From Miami University to the Washington Post and USA Today: Alumni share career advice with students at luncheon
18 of the Last 9 alumni honorees talk about their career paths with Miami students
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Published
From Miami University to the Washington Post and USA Today: Alumni share career advice with students at luncheon
•
Published
Miami University held its 18 of the Last 9 Alumni Luncheon on Sept. 26 in the Shriver Center. The panel gave students the chance to learn about career paths from alumni who had once been in their shoes. Students enjoyed relaxed conversation and networking in an informal setting, gaining insight they can apply to their own career journeys.
The panel featured alumni from various industries, including Christopher Smitherman II ’18, national real estate manager at McDonald’s Corp., and Christina Beebe ’16, director of e-commerce at M.M. LeFleur.
Both Madeline Mitchell ’19 and Reis Thebault ’16 came to Miami with early ambitions. For Mitchell, on-campus connections led to an unexpected career. In contrast, support from faculty and hands-on experience kept Thebault on his dream path.
Mitchell, a national news reporter for USA Today, shared how she was a Theatre major when she came to Miami. While studying abroad in Luxembourg, she made friends who wrote for The Miami Student, and they encouraged her to join. When she returned to campus, she began writing for the paper and later added Journalism as a major.
“I thought I would go into theatre since I was four or five,” Mitchell said. “Miami really did change the course of my life. I still did a lot of work in the Theatre department, and that is still something I do today, but I ended up going into the journalism field, and it’s been very rewarding."
Thebault, a journalist for the Washington Post, arrived at Miami as a Journalism major. Unlike Mitchell, Thebault’s experiences at Miami confirmed that passion and kept him on the path to becoming a journalist, a career he aspired to be in since he was a child.
“I found a lot of really supportive faculty members in the Journalism department, and they shaped me then and continue to influence me now,” Thebault said. “If you know what you want to do, and if you don’t, take advantage of what the campus has to offer, whether that’s student clubs or just getting involved outside of your comfort zone.”
Abby Gurses, a sophomore Data Science and Statistics and Quantitative Economics double major, moderated the event. She drafted thoughtful questions, managed the flow of conversation, and ensured that each panelist had the opportunity to share their insights.
Gurses, originally from London, serves as the Alumni Relations Committee co-chair for the Miami University Student Foundation. David Pultz, executive chair, recommended her to mediate the event. Gurses noted she was grateful for the advice and experiences shared by the alumni.
“The experience taught me how to perform under pressure, think on my feet, and engage meaningfully with both alumni and peers," Gurses said.
The 18 of the Last 9 Alumni Luncheon opened with a lunch of chicken kabobs, meatballs, and other dishes, giving students a chance to connect with one another. Around noon, the alumni panel fielded questions from the moderator before opening the floor to students.
During the final half hour, students engaged in one-on-one conversations with alumni, fostering personal dialogue and lasting connections. The event wrapped up with students and alumni exchanging contacts, grabbing a mini cupcake from the dessert table on their way out, and leaving with practical advice and inspiration for their future.
For more events like 18 of the Last 9 Alumni Luncheon, visit the Center for Career Exploration and Success’s Programs and Events page.
The panel featured alumni from various industries, including Christopher Smitherman II ’18, national real estate manager at McDonald’s Corp., and Christina Beebe ’16, director of e-commerce at M.M. LeFleur.
Both Madeline Mitchell ’19 and Reis Thebault ’16 came to Miami with early ambitions. For Mitchell, on-campus connections led to an unexpected career. In contrast, support from faculty and hands-on experience kept Thebault on his dream path.
Mitchell, a national news reporter for USA Today, shared how she was a Theatre major when she came to Miami. While studying abroad in Luxembourg, she made friends who wrote for The Miami Student, and they encouraged her to join. When she returned to campus, she began writing for the paper and later added Journalism as a major.
“I thought I would go into theatre since I was four or five,” Mitchell said. “Miami really did change the course of my life. I still did a lot of work in the Theatre department, and that is still something I do today, but I ended up going into the journalism field, and it’s been very rewarding."
Thebault, a journalist for the Washington Post, arrived at Miami as a Journalism major. Unlike Mitchell, Thebault’s experiences at Miami confirmed that passion and kept him on the path to becoming a journalist, a career he aspired to be in since he was a child.
“I found a lot of really supportive faculty members in the Journalism department, and they shaped me then and continue to influence me now,” Thebault said. “If you know what you want to do, and if you don’t, take advantage of what the campus has to offer, whether that’s student clubs or just getting involved outside of your comfort zone.”
Abby Gurses, a sophomore Data Science and Statistics and Quantitative Economics double major, moderated the event. She drafted thoughtful questions, managed the flow of conversation, and ensured that each panelist had the opportunity to share their insights.
Gurses, originally from London, serves as the Alumni Relations Committee co-chair for the Miami University Student Foundation. David Pultz, executive chair, recommended her to mediate the event. Gurses noted she was grateful for the advice and experiences shared by the alumni.
“The experience taught me how to perform under pressure, think on my feet, and engage meaningfully with both alumni and peers," Gurses said.
The 18 of the Last 9 Alumni Luncheon opened with a lunch of chicken kabobs, meatballs, and other dishes, giving students a chance to connect with one another. Around noon, the alumni panel fielded questions from the moderator before opening the floor to students.
During the final half hour, students engaged in one-on-one conversations with alumni, fostering personal dialogue and lasting connections. The event wrapped up with students and alumni exchanging contacts, grabbing a mini cupcake from the dessert table on their way out, and leaving with practical advice and inspiration for their future.
For more events like 18 of the Last 9 Alumni Luncheon, visit the Center for Career Exploration and Success’s Programs and Events page.
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.
