The university paid tribute to a wide range of employers in a special reception in the City View Room on Thursday evening.
Representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, Deloitte, KPMG, World Bank, U.S. Department of State and AT&T were among the scores of employers that attended the second annual event.
“On behalf of the university, thank you for your support and interest in our students and in their development,” said Peter Konwerski, senior associate vice president of student and academic support services and dean of students.
“We have so many different types of constituents represented: the corporate sector, the nonprofit sector, public organizations, private organizations, philanthropic and research—these represent the variety and diversity that George Washington University represents.”
Dr. Konwerski moderated a question-and-answer session with six students—seniors Ashley Starks and Melissa Cherry, sophomore Samantha James, juniors Jordan Frank and Chris Kim, and graduate student Kari Welch—who discussed their experience with employers and the opportunities they’ve had through GW.
President Steven Knapp thanked the employers for the chance they give students and graduates to put their classroom learning into practice. “It’s terrific to have an opportunity to celebrate our partnership with the employers who open so many opportunities for our students and really do make that connection between learning the role of the theory, the role of practice, the role of education, the role of employment,” said Dr. Knapp.
The university will hold a jobs summit this summer, which will help employers across the region connect with job seekers, he said. It also convened a Career Services Task Force last fall. “I think the task force is going to help us look for ways to make it easier and easier for you to find the kinds of skills and talents and interests you’re interested in as employers,” he said.
Dr. Knapp stressed the importance of building stronger partnerships with neighboring universities and noted that John Childers, president and CEO of Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, was in attendance.
Marva Gumbs Jennings, executive director of the Career Center, said the employer appreciation event was successful. “Our employers are extremely valuable partners of the university, and we want to nurture and grow these partnerships,” she said. “This is just a small token of our gratitude.”