[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Menu Bar” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F7F7F5″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” sticky_position=”top” motion_trigger_start=”top” saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” background__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” background_color__sticky=”#F3F3F1″ background_enable_color__sticky=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”1.25vw||1.25vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”139″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_bg_color=”#cba052″ dropdown_menu_line_color=”#d7d2cb” dropdown_menu_text_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_active_link_color=”#313436″ mobile_menu_bg_color=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_text_color=”#2f2f2f” menu_icon_color=”#25282a” mobile_menu_bg_color_tablet=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_phone=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” menu_text_color=”#313436″ menu_font_size=”1.3em” background_enable_color=”off” background_layout=”dark” menu_font_size_tablet=”2vw” menu_font_size_phone=”3vw” menu_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” mobile_menu_bg_color__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” menu_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” menu_text_color__hover=”#711421″][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Article Title Section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_color=”#EAE9E5″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/03\/element_checkered0gold-circle-cutoff-middle.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” background_vertical_offset=”-73%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”19px||0px||false|false” bottom_divider_height=”40px” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_image_tablet=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” max_width=”1253px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”9px|2vw||2vw|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0.25vw|1vw|1vw|1vw|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|7vw||7vw|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” text_text_color=”#862633″ text_font_size=”1.1em” link_font=”||||on|||#2f2f2f|” link_text_color=”#2f2f2f” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” custom_margin=”||11px|||” custom_padding=”0px||5px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#d7d2cb” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Roadrunner Alumni<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”40px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_css_main_element=”align-items: flex-end;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” module_class=”rowFlexChild” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”src” _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”5px||-17px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n LaQuan Norman, director of the Cahill Career Development Center, meets with a student about their career goals.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Copy1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”63px||50px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By Mark Gregorio\u00a0<\/span> |\u00a0 Fall 2024<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n An impressive number of Ramapo College graduates are experiencing an immediate return on their educational investment, with nearly 90 percent securing full-time jobs or continuing their higher education within six months of receiving their diplomas. Still, for many Ramapo students, thoughts about their career future and journey can be daunting.<\/p>\n To help with this, students can tap into the significant resources available through Ramapo\u2019s Cahill Career Development Center and the college\u2019s alumni network. The network is full of alumni professionals working in a wide range of fields, and many of them are happy to share insights and help students get their foot in the door. LaQuan Norman, director of the Cahill Career Development Center, explained that alumni networking events such as \u201cRoadrunner Table Talks\u201d are where students can meet with alumni on campus and learn how to further their career aspirations. She noted that alumni networking events like these are a chance for students to understand better the direction their careers could take from those who stood in their shoes at Ramapo.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cFor Roadrunner Table Talks, we\u2019ll invite up to 20 alumni to discuss different careers and industries,\u201d Norman said. She shared that it allows students to meet with alumni and discuss real-world issues related to a specific business or industry. \u201cAt the end of the event, students network with alumni and learn about the field they are interested in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Industry leaders from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education take this further, pointing out that a critical value proposition of higher education is when career centers work with their alumni networks to provide innovative programming. One example is the Cahill Center\u2019s annual career and internship fair where, this year, nearly 500 students had an opportunity to meet alumni, build relationships and find internships and jobs.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2021\/12\/Circle-gold-and-gray.png” title_text=”Circle-gold-and-gray” align=”right” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate=”24px|20px” transform_translate_tablet=”24px|20px” transform_translate_phone=”20px|-4px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” z_index=”60″ width=”21%” width_tablet=”22%” width_phone=”18%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”||-6px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||-35px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”||-34px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/08\/KV_03-6_Spring-2024-Career-Fair10.jpg” alt=”Future employers talking to students at Ramapo College’s Career Fair event.” title_text=”KV_03-6_Spring-2024-Career-Fair10″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.6em” max_width=”800px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Career Fair gives employers the opportunity to recruit Ramapo students.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||23px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n According to Norman, Ramapo\u2019s career fairs are consistently filled. \u201cOver 700 students and nearly 160 employers attended our job recruitment events this year. What\u2019s nice to see is alumni returning as representatives of their companies. It\u2019s fantastic to meet with them and make those connections again,\u201d she said. \u201cOur alumni consistently say they are impressed by how much effort our students put into researching companies and developing their elevator pitches.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Pull Quote1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3f3f1″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/03\/element_checked-light-gray-circle-cut-offAsset-22@3x.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1024px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/7B7kSAzbETA” image_src=”\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/7B7kSAzbETA\/hqdefault.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”40px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”36px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”24px” header_5_font_size_phone=”24px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Copy1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”63px||63px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Tim Greene \u201991, a special agent representing the Internal Revenue Service, said it\u2019s always great to return to Ramapo to see students, speak with them and give them career advice. \u201cWhen I was here, I got an education at Ramapo that I couldn\u2019t get anywhere else. I am happy to give back to my school and help students with their career goals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, I want to bring Ramapo students to my company because I am an alum,\u201d said Meryl Dorais, \u201917, an accounting professional at WISS. \u201cI want students to come back, see them succeed and have the same awesome opportunities I had as a student.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Gutierrez \u201909, human resources director for PIM Brands, Inc., believes his well-rounded experience at Ramapo has helped him achieve his professional goals. \u201cIt\u2019s great to participate in the career fair and help other future alumni,\u201d he said. \u201cI like being a part of an alumni network that helps students further their career goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Ramapo\u2019s career development programs and alumni help students open doors, learn the ropes and ultimately land jobs. Norman said networking with alumni is essential for students who want to navigate their career exploration phase. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in your first or second year of college, you may not even know what you want to major in, let alone what field you want to work in,\u201d she says. \u201cTalking with alumni from a range of industries can help you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/08\/Career-Center-Ramapo-Monday-0574.jpg” alt=”Students work with Senior Assistant Director Cynthia Michalewski” title_text=”Career-Center-Ramapo-Monday-0574″ align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.6em” max_width=”800px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Students work with Senior Assistant Director Cynthia Michalewski.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Additionally, many corporate recruiters participating in events coordinated by the Cahill Career Development Center are Ramapo alumni. They also serve as ad hoc Ramapo ambassadors to their companies. “Alums come back to our events because they know the value of a Ramapo education, and they know students are well prepared to enter the workforce,\u201d Norman said.<\/p>\n According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70 to 80 percent of all jobs are found through networking. While no statistics reveal the exact percentage of college graduates who find employment specifically through alumni connections, it\u2019s safe to assume that the number is sizable. \u201cConnecting with and leveraging a network of more than 40,000 Ramapo alumni is a solid investment of time and energy that can build meaningful relationships and pay dividends upon graduation,\u201d Norman said.<\/p>\nTapping Into<\/h2>\n
Ramapo\u2019s Powerful Alumni Network for Career Success<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Ramapo Career Fair Alumni<\/h4>\n