{"id":14578,"date":"2022-11-15T11:42:17","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T16:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/?p=14578"},"modified":"2023-01-31T14:54:34","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T19:54:34","slug":"linking-humanities-to-careers-event-shows-students-they-have-the-skills-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/news\/linking-humanities-to-careers-event-shows-students-they-have-the-skills-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Linking Humanities to Careers\u2019 event shows students they have the skills for success"},"content":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I.<\/strong> \u2013 Nov. 15, 2022 \u2013 When it comes to preparing students for careers, the humanities disciplines sometimes get a bad rap. But at a recent event sponsored by the URI Center for Career and Experiential Education and the Center for the Humanities, students learned how the skills they develop in the humanities can translate directly into career success after graduation.<\/p>\n

The annual event, called Linking Humanities to Careers, brings current humanities students together with URI alumni\u2014all of whom turned their humanities education into successful careers in government, business, and elsewhere. Students and alumni interact in a \u201cspeed-networking\u201d format, where alumni move from table to table and chat informally with groups of five or so students. This year\u2019s event was held on Nov. 10 in the Memorial Student Union Ballroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a really great opportunity for students in majors like English, history, philosophy or languages to figure out what they might be able to do with their degrees,\u201d said Eve Sterne, director of the Center for the Humanities. \u201cWe\u2019re appreciative of our alums who come back to share their experiences and talk about the variety of options students can pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alumni participants included Johnathan Berard, a history and political science major who is now director of communications and strategy for Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea; Daniel Marran, an attorney who triple majored in philosophy, Spanish, and political science; and Kelly Primus, a history major who is CEO of the consulting firm Leading NOW.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Jonathan Berard talks with students about his work with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Topics of conversation around the tables included developing networking strategies, creating a resume that gets noticed, exploring what career options may be available, and more. Many of the alumni shared insights into how their training in the humanities serves them well in their careers.<\/p>\n

Berard said that his work in the Secretary of State\u2019s office requires him to write constantly, a skill that he honed as a history major. Another skill that Berard says has played a major role in his success is the ability to do careful research and communicate the findings.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy background as a humanities major taught me that skill to take information\u2014whether it\u2019s wonky or just voluminous\u2014and distill it down into a bite-sized package that\u2019s going to be engaging for the audience that I\u2019m trying to reach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Berard also spoke to students about the importance of networking in finding one\u2019s career path.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy advice is to find someone with a cool job that you think you might want to do and reach out to them; offer to buy them a cup of coffee,\u201d he said. \u201cThe most important thing you can do is to have a one-on-one conversation and just build that relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
URI alum Keshia Walker talks with student about her experience working in human resources.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jen Riley, dean of URI\u2019s College of Arts and Sciences, said events like this are reflective of the emphasis that the college is placing on career readiness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to remind our students that when you go out into the workplace, you have the skills to be successful,\u201d Riley said. \u201cIt\u2019s not surprising that when you look at Fortune 500 companies in the United States that so many of them are led by humanities majors. So don\u2019t think that you can\u2019t go out and make a difference in any industry. You have skills that are adaptable, flexible and that give you the ability to shift and change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily Ackroyd, a junior majoring in English literature and secondary education with a minor in French, said the event was a good reminder for students of how their skills can translate to the workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust having English as a major can seem intimidating because it\u2019s so broad and we don\u2019t stop to consider the critical thinking skills and how deeply you have to think,\u201d she said. \u201cI recommend people coming to these events just because networking is essential in getting a leg up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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