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Camels connect at everything from career discussions to museum tours

On Feb. 4 24 alumnae reconnected when the Connecticut College Club of Southwest Florida <br>hosted an art tour and luncheon.<br><br>
On Feb. 4 24 alumnae reconnected when the Connecticut College Club of Southwest Florida
hosted an art tour and luncheon.

Whether they were touring a museum, giving career advice to current students or networking on their lunch breaks, Camels connected up and down the east coast last month, from Naples to Boston.

View photos.

Seminar on Success
On Jan. 30, five alumni returned to campus for the Seminar on Success program, sponsored by the office of College advancement, offering advice on making the transition to the workplace.

A record attendance - more than 100 students - participated.

Frances Cole Jones ’86, author of several corporate coaching books, gave the keynote and focused on preparing for interviews. Four other alumni – Gil Bianchi ’96, who practices law in Rhode Island; Yoko Shimada ’99, a health specialist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.; Giovanna Gray Torchio ’02, who works for a London-based design firm; and Usman Sheikh ’04, a fixed income trader at UBS Investment Bank in Stamford, Conn. – shared their career stories.

Students also had a chance to meet with alumni at the Capital Consortium Interview Program in Alexandria, Va., Feb. 5. At the DC luncheon, both alumni and seniors braved blizzard conditions to network at the AMA Executive Conference Center.

CAMELs in Boston and New York
On Jan. 20, CAMEL (Camel Alumni: Meet, Exchange, Libate!) networking receptions took place in Boston and New York City. Since both events took place over winter break, Connecticut College seniors also took advantage of these opportunities to connect with alumni.

In Beantown, more than 20 alumni attended the reception at Boston Beer Works, where they were offered free beer tastings and billiard games.

At the Manhattan gathering, over 50 alumni met up at Lucille’s Bar & Grill in Times Square and enjoyed the “blue camelritas,” created special for the occasion. With an amateur boxing match happening less than 100 feet away, bright lights and media attention added to the excitement.

“Let’s have these Conn events more often,” Carra Gamberdella ’97 e-mailed after the event.

Distinguished Alumni Series in Boston
In Boston, alumni also had an opportunity to take part in the Distinguished Alumni Networking Series Jan. 14 and Feb. 8. About 40 people turned out to hear from Estella Johnson ’75, the director of economic development for the City of Cambridge, and Stuart Sadick ’77, a partner at the executive search firm, Heidrick & Struggles.

Florida
At the opposite end of the coast, 24 alumnae reconnected Feb. 4 when the Connecticut College Club of Southwest Florida hosted an art tour and luncheon at the Naples Museum of Art. The tour included a special exhibit titled “Chihuly: Recent Works” that celebrates the museum’s 10th anniversary season and features renowned glass artist, Dale Chihuly. The event was “a great success,” said organizer, Nancy Sanders ’63.

Coming soon
Mark your calendar with even more upcoming events. Here are some highlights:

Sundays with Alumni panels at Connecticut College, Feb. 21, March 7 and April 4
CAMEL networking reception in Denver, Colo., Feb. 24
Faculty book signing with Professor Andrew Pessin in New York City, March 1
Panel discussion and book signing with Professor Andrew Pessin in New York City, March 2
Class of 1960 luncheons in Wayland, Mass., and Cromwell, Conn., March 3 and 19
Reception and faculty presentation with Professor Julie Rivkin in Sarasota, Fla., March 10
Cocktails and faculty presentation with Professor Julie Rivkin in Naples, Fla., March 11
Reception with President Higdon in Dallas, Texas, March 14
Reception with President Higdon in Houston, Texas, March 16

Visit the Alumni Calendar for more information on any of these events.

Do you have an idea for an event in your area? Please let us know by contacting the Office of Alumni Relations at 860-439-2306 or alumni@conncoll.edu.

-Rachel Harrington



February 12, 2010