Frequently Asked Questions - Alumni
Welcome Dinner
Can I attend the Welcome Dinner with
students?
Yes! All alumni participating in the program are invited to join us
to welcome participating students at the start of the program.
Panels
What does being a panelist
entail?
Volunteering to be a panelist entails approximately 1-1 ½ hours of
the panel length time, sharing with student participants your
experience working in Washington, DC as you offer advice and
suggestions. Students are coming to hear you as an alumnus
discuss:
• How you obtained your position
• What it means to you to work in the nation’s capital
• Your recommendations and advice on how to obtain a position
or career in a
particular professional field
• How your St. John’s University education helped to
contribute to your experiences
after graduation
• Your own advice, recommendations and suggestions for the
student participants
Alumni panelists will be provided with an outline; however,
panelists should be themselves and treat their contribution like an
exploratory interview, being open to questions and offering helpful
advice.
How long will I have to
speak?
The panels are generally formatted with one alumnus serving as a
moderator or facilitator, and begins by having each panelist
introduce himself or herself and describe his or her current
employment position. Specific questions are then posed by the
moderator to the panel, allowing an individual panelist to answer
or defer to another. A question and answer period is then
provided so that students can feel free to ask any or all of the
panelists their own questions.
What will students expect from
me?
Students will expect to hear your story, and for you to be
approachable and accessible to them. Although the Office of Alumni
Relations will have prepared student participants with many
networking techniques in an Information meeting prior to the start
of the program, many students may still feel somewhat awkward
approaching alumni. Student participants are strongly encouraged to
gather business cards from alumni program participants and to
follow-up with you afterwards. Students will not ask you for
employment opportunities or internships; however, they are
encouraged to ask alumni how to obtain such roles.
If I cannot participate, is there
another way I can support the program?
Absolutely. There are two other important ways an alumnus can
support the Insider’s View program. One is to encourage other
alumni to participate and attend the chapter networking reception,
so that students will have many more alumni to network with in an
informal setting. The second way is to consider making a donation
to support any of the following:
• The Arthur B. Carton and Joseph P. Addabbo Scholarship
Funds
• Bus transportation
• Overnight hotel accommodations
• Welcome Dinner
• Lunches on Thursday and Friday
• Sightseeing Excursions
Students pay a nominal $50 fee for transportation, meals, and
overnight accommodations for two nights; however most of the
program overhead costs are funded by the Office of Alumni Relations
and the generous support of our alumni.
Can I participate as a panelist but not
attend the networking reception?
We would love your participation in both, but your time and
support for St. John’s University students as a panelist
contributes to the success of the program. You can certainly make
an impact as a panelist without attending the networking
reception.
Can I attend the networking reception
if I can’t participate as a panelist?
Likewise, your attendance at the networking reception is a vital
component of our students’ overall positive experience during the
Insider’s View program. In the past students were disappointed that
there weren’t enough alumni to speak and network with. Each alumnus
has his or her unique story and experience to share, so if you are
unable to participate in the formal part of the program, please
consider joining us for the chapter networking reception.
Washington, DC Chapters
Student and Alumni Networking Reception
Who is hosting this
reception?
This reception is hosted by the Washington, DC alumni and
Washington, DC Law alumni chapters in cooperation with the St.
John’s University Office of Alumni Relations.
Who is this reception for?
This reception is for all St. John’s alumni in the
Washington, DC and surrounding regions, as well as for those
students who will be in the area for the Insider’s View of the
Capital program. All alumni are encouraged to attend and network
with current St. John’s students as well as other alumni who will
be in attendance. Recipients of the Arthur B. Carton and
Joseph P. Addabbo scholarships will also be announced.
Sightseeing Excursions
Are alumni invited to join students during
the group sightseeing excursions on Wednesday evening or Friday
afternoon?
Certainly. However, alumni will need to pay their own admission
costs.
For additional information please contact:
Andrea T. Papa ’88SVC
Associate Director, Alumni Relations
Tel (718) 990-5811
papaa@stjohns.edu