SU career services hosts 4th Black History Month career mixer
SU’s career services hosted its fourth annual Black History Month career mixer in collaboration with the Office of Student Success and Belonging. Mayor Sharon Owens was expected to deliver the keynote address, but she was not in attendance. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
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Syracuse University’s Career Services hosted its fourth annual Black History Month career mixer Wednesday, allowing students to network with alumni and ask them questions about their careers.
The mixer, a collaboration with the Office of Belonging & Student Success and the Student Government Association’s BHM committee, was set to kick off with a speech by Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens. However, the mayor was in Albany “attending to official business,” which went longer than expected, Black Student Union President Za’Mani Pierre-Louis said.
“She sends her warm regards and appreciation to everyone here, and she looks forward to future opportunities to connect our campus community,” Pierre-Louis said regarding Owens’ absence from the event.
The mayor’s office did not immediately provide comment.
SU alumni at the event took turns introducing themselves to attendees to kickstart the mixer. Newhouse School of Public Communication Professor J. Christopher Hamilton and CNY Central Assignment Editor Jason Distant spoke to students about their experience in the media industry.
Programming Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Asha-Gaye Cowell spoke about her work matching students with congressional internships, followed by Excel Consulting CEO El-Java Abdul Qadir, who shared his path to the consulting world. Central NY Community Foundation Scholarships VP Ahmeed Turner discussed gaps in the Syracuse education system with students.
With students sitting at different tables, alumni took turns talking to each group of students. Each alum spoke to students about topics ranging from internship advice to career experience.
Chloe Narcel, an SU freshman, said while she was disappointed the mayor didn’t attend, she was still excited to learn from other alumni. She said it would have been “cool” to hear from Syracuse’s first Black mayor.
“I think it’s important to help college students connect as soon as they can,” Narcel said. “I wish people knew more about (the event).”
Freshman Braydon Southerland serves as the Director of Government Affairs for SGA and works to connect the student government with Syracuse’s government.
Southerland said he was excited about the opportunity to connect with people who have similar backgrounds to him. He thinks it’s important to make meaningful connections during Black History Month “whenever possible.”
“Syracuse definitely has a very diverse campus, and we have the ability to hold these events,” Southerland said. “I’m very proud of the university for how they’ve put up Black History Month and how even in this divisive time they’ve continued to stay strong and believe in diversity.”
The event was held in the Schine Student Center and organized by Erin Smith, SU’s internship program coordinator. He was offered the opportunity to work on career-related events for Black History Month four years ago and said it sounded like “a dream come true.”
“I hope (students) understand the benefit of networking, and it gives them a little bit of practice before they step outside of the campus environment and get into the real world of networking,” Smith said.
Owens is willing to partner for future programming, Smith said.
