Stempel College hosts successful first career fair

Recently, Stempel College hosted it’s first-ever career fair, connecting students with more than 25 local and national employers.“This is an opportunity for our students to network and better understand what employers are looking for while making connections that could lead to their first dream job,” said Magnolia E. Hernández, assistant dean for the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs. “This is also a chance to strengthen partnerships with employers who serve the same communities as our researchers and students.”Employers who attended the career fair included: Americorps, Peace Corps, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Dade Family Counseling, Leon Medical Centers, Banyan Health Systems, Gang Alternative, Florida Department of Health, Citrus Family Care Network, Alliance for Aging, PsychSolutions, Camillus House, and Green Family Foundation – NeighborhoodHELP.One employer, the Peace Corps, was in attendance looking for students who want to serve and make a different in communities throughout the world.“For the Peace Corps, we often look for students with health backgrounds who can help promote nutrition, sanitation, STI prevention, prenatal care, etc. We want qualified individuals who can mitigate risk and help change people’s behavior for the better,” said Adam Housh, regional recruiter for the Peace Corps.Throughout the afternoon, more than 120 students attended the event looking for internship and job opportunities.For Andrea Contreras, who just started her Master of Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology, the fair was an opportunity to network and understand what types of positions are currently available.“I’m trying to gain exposure, as a new student, that can give me experience in the public health field and career growth in the future,” Contreras said.The success of the event left both students and employers looking forward to more opportunities to get together.“It is essential that students graduate prepared to enter the workforce and understand the expectations of their employer,” Hernández continued. “At Stempel, we want to be able to give our students the opportunity to meet with potential employers and understand the job market so that they can plan, study and be ready to meet those expectations when the right opportunity for them arises.”