On March 15, Washington and Lee University (W&L) will host the annual “Encore” event at the Lenfest Center for the Arts, inviting students, alumni, and faculty to engage and celebrate the growth of the university’s arts programs. This occasion allows students interested in arts careers to connect with prominent alumni and embrace various professional avenues associated with arts disciplines.
The event features all-day programming including student and alumni panels, faculty-led master classes, and networking receptions. With registration priced at $60 for alumni and the general public, W&L faculty, staff, and students can attend free of charge. It’s anticipated to be an enriching experience for students aiming for careers within the arts or related fields such as marketing or management.
“I am excited for current students to spend time with W&L alumni who didn’t necessarily major in the arts but parleyed their love of the arts and degrees from the Williams School or engineering...” said Jenefer Davies, chair of the Department of Theater, Dance and Film Studies. Actions like these illuminate the pathways alumni have taken beyond graduation.
The day’s events kick off with a student panel at 9 am, featuring conversations among current students reflecting on their educational journeys. Following this, alumni will share their insights at 10 am, discussing how their experiences at W&L shaped their post-graduate careers. Notable alumni on the panel include Lauren Jane Barnett and Erik Jones, among others.
Master classes featuring Davies and other faculty members are planned at 11:15 am, offering dance and theatre games, showcasing the creative skills curated through W&L’s Arts programs. A shuttle service will facilitate transportation between various locations on campus to ease participant mobility throughout the day.
Highlighting the day, guests will be invited to attend the matinee performance of W&L’s annual Bentley musical, “The Prom,” at 2 pm, followed by a talk-back session allowing students to engage with the performers directly. Networking opportunities will conclude at Hotchkiss Alumni House with cocktails, reinforcing community ties and opportunities among peers.
Simultaneously, students at Dovalina Elementary in Laredo, Texas, are also taking part in their own career exploration efforts. Within the school, education programs have been organized, informing students about various career paths through engaging activities and demonstrations.
Further enhancing students’ career choices, Penn State Schuylkill students enrolled in the course “MGMT 345: Cultural Intelligence in Leadership and Management” recently toured Hydro’s Cressona facility as part of their education. This tour was constructed to provide students firsthand insights about real-world operations and leverage their knowledge tied to cultural variations in leadership styles.
This course concludes with international immersion experiences planned for March 8 to March 15, where students will travel from Philadelphia to Copenhagen. Participants will involve themselves with Hydro’s operations in Denmark and engage with cultural excursions, emphasizing Danish customs and sustainability efforts.
“What stood out to me was how the employees acknowledged the vice president as we walked through the plant. It showed he is a present and engaged leader...” shared Jessica Snyder, providing valuable feedback reflecting on leadership dynamics observed. These tours are instrumental not only for academic growth but provide students with the cultural competence needed for leadership roles globally.
Before the travel, students prepared through instructional meetings aimed at enhancing their cultural awareness and effective communication strategies. Gina Whalen, associate teaching professor at Penn State Schuylkill, stated, “The ability to navigate cultural differences is...essential leadership skill.” Preparing students to take on diverse environments will play a fundamental role as they advance their careers.
The embedding of real-world experience within academic courses is pivotal to the growth of future leaders. Career exploration events such as the Encore at W&L and initiatives at Dovalina Elementary create strong foundations for students to pursue varied career options, supported by alumni guidance and industry interactions. Both institutions, through different yet complementary approaches, reinforce the significance of preparing students for successful transitions from educational environments to the workforce.