Marketing Clinical Professor Roger Lall (middle) with students and alumni involved in the new Marketing Leaders Community: (left to right) Nick Schmitt, Kennedy Conn, Margaret Wolfe, Jenna Rummelhart, Raleigh Meier and Abay Sarsenov. | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds
Faculty directors of Kellstadt Graduate School of Business Master of Science degree programs are launching social media groups online and hosting industry-related events on campus to create new communities of students and alumni associated with these specialized master’s degrees.
“We are forming these communities because we recognize that our master’s students have an affinity for their programs,” says Christa Hinton (MBA ’98, EdD ’12), assistant dean and director of the graduate business program. “We want to create ways for students, alumni and faculty in these programs to connect with each other, share what’s going on in their industries, and network. For alumni it’s a great way to give back by sharing advice with students, who also represent a pipeline of talent for them.”
One such effort, called the Marketing Leaders Community (MLC), is bringing together students and alumni from the Master of Science in Marketing (MSM) program. “We want to differentiate our MSM program from other universities’ programs by enhancing the student experience both inside and\ outside the classroom,” says Clinical Professor and MSM Program Director Roger Lall. MLC hosts two events focusing on industry trends annually for members.
We wanted to create ways for students, alumni and faculty in these programs to connect with each other, share what’s going on in their industries, and network.”
Raleigh Meier (BUS MS ’19), who served as MLC’s first president, says the group is seeking to broaden alumni connections and promote student engagement. “We hope to get MSM students involved while they are current students [to] make the most of their time at DePaul and then be willing to return [as alumni] in the future to provide advice to incoming students.”
Associate Professor Jaclyn Jensen, faculty director of the Master of Science in Human Resources (MSHR) program, formed a LinkedIn group, DePaul MSHR Program, where 141 MSHR students and alumni share job postings and HR industry-related news. She and the DePaul student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management also host panel discussions. One recent event focused on innovations in human resources and featured four alumni speakers who are senior HR leaders.
“The MSHR LinkedIn community helps to showcase the career events we hold and alumni who are giving back,” says Jensen, “all while helping link current students with industry professionals.”
To find out more about Kellstadt’s student-alumni MS communities, go to go.depaul.edu/MS-Communities.
By Robin Florzak | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds
