Experiences That Matter: Real Events, Real Connections, Real Skills
Focusing on future careers is an important part of a JWU education. From your first year through graduation, you’ll gain real experience in every course you take, from conferences and competitions to projects for real clients on and off campus — all provide valuable opportunities to prepare for your careers.
College of Hospitality & Business (COHB) students had exciting experiences this semester to help them build skills for their future success. They’ve also connected with alumni and other professionals from the industries they plan to make their mark in.
These experiences help students stay at the forefront of the hospitality and business industries, giving them access to the latest industry news, trends and skills needed to make their way from student to professional.
Here's a look at some of the recent experiences students have embarked on:
NRF Presents Scholarships to Students
Along with students from 173 different colleges, JWU students attended the National Retail Foundation (NRF) Student Program in New York City.
Executives from areas including retail, marketing, merchandising and entrepreneurship shared their insights and experiences gained during their own careers. Students learned about merchandising career paths from a panel of retail recruiters and heard from guest speakers from OpenAI during the session “Chat GPT on Campus: AI in Education and Retail.”
Holland Schaafsma ’28 (left) at the National Retail Foundation Student Program.
NRF student ambassadors, Holland Schaafsma ’28 and Keaghan Hayes ’28, both Fashion Merchandising & Retailing majors, received scholarships from NRF.
“I received a scholarship as the NRF Student Ambassador for JWU. The application process included promoting NRF and its student program and conference, and completing a community service project with Soles4Souls, collecting and donating around 150 pairs of gently used shoes,” shared Schaafsma.
"As an ambassador, I grew the NRF JWU chapter, doubling the number of JWU students who attended the conference this year to 12. This coming year Keaghan Hayes will take over as the next student ambassador.”
Hayes, who was awarded the Rising Star Scholarship to cover expenses for travel and lodging to attend the conference, shared what she gained from the experience.
“My biggest takeaway was the importance of genuine industry and peer connections, and an understanding of what makes a strong job candidate. I gained insight into the qualities employers look for, especially adaptability, confidence and awareness of emerging technology in retail. These perspectives will help me better position myself for future career opportunities,” reflected Hayes.
Exploring Merchandising Career Paths at DXL
Students in the Retail and Fashion Lab course, led by Associate Professor Patricia Fisher, went to DXL Corporate Headquarters and DXL's flagship store in Canton, Massachusetts to learn about career options in the field of merchandising and what they entail.
"When students visited DXL headquarters they got to meet with JWU alumni who work at DXL to hear about different types of merchandising careers including merchandise buying, product development, global sourcing and merchandise allocations. They also learned about internship opportunities at the company," said Fisher.
"After visiting the headquarters, we went to the DXL flagship store to meet with its management team who discussed career opportunities at the store level. So, students learned about the importance of both the back of the house and front of the house operations at a major retailer."
The alumni and members of DXL’s management team whom the students met with included:
Mia Pacheco ’24, assistant buyer
Grace Sedell ’24, assistant sourcing manager
Mariceli Valentin ’22, assistant buyer
Jennifer McClaren, human resources manager
Dana Rogers, buyer
Fashion Merchandising & Retailing students visiting DXL headquarters.
PCMA Student Chapter Wins Global Competition
The JWU student chapter of Professional Convention Management Association won the 2025 PCMA Global Student Competition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were chosen because of their “thoughtful, well-executed concept and strong understanding of how design, experience and strategy come together in a live event environment.”
Led by Associate Professor Katie Davin, the winning team included Natalie Silverman ’25, ’26 MBA, who majored in Sports, Entertainment & Event — Management; Leif Knudson ’26, Hospitality Management and president of PCMA New England Student Chapter; and Savannah Seda ’25, ’27, MBA, who also studied Sports, Entertainment & Event — Management.
Excited about their win, the three shared their insight on the competition:
Silverman: “I attended the conference because I’m passionate about the meetings and events industry and PCMA is one of the most influential organizations in the field. I wanted to gain a better understanding of the corporate events world, learn from industry leaders and make connections that could help guide my future career. My expectations were met. The conference gave me a clearer picture of the opportunities within the industry, and I even made a professional connection near my hometown.”
Knudson: “For me, the highlight of the conference was our team winning the Global Student Competition. It was an honor to represent JWU and the New England Chapter with my teammates. I also had the opportunity to connect with professionals in the events industry and see the scope of this industry I am about to enter.”
