Ask Heather Crowley (’96, MS’03) what identity at work means to her, and she’s excited to share her answer.
“For me, my identity isn’t just as a social worker, but also as a Native person working in Dane County and bringing the Wisconsin Idea and everything I learned here [at UW–Madison] to the workplace,” says Crowley, who is employed as a supervisor at a human services agency working to prevent young people from becoming involved with gangs or sex trafficking. “I want to utilize my skill set to make sure that even though everyone’s identities are different or mixed, we are all welcome in all spaces.”
Crowley was one of more than 20 alumni who volunteered their time to connect with students in Memorial Union recently. She and other alumni shared their stories and answered questions from curious students. The networking opportunity was part of the L&S [RE] CONNECT programming. The College of Letters & Science launched [RE] CONNECT in 2022 to intentionally engage alumni from communities underrepresented in higher education and build a powerful multi-generational network. This event was a collaboration with SuccessWorks, the L&S career center that helps students navigate the world of applying to jobs, internships and graduate schools through one-on-one career advising, events and resources.
“Our at-work series that we offer students has been wildly successful,” says Angie White, the executive director for SuccessWorks. “It’s an event that really helps students relax, get a lot of information in one setting and start making those professional contacts that they can use throughout their career. We know this will be really impactful for students who attend, because they are able to start building their professional network.”
That’s exactly what Jonathan Bryan (’23) was there to do. He graduated last year with majors in psychology, neurobiology and molecular and cell biology and is now a graduate student in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
“I’m here to connect with anyone in a health-related field to see how their education led them into pharmaceuticals or health solutions and also to learn more about physicians supporting their roles in the business,” he says.
As Bryan stopped by different tables, he asked for advice. His favorite tidbit that he walked away with was to explore a wide range of specialties and experience as much as he can while he’s still in school, because it will open up opportunities for the future.
Seniors Hermione Wei and Shivam Ratnani were excited to make connections at the event. As they get ready to graduate, they are in the process of applying to jobs and are looking for any advantage in the competitive application process.
“In this job market, it feels like more possibilities come from knowing alumni and having connections in general, rather than applying straight up,” says Ratnani, who is majoring in computer sciences and data science. “It’s important to connect with the people who are doing those things you are interested in,” adds Wei, who is majoring in economics and data science.
For Adam Clausen (‘06), building connections is what this event is all about. He’s the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Madison Metropolitan School District. As someone who has benefitted from his own Badger connections, he sees his involvement at events like these as a way of paying it forward.
“I have been a beneficiary of a lot of mentorship,” Clausen says. “I knew someone who knew someone and that opened doors for me professionally. I want to continue to do the same for others.”
His message to students is to build up a strong sense of self. He says companies will train workers on the technical aspects of a job, but it’s who they are uniquely that will set them apart.
It’s conversations like these that excite DeVon Wilson, the associate dean for inclusive excellence for L&S.
“You can Google wisdom, but you can’t get wisdom from Google,” Wilson says. “It’s in these environments where you can talk to people and get to understand contexts and experiences and then think about how you apply it in your own life.”
Eric M. Wilcots, Dean of the College of Letters & Science and Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy, adds simply: “This is Badgers helping Badgers.”