Speed Networking Dinner

One of the best aspects of the DC winter program is the opportunity to make connections with different people who work in Washington. Networking has definitely been a major theme here during our time in the city. Tonight we had a speed networking dinner- a professional “speed dating” of sorts. William & Mary alumni joined the students at the W&M Washington Center, where the night began with a pasta station for dinner. Tables were arranged and separated by the seminars, with an alum from the three respective fields sitting at each table. After twenty minutes of discussion, the alumni would rotate to another group of students within the seminar. There were four alumni from each field. After the rotations, the dessert table was opened and students were then able to walk around and talk with any of the alumni.

DC winter seminar students network with W&M alumni

This event was helpful in allowing us to practice our networking skills while getting to learn valuable career advice from William & Mary grads. It is really interesting to hear how the people we spoke with transitioned from where we are now, as students, to careers in the capital of the United States. William & Mary students are lucky that along with a strong undergraduate education, they also have access to a vast alumni network in DC.

-Katie Koontz ’19