Chapman career centers forge lasting industry partnerships
Illustration by Zoe Arntsen, Illustrator
For junior data science major Kyla Monique Cabrera, Chapman’s connections helped secure a sought-after position as a water and ecosystems intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at NASA this past summer.
Cabrera was given this opportunity through the Mentorship and Opportunities in STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success (MOSAICS) grant, which was awarded to Gabriela Shirkey, a postdoctoral researcher at Chapman’s Grand Challenges Initiative. The grant allowed Shirkey to bring on six interns.
“Chapman was very helpful in getting us there,” Cabrera said.
University connections are increasingly becoming the needed bridge between the classroom and competitive career opportunities. With recent news of a contracting job market creating fears for employers and students alike, the need for strong industry partnerships feels particularly dire.
Some students are feeling the pressure. Senior data science major Diego Fondevilla expressed anxiety about the shrinking market for technical roles despite his own proactivity in utilizing Chapman resources.
“The Career Fair needs more engineering-specific jobs. I think I only saw three companies offering full-time positions,” Fondevilla said.
However, Career and Professional Development Associate Vice President Jennifer Kim isn’t worried.
“The economy is cyclical, and we’re not seeing much change right now in (the number of) employers recruiting. We always advise students to come up with a strategy, and look toward industries with greater need, like the healthcare industry,” Kim said.
She, alongside other career center representatives, argues that organizations are beginning to take note of Chapman students, in part due to initiatives by the Office of Career and Professional Development to strengthen industry partnerships.
Behind the scenes, the team collaborates with the university’s school-specific career centers to forge close relationships with recruiters, develop strategic outreach campaigns and leverage fee-based programs, all in order to increase opportunities for students.
For example, Joe Rosenberg, director of industry relations, and Susie Landau Finch, co-director of career and industry relations, work specifically within Dodge College of Film and Media Arts to develop relationships with entertainment-specific companies.
“We leverage our relationships with A-list talent executives and business recruiters to get the best information quickly and disseminate that to the students in order to provide as many opportunities for them as we can,” said Rosenberg, who was a former agent with Creative Artists Agency.
To build these relationships, Dodge College Career Center employees maintain one-on-one relationships with recruiters to build trust and to create mutual benefit for both parties.
“We really value the connection that we have with our employers (and) our partners,” said Finch, who also works as a film producer and director. “Connection comes first. If we suggest a student for a role, we're suggesting somebody that we feel is really right for it. The more we do business with all of these top employers, the more it reinforces the trust between the both of us.”
Many of Chapman’s top employers have top-level executives who also contribute to the university financially or serve on the Board of Trustees.
"First American has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Chapman University for more than 50 years and we have hired Chapman graduates for almost that long,” said Parker Kennedy, chairman emeritus of First American Financial Corporation and of the Chapman Board of Trustees, in a statement on Chapman’s website.
In addition, the career team also continually strives to forge new partnerships. One such initiative is the Premier Employer Partner (PEP) Program, established in 2023 by Kim. Prospective organizations accepted into the PEP Program pay $2,500 for a Silver Partnership or $4,000 for a Gold Partnership, with the latter receiving prime benefits at the fall and spring career fairs, digital marketing coverage and the opportunity to host information sessions directly to students.
The number of PEPs has increased each year, and the four for the current school year are Enterprise Mobility, the County of Orange, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and Modern Woodmen of America. While there is no data yet on the number of Chapman students recruited to PEPs, Kim believes that having a paid program is beneficial in ensuring that employers fulfill their end of the bargain by creating opportunities for students. The fees from the program are reinvested in other initiatives, such as “career treks,” which range from one-day site visits to Interterm programs like Walk Down Wall Street.
In some cases, trusted industry partners can influence course material. Across colleges, career centers utilize their networks of recruiters to bring in guest speakers in various fields. The Fowler School of Engineering even has a Chapman Engineering Industry Partner (CEIP) program, stating that companies can pay $75,000 for students to “solve project ‘challenges’ by building sponsored projects into coursework,” according to their website.
Overall, these varied strategies aim to further student success, while simultaneously boosting the reputation of Chapman and its partner organizations. However, Kim noted that without student participation, the purpose of these programs is lost.
Rosenberg and Finch corroborated this statement, saying that while they have many programs in place to foster career development, it is up to students to take advantage of those resources to secure opportunities.
“Students that figure out how to maximize their time here work in key internships, network and make relationships. They have a competitive edge when they're going out into the world,” Rosenberg said.
According to Chapman University data, 80% of Chapman undergraduates complete at least one internship, which is twice the national average.
As Finch told The Panther: “The word on the street is that our interns are the best.”