Marist Hosts Fall 2025 VIP Networking Event

The VIP Networking Event offers a way for current students to meet with alumni and learn more about potential careers. “Handshake - Man and Woman” by Amtec Photos, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr .

On Sept. 3, Marist University held a VIP Networking Event in the Dyson Center, which allowed students to meet with Marist alumni from the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, the School of Management and the School of Science. 

The VIP Networking event was first introduced in 2019 and has been ongoing since. The event is held once during each semester and is open to all Marist students, excluding first-years. 

Students were encouraged to ask questions and converse with alumni in order to understand the path they took to obtain the position they currently have, and how they took advantage of the opportunities presented to them at Marist.

Lauren Schleith ‘23, who currently works for Optimum, discussed how she initially came to Marist because the program itself had everything she wanted. While studying at Marist, she completed two internships, which helped her put her name out there. 

Other peers also had a conversation with Victoria Catanzarite ‘24, who works for The Walt Disney Company. She walked students through her position for the Student Activities marketing team and her experience working at Disney World for a semester.

Engaging in these active conversations with alumni is crucial for students. It guides students to understand what steps they need to take towards the job market and how to get more involved in campus activities. It also allows students to put their names out there for future internships and jobs. 

The in-person aspect of the event is also crucial, as students can get feedback on certain aspects of their resume and can improve their conversational skills, which is something that they could not experience over a Zoom call. 

The VIP Networking Event doesn’t just help students; it also helps alumni. “Many employers have had great conversations with current students, and it could lead to an internship or full-time job opportunity,” said Desomond Murray through an email. 

“In addition, some of the Marist graduates who attend the VIP Networking Event do not work in their company’s human resources office, but they may receive resumes and pass them on to the Human Resources contact at their company.”  Alumni are also able to give back to their school during this time and see how things have improved/changed since they attended Marist University. 

The VIP Networking event has continuously helped both Marist students and alumni initiate new relationships and connections that benefit both parties, and it has the power to jumpstart careers.