Seda: “The most important part of the conference for me was my team’s presentation. We had to collaborate with several different professionals at the conference to ensure our presentation was ready to go. Overall, the conference allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and make lasting industry connections.”
JWU students (left to right) Natalie Silverman ’25, ’26 MBA, Leif Knudson ’26; and Savannah Seda ’25, ’27 MBA. Photo by Jacob Slaton, Whatever Media Group.
Students Tour Private Clubs, Hear from Professional Leaders
JWU’s student chapter of the Club Management Association of America traveled to Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland with Professor Matthew Samel for the CMAA National Student Education Conference. Students toured private clubs including the Annapolis Yacht Club, Baltimore Country Club Five Farms, Baltimore Country Club Roland Park and the Elkridge Club.
At the Annapolis Yacht Club students met alums Brian Asch ’96, general manager, and Hannah Kerr ’23, chef — both Culinary Arts majors. They also heard from speakers Aaron Golub about shifting perspectives from professional to leader, and Rider Harris on how to use AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Kiley Kennedy ’27, Hospitality Management major, shared why the conference was important to her: “I'm a junior and this is the second time I've gone to the conference. I love the education sessions, hearing directly from professionals and speakers about how to find the club that’s right for you and your career, and taking your own values and the way you work into your career.”
Students at the Annapolis Yacht Club with alums Brian Asch ’96, general manager (back, left) and Hannah Kerr ’23, chef (front, center).
Gaining Event Management Skills at On-Campus Conference and Career Fair
Cara Steere '26, Sports, Entertainment & Event — Management major, took advantage of two on-campus events to learn all she could about event management. Here’s how she and other students gained hands-on experience by helping produce two major campus events.
Spring Internship & Career Fair
Students in the International Exhibits & Events course led by Adjunct Professor Sarah Shevlin helped the Experiential Education & Career Services (EE & CS) department prepare, set up and implement the Spring Internship & Career Fair this semester. Open to students from all colleges, the fair was a perfect learning opportunity for several areas of event management.
Before the event, Shevlin’s students got to reviewed the event’s contracts, floor plans and operations management plans for the fair that hosted more than 140 employers as they recruited students for internships and other employment opportunities.
The students helped with pre-event tasks such as sponsorships, food and beverage, and marketing. They volunteered for different shifts during the event to help with morning setup, guiding and helping employers to their booths, and managing greeters, panelists and guest speakers.
By working directly with Donna Remington, senior director of Experiential Education & Career Services and Dianne Compos, employer relations representative, students learned about the behind-the-scenes work and planning that goes into the event and the process of choosing the companies and organizations to attend.
Shevlin said that working on the career fair as part of the course helped students enhance their skills in juggling multiple tasks and developing strong time management skills.
“I learned that events like these take months to prepare for, and even though the career fair is now over, the planning has already begun for the fall career fair,” shared Steere. “Gaining industry experience from working on a real event, no matter how big or small, is crucial. Every opportunity is a step in the right direction. We learn different things from different events. Being able to pull certain skills out of our toolbox will continue to keep us well-rounded and ready for the real world.”
Prior to the event, Sydney Edwards, social media coordinator in the University Marketing & Communications department, visited Shevlin’s class to help students brainstorm social media video concepts to encourage student attendance. Edwards produced a video based on the students’ idea, seen below.
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THE CONNECT CONFERENCE
The College of Hospitality & Business, spearheaded by Dean Jennifer Galipeau, launched a brand-new event for students — THE CONNECT CONFERENCE.
A student-centered experience, the conference brought industry professionals and alumni to campus for keynotes, panel discussions, networking, and career-prep workshops. The day-long event was a perfect way for students to gain insight for careers in a variety of industries.
Steere helped with the conference through her involvement in student clubs; she is the president of Eta Sigma Delta and a member of the International Live Events Association on campus. “Dean Galipeau invited students involved in organizations to her monthly leadership meetings to help bring the conference to life,” Steere explained.
Steere’s role during the conference was directing students to specific sessions, speakers and workshops. She said the experience she acquired will be a plus for her future career because “there was a lot of planning involved and lots of different components to deal with.”
Steere’s overall impression of the event, both as a volunteer and attendee, was positive and enthusiastic. “The conference was a giant success, and Dean Galipeau did a fantastic job. I cannot wait to see what happens next year and who knows, maybe I will come back as a speaker in the future.”
Alum Alexa Giovanis '17, University Relations Recruiter, Compass Group USA speaking to students.