New Program Engages Isenberg Alumni as Career Ambassadors
The Isenberg Office of Career Success offers alumni more ways to engage with the community with its Career Ambassador program and looks to expand alumni support as the future of work evolves.
Alumni participating in the Career Ambassador Program with UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management have spent the past year sharing experiences and advice with current students—and have come away from the experience feeling more connected with the school community.
“Whenever I'm invited to come back to Isenberg to participate in an alumni event, I'm excited to think I can still give back and have an impact on the place that gave me so much,” said David Jeffway ’18 ’23MBA, an active career ambassador who works in product development at CVS Health.
Jeffway met students at a recent Next Gen Networking event. Career ambassadors have also spoken to students through panel discussions and in-class presentations, and have offered micro-internships and hosted company visits. Isenberg’s Office of Career Success (OCS), which runs the program, invites its stable of more than 300 career ambassadors—representing undergraduate and graduate alumni—to participate in events throughout the year that align with their interests, expertise, and availability.
Ongoing events, including Next Gen Networking and Career Conversations: Undergraduate and Alumni Networking, give students opportunities to practice professional skills, build confidence, and strengthen their networking etiquette while allowing alumni to give back to the community that helped launch their careers.
“Remembering how daunting entering the professional world can feel as an undergraduate or graduate student, it makes me happy to know I'm able to help students, even in a small way, navigate their next steps and make them more comfortable knowing I was once in their position, too,” Jeffway said.
The program also brings alumni into the classroom, helping students connect academic concepts with career possibilities. Jeffrey Robert, PhD, senior lecturer in finance, said the partnership with OCS has created valuable opportunities for students in his courses.
“What stood out most to me was watching students leave these sessions with not only inspiration, but also tangible outcomes,” he said. “Students had real conversations, LinkedIn connections, and, in some cases, internship opportunities that came directly from engaging with our alumni speakers. The Career Ambassador Program gives students access to a network and a level of mentorship that extends well beyond the classroom. Seeing that happen in real time is exactly why I believe the partnership with OCS is so valuable and worth continuing.”
Career ambassadors also help lead industry “treks,” which give students a closer look at companies, industries, and career paths while helping them build professional networks. Finance major Jillian Maher '28 recently participated in a trek to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
“This experience was my favorite at UMass Amherst so far,” said Maher. “My favorite part of the Trek was the opportunity to connect with current Kraft Group employees and hear about their own personal experiences at Gillette.”
Lea Herrick, associate director of outreach and employer relations, said industry treks help students connect the classroom to the professional world—shaping how they think about academics, career goals, and future opportunities.
“By stepping inside companies, meeting professionals, and hearing firsthand about different career paths and workplace experiences, students gain confidence, perspective, and a clearer understanding of what is possible after graduation,” said Herrick. “These experiences can genuinely shape a student’s future. I have heard students say more than once during a trek that the experience changed what they thought they wanted to do after graduation.”
OCS Assistant Dean Holly Lawrence said the Career Ambassador Program continues to expand the ways alumni can engage with students based on their preferences, talents, and availability. As the future of work evolves, Isenberg is also looking for new ways to support alumni in their own careers.
“Providing support for our alumni in their own career development is a priority for us,” she said. “We are developing new resources, workshops, and other offerings to support alumni in career transition, whether they are changing roles or hoping to move up in their current organization. We are highly cognizant of the changes in the workplace that are occurring right now and how those changes might be affecting our alumni.”
To become a career ambassador, sign up via this form or contact Lea Herrick at lherrick@isenberg.umass.edu.
