Building professional relationships, exploring career opportunities and sharing valuable advice were all part of St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Student & Alumni Networking Night, held Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Tuohy Hall Student Lounge on the Brooklyn Campus.
The event brought together students, alumni, faculty and staff for an evening of conversations about careers, professional development and the importance of networking. It also provided an opportunity to introduce students to the University’s Alumni Mentor Program, which connects students with graduates who can offer career guidance and share professional experiences.
“One of the things I love most about my job is seeing how willing our alumni are to give back and help our students,” said Sylvie Brown, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement at SJNY, who helped organize the event. “And tonight is a perfect example of that.”
Brown also encouraged students to join SJNYconnect, the University’s exclusive networking platform, which offers access to alumni, career opportunities and mentorship programs.
Learning From Alumni Experiences
For Ayana Kone ’07 ’09, assistant vice president at Morgan Stanley and vice president of the Brooklyn Campus Alumni Board, returning to SJNY was an opportunity to give back to the University that helped shape her career.
“SJNY gave me so much, from a bachelor’s degree to two master’s degrees to the confidence and network that shaped my career,” Kone said. “Coming back is my way of giving back. My personal motto is ‘each one teach one,’ and I take it seriously.”
Kone added, “As vice president of the SJNY’s Brooklyn Campus Alumni Board, and as someone who also teaches in the classroom, I see firsthand how much students benefit when they can put a real face and a real story to the careers they’re imagining. If I can open one door or answer one question that saves a student years of guesswork, that’s time well spent.”
Tom Harris ’91, president of the Times Square Alliance, also emphasized the importance of developing meaningful professional relationships. “Much of my success is from establishing relationships with people and nurturing those relationships as well as letting people know I care and will do what I say I will do,” Harris said.
Making Connections That Matter
For Brielle Nelson ’28, a junior criminal justice major interested in pursuing a legal career, the event offered an opportunity to learn from professionals who had followed similar paths.
“I would encourage every student to attend a networking event and participate in the Mentor Program because it is an amazing opportunity to meet people and truly gain relationships that go deeper than just a LinkedIn connection,” Nelson said, adding, “The alumni were amazing and incredibly insightful!”
Maxwell Wignall ’29, a sophomore, who is majoring in business administration and is also the founder and president of the SJNY Private Equity Investment Club, attended the event hoping to connect with alumni working in finance. “My conversation with Ayana Kone, an AVP at Morgan Stanley and a St. Joseph’s alum, stood out the most,” Wignall said. “She told me to keep striving towards my goals, stay consistent and stay hungry. Since the event, she has been a huge help with the club.”
The evening also highlighted how SJNY’s alumni network can help students navigate the transition from college to their careers. As Wignall noted, “Most students wait until senior year to start networking, but the earlier you start, the more doors open.”
Through events like Networking Night and the Alumni Mentor Program, SJNY continues to create opportunities for students and graduates to build relationships that extend well beyond the classroom.
