UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Alumni Association is encouraging alumni who are facing career transitions to explore the tools and assistance provided by the association’s Alumni Career Services (ACS) team.
Penn State ACS provides alumni with objective guidance and feedback, career education, and a variety of programs to hone their job-seeking skills. Alumni can get started by visiting alumni.psu.edu/career.
“Whether it's due to business trends, reductions in the federal workforce, personal choice, or other factors, some Penn Staters are finding themselves at a career crossroads,” said Tom Hammond, executive director of alumni engagement. “Experiencing an unexpected career change is a challenging experience, and it can also be an opportunity for growth and reinvention. Our team can help alumni assess their situation, put their best foot forward, and take the next step in navigating their careers.”
Two upcoming online events hosted by ACS will offer in-depth explorations of opportunities and challenges that accompany a career change, whether by choice or job loss.
On March 27 at 7:30 p.m., Alumni Career Services and Penn State World Campus will present an online panel discussion titled “Rebuilding Careers: Navigating Life After a Layoff.” The event will highlight lessons learned by several alumni, including former government professionals who have successfully pivoted into nongovernment careers. Registration for the free “Rebuilding Careers” event is open now.
The panelists will include Amina James, a hotelier, organization development strategist and managing partner of Duke Ventures LLC; Traci Silas, a dynamic leader with more than 25 years of experience in national security, international trade and privacy; and Steven Sacco, who spent nearly 20 years leading the development of enterprise-wide financial and project management systems with the U.S. General Services Administration, then pivoted to financial services, joining New York Life in 2021 before moving to Five Peaks Capital Group in 2024.
On May 7 at 6 p.m., ACS’s Alumni Expert Series of webinars will present “Career Reset: An Inadvertent Entrepreneur’s Journey,” with Thomas L. Doorley III, founder and chairman emeritus of Sage Partners. For professionals who are rethinking their paths, whether by necessity or design, Doorley will share insights from an unconventional entrepreneurial journey, lessons on navigating career pivots, and strategies for identifying opportunities amid uncertainty. Registration for the “Career Reset” event is open now.
In collaboration with the Penn State World Campus, the Alumni Association’s ACS also has created a new community specifically for Penn State alumni affected by recent federal layoffs on LionLink, an online networking platform like LinkedIn just for Penn Staters.
The “Federal Government Professionals in Transition” group offers targeted career resources, a discussion board, networking opportunities, and specialized career transition support. The group also will host online meet-ups on the fourth Tuesday of each month at noon EST, featuring 30 minutes of discussion about job-search strategies followed by opportunities to network.
Alumni Career Services provides basic services to all Penn State alumni. Penn State Alumni Association members also have access to additional offerings, including a master class on using LinkedIn for career advancement, professional document reviews, three one-on-one career coaching appointments, and mock interviews. ACS can help federal employees affected by recent layoffs join the association at the discounted rate of $25 for 12 months.
For more than 150 years, the Penn State Alumni Association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The association keeps alumni connected to the University and to each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and many other services. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit alumni.psu.edu/youbelong.