Center for Career Services Hosts VIP Networking Event

Students talking with Marist Alumni at networking event hosted by the center for career services. Photo by Nora Ritchie '28

On Feb. 4, the Marist University Center for Career Services hosted a VIP Networking Event. The event, which was hosted in the Cabaret Lounge across two separate sessions from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., featured representatives from companies and organizations tailored to students in the School of Communication and the Arts, the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. 

“This event is different from some of the other events [that Career Services hosts],” said Desmond Murray, the associate director for the Employee Experience at the Center for Career Services. “We invite Marist alumni to the campus, and they’re not necessarily offering positions and jobs, but their main role in coming back is to assist [Marist] students with their careers.”  

Students ideally stay in contact with people they met at the event, which could later “lead to an internship or a full-time job.” 

“In the world of networking, you create connections,” said Murray. 

“We get calls from firms every day saying they want Marist students,” said Dr. Mary Jones, executive director of the Center for Career Services. “They may not have a chance to get in a traditional way, so we get them in the VIP Networking way.” 

When Career Services first started hosting the event in 2019, they attempted to cater to all six Marist academic schools at one event. 

“In fall 2025, the strategy changed,” said Murray. “We came up with the idea of just focusing on three schools [per event].” The event for the School of Computer Science and Math, the School of Management and the School of Science was held last semester.

“Sometimes students are nervous about going to these events, so we’re on-hand,” said Murray, referring to the presence of both himself and Jones at the event to facilitate introductions between students and alumni.

The Center for Career Services took a broad approach towards marketing the event, spreading the word on social media, across televisions on campus and via email. 

“You can’t function on the Marist University campus without reading email,” Murray quipped. Jones and Murray steadfastly believe in the importance of hosting such an event.

“[Employers are] offering advice that could lead to a job at that corporation in the future. Alumni are giving advice because they were there,” added Murray, referring to the alumni as “role models” in the way that people like SGA members are also role models to Marist students. 

“In the age of AI, there is nothing more important than getting that connection face-to-face,” said Jones. “We are going to continue to offer more and more in-person, face-to-face events so we can continue to prepare students,” added Jones, quipping that “people hire people, not paper.’” 

The event featured dozens of representatives who were united not only by their status as former Red Foxes but also by their desire to help current Red Foxes advance their careers. 

“It’s really important to connect with students,” said Rosemary DaCruz ‘21, associate of Federal Practice at Results for America. They considered interacting with alumni as “one of the most impactful things about my time at Marist.” “There is a world outside of college, and you can build a career for yourself.”

DaCruz, who said that they have “worked with a lot of Marist students as interns,” said that being present at an event like this and helping Marist students into the workforce “[makes] a difference in young people’s lives” as well as their own.

Yolanda Robano-Gross ‘90, the CEO of Options for Community Living, a Long Island-based non-profit, agreed.

“It’s essential to attend these kinds of events. I was here from ‘86 to ‘90… even then, Marist was very forward-thinking in making sure that their students had a connection to the community,” said Robano-Gross. “It’s only right that I’m here to help other people get connections.” 

Robano-Gross cited the growing cost of living in New York as another factor that encouraged her attendance at the event, referring to the event’s attendees as “the people that are gonna keep our economy going.” 

Kevin Bruckner ‘16, founder, owner and creative director of Bruck Studios, is deeply entrenched within the Marist community. 

“I have a deep appreciation for Marist and what I learned there and the relationships that I formed there that are still growing today,” said Bruckner. “Being able to share… my non-traditional career path to entrepreneurship is valuable, authentic, and inspiring to help students realize that they can do whatever they want to.” 

“I have classmates that work for the university, for athletics, and my wife works for the university,” added Bruckner. “I wouldn’t be here without Marist.”