of Ithaca College students by sharing not only their professional experience but also their career journeys. At events throughout the weekend, they showed that the true value of an IC experience is the connections between Bombers past and present.

One of the biggest opportunities for alumni and students to get together came during the Alumni Career Mentorship Meet and Greet. Held at the Center for Career Exploration and Development, the event gave students the opportunity to speak with and ask questions of alumni whose careers were similar to their interests.

“It was great to connect with people that have careers that are similar to ones I want to pursue. And even if they didn’t study the same thing as me, they're still offering their experience and knowledge.”

Zach Sultzer ’25

“It was really informative,” said Zach Sultzer ’25, a cinema and photography major. “It was great to connect with people that have careers that are similar to ones I want to pursue. And even if they didn’t study the same thing as me, they're still offering their experience and knowledge. So that shows a lot about how helpful our alumni want to be.”

People mingling

The School of Humanities and Sciences held an event for alumni of politics, English, history, economics, and world languages, literatures, and cultures that gave them a chance to connect with current students. (Photo by Nathan Zakim '25)

Gail Lebert ’73, who was an English major at IC, understands that events like this help students get a leg up.

“I think today, more than ever, people are preparing for their life after college in college,” she said.

Chemistry graduate Janine Fogarty ’85 believes students were grateful to have insight from alumni. “It’s nice to see somebody who has come out on the other side of [college] when you’re in the middle of it and it’s hard,” she said. “We always work better together than separately.”

Even when the students and alumni weren’t in the same school, the value of IC’s liberal arts education shone through, with Sultzer noting that Lebert credited not only her time in the School of H&S, but courses she took in the School of Business.

“There’s ample opportunity for you to step forward and figure out what moves you, defines you, and how you can make an impact here.”

Board of Trustees member Traci Hughes ’85

“It shows that no one ever does just one thing,” he said. “There are different paths that people take while at IC that can serve them in so many fields.”

After the event, business cards and LinkedIn profiles were exchanged.

“I really encourage students to reach out to me, and any alumni,” Lebert said. “I think it's important.”

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Alumni Traci Hughes ’85 (left) and Katie Foley '01 (right) shared advice with current students at the Women in Leadership Breakfast. Christina Moylan, interim Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, also served as a panel member. (Photo by Jackie Vickery '26)

During the Women in Leadership Breakfast, alumni such as Katie Foley ’01, owner of Silo Food Truck, and Board of Trustees member Traci Hughes ’85, who has been an executive at some of the biggest companies in the world, shared their insight on being a woman in a leadership position.

Held by the college’s Women’s Mentoring Network (WMN) and the student group Students Today and Alumni Tomorrow (STAT), the event gave current students a chance to learn from some of IC’s most successful alumnae.

One thing that Hughes shared was how no one should be in a rush to have all the answers immediately.

“There’s ample opportunity for you to step forward and figure out what moves you, defines you, and how you can make an impact here,” she told the crowd.

Foley, who was an exercise science major at IC, encouraged the audience to make sure that their leadership ambitions don’t come at the expense of self-care.

“I felt closer not only to the IC community but also to the women who came before me. It was a big moment of stepping back and feeling thankful that I’m in a place where events and opportunities like these are available to me.”

Jasmine Williams ’25

“When you find yourself in a leadership position, whether in the community, amongst your team, or in your family, you have an Achilles heel where you tend to lead and give a lot. And I've certainly been in leadership positions where I haven't felt strong because I realized I was leading and giving and wasn't really taking care of myself,” she said. “I feel most strong when I realized I've taken care of myself in those situations and can leave feeling like I brought the best version of myself to something.”

Students with alumni

At the Creative Crunch event, students Augustine Daudu '27 (left) and Miguel Brand '27 got to spend time with Michael Kaplan '85. (Photo by Ryan Johnson '26)

The willingness of Hughes and Foley to share their experiences resonated deeply with the attendees.

“I felt closer not only to the IC community but also to the women who came before me,” said Jasmine Williams ’25, who moderated the event. “It was a big moment of stepping back and feeling thankful that I’m in a place where events and opportunities like these are available to me. I walked away feeling inspired and encouraged to keep moving, keep trying, keep making mistakes, and keep being a woman leader the way I want to be.”

In addition to helping students realize their full potential as leaders, the weekend also presented the opportunity for alumni to share their professional expertise at a pair of events put on in the Roy H. Park School of Communications.

Olivia Burgher ’13, David Spiegelman ’80, and Dan Heffner ’78 served as judges during the Golden Doorknob film competition, which tasks students with creating a film where a character is killed by a doorknob. Alumni also served as judges for the Creative Crunch Competition, which gives students 48 hours to create a marketing campaign and presentation for a major company.

“We are fortunate to have a pool of alumni judges who are always willing to come and share their experience, expertise, and time with our students,” said Scott Hamula, professor and chair of strategic communication.

Students relished the chance to learn from former Bombers.

“[Alumni] have a lot of experience in the field so it's good to see what they think about our campaigns and designs,” said Meredith Waropay ’26. “It’s a great opportunity for current students.”

“My hope is that students continue to reach out to me and others who are alumni to help them figure out what they want to do. I know that myself and other alumni are going to be as supportive as possible.”

Rob Engelsman ’11

Alumni and students hoped that the connections made during the event lead to opportunities down the line.

“I just spoke with an alum who worked at Disney for several years, and I now have their email and I look forward to reaching out to them,” said Kathryn Miller ’24, who was a member of the winning team.

“My hope is that students continue to reach out to me and others who are alumni to help them figure out what they want to do,” said Rob Engelsman ’11, who is the co-founder and strategy partner at a strategic communications company. “I know that myself and other alumni are going to be as supportive as possible.”

Students in the School of Humanities and Sciences also got the opportunity to connect with supportive alumni during a reception held for graduates of politics, English, history, economics, and world languages, literatures, and cultures.

“This kind of event doesn't happen at every college,” said history alum Larry Sargent ’63.

“It’s cool to find out what people who were in the same building as you are doing now,” said politics major Skyler Cepek ’24. “It’s awesome to hear of their successes.”