Networking and pathfinding stressed by panelists
Clark’s second annual Sophomore Summit provided students an opportunity to discuss their career ambitions, learn about the skills most sought after in the job market, and hear alumni share their strategies for transitioning from college to the workplace.
The summit, held Sept. 20 at the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design, offered sophomores a mixture of self-discovery and practical advice on everything from effective networking to potential career paths. The day began with breakfast, and before 9 a.m. students lined up for professional headshots. They then headed to a panel of Clark sophomores whose summer internships were concentrated in finance and marketing.
“Everyone at the internship panel got their internship either from a previous job or through someone they met at a career fair,” said attendee Matthew Schneider ’28. “The panel stressed that developing a network of connections is crucial because cold applications just don’t get you very far these days.”
Chemistry Professor Don Spratt presented a panel centered on the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ list of eight core competencies to discuss how the students can build the associated skills.
“The workshop was useful for setting achievable goals for myself,” said Schneider. “For example, to improve my career development and networking skills, I set a goal of gaining 100 new LinkedIn connections by the end of the term. Having a space to reflect and develop actionable goals made the workshop useful to my professional development.”
The summit, which featured a number of workshops about using University resources to find internships and develop technical skills, concluded with lunch and a panel featuring Clark alumni who discussed their experiences entering the workforce after graduation. The event is sponsored by the Dean of the College and the Division of Student Success, and its planning committee includes staff members from the Division of Student Success and the Career Connections Center.
“The Sophomore Summit brought together a powerhouse panel of Clarkies,” said Dean of the College Laurie Ross, who moderated the panel. “Students showed up sharp in business casual, asked smart questions, and practiced their networking skills by connecting with the panelists afterward for one-on-one conversations. The Sophomore Summit really is where Clark students see what’s possible and start charting their course to get there.”
Alumni participants were Luca Houtmuller ’25, MSC ’26, communications and marketing intern at Second Chance Animal Services (Major: Music Technology, M.S. in Communications); Jose Castro ’21, executive director, EforAll Greater Worcester (Major: Business Administration and Management); Cristina Mendoza ’14, MBA ’15, director, Sustainserv (Major: Environmental Science, MBA in Finance); Rachel Quinn ’23, M.S. ’24, marketing and branding coordinator, Pepsi of Worcester & Windham (Major: Management, M.S. in Marketing); Slesha Shrestha ’21, M.S. ’22, scientist, AbbVie (Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).
Midaly Carrasquillo Delgado, associate director of career education and experiential learning at Clark, described the Sophomore Summit as “inspiring.”
“I cannot stress how rewarding it was to witness the students dedicate a Saturday morning to investing in themselves and their future growth, taking tangible steps toward shaping their academic and career journey,” said Carrasquillo Delgado. “This event empowers students to overcome the ‘sophomore slump,’ draw meaningful connections between their courses and co-curricular experiences, and take early steps toward their career goals. It also provides a unique opportunity to explore career paths, engage with alumni, and gain the tools and confidence needed to succeed at Clark and beyond.”
