“One conversation could change your entire career path, and it is never too early to start having those conversations,” said Allison Hughes, Director of Engagement for Volunteers with NC State Alumni. 

For students, it can sometimes seem like career preparation has to take place far beyond their NC State classrooms in order to provide them with the most opportunities. Through events specially designed to connect current students with alumni, NC State Alumni aims to create spaces where a student’s professional relationships can grow strong roots early, all made possible through the Alumni Impact Fund.

This fall, two major events exemplified that very mission: a networking dinner held early in the semester and an alumni career panel held later in the year. Led by Student Alumni Association (SAA) leaders Macon Monday and Rylan Tuten, both programs emphasized accessibility, intentional conversation and the long-term value of the Wolfpack network. 

By designing these experiences, the student leaders created a multiplier effect through their impact – equipping fellow students with the leadership skills and confidence to build their own Wolfpack connections.

Networking Dinner

For Monday, director of student engagement and a CHASS ambassador, the September networking dinner was her chance to intentionally design connections to provide students with light guidance and helpful talking points, while giving alumni ample opportunities to share their experiences and advice during the evening. She realized that “making sure both students and alumni felt encouraged had to guide our entire process.”

Tuten, NC State SAA’s networking chair, started planning for large-scale events like the networking dinner months in advance. He began working early in the summer of 2025 to secure a location, coordinate catering and facilitate the event’s core segments, including alumni introductions and partnering with Career Ambassadors from the Department of Academic and Student Affairs. 

Both leaders emphasized that collaboration was key to making the dinner successful. “I’m proud to have worked closely alongside Rylan and to see his leadership grow,” Monday said. “Being supportive is what makes this team work.”

Planning continued all the way up until the week of the event, and the behind-the-scenes work paid off. Students shared their appreciation for the opportunity to meet alumni in such an intentional setting, “That impact is still ongoing, quite a few conversations didn’t end after the dinner, turning into real professional relationships,” Tuten said.

Alumni Career Panel

In addition to the networking dinner, NC State Alumni hosted an alumni career panel that drew approximately 70 attendees. Hughes commented, “The best part was the sheer number of attendees who stuck around at the end to talk with our diverse group of panelists.”

Panelists included graduates spanning from 1979 to 2004 who are working in marketing, environmental design, academic technology, transportation engineering and philanthropy, such as the CEO of Sales Factory, the founder of Deaton Investment, the vice provost for Delta at NC State and the CEO of Coach USA.

Hughes also spoke to the continuation of similar events and said, “We plan to host this event again, and I’ve found that our students almost always have the desire to engage with NC State alumni, no matter how far along they are in their career path or how promising it may look without those connections. Fully aware of the tough job market, NC State students take the initiative to seek professional advice and gain an advantage over the competition.”

“Fully aware of the tough job market, NC State students take the initiative to seek professional advice and gain an advantage over the competition.”

Lasting Impact

The success of the networking dinner extended well beyond the event itself. Some students took the initiative to follow up with alumni they met, such as Allyn-Claire Simmons who connected with an alumna she met. Embryologist Alease Barnes invited students to visit her workplace after the event to gain firsthand insight into her career path and advice on how to pursue similar opportunities.

Simmons shared her experience saying, “I had the incredible opportunity to shadow Alease at ArtLab, a clinical embryology training facility. Before the networking dinner, I had never even thought of embryology as a career, and getting to see the things they do first-hand was so meaningful.”

Accessibility was also central to the event and included a “Networking 101” session tailored to students who may have been new to professional networking. Attendees learned how to initiate conversations, follow up effectively and use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with NC State industry professionals.

For Tuten, moments like these reflect the ultimate strength of the Wolfpack bond, because “willingness to open doors for students is how we keep opportunities flowing from one generation to the next.”

Alumni Impact Fund

NC State’s Alumni Impact Fund continues to make events like the Networking Dinner possible while elevating the university’s global reputation. Gifts to the Alumni Impact Fund open doors across NC State, ensuring that the Think and Do spirit can be applied to expand alumni communities endlessly. From supporting student initiatives that shape future leaders, to fostering career resources that enable alumni to excel to regional activities for alumni and friends, generosity helps the entire Wolfpack keep thriving. Funding made it possible to secure the Washington Sankofa Room at the Witherspoon Student Center, provide a fully catered meal and craft the professional setting that elevated the entire evening.