SI Panel Presentation Enthusiastically Received at HACU

Smithsonian Equal Opportunity Specialist, Shahin Nemazee meets with HACU participants.

SI staff members Emily Key (SLC), Karen Carter (OFI), Omar Eaton-Martinez (NMAH), Joy Liu (OHR), and Shahin Nemazee (OEEMA) attended the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 27th Annual Conference: “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Securing the American Dream,” October 26-28 in Chicago. In addition to staffing a booth in the Exhibit Hall during the 3-day conference (and making great connections as a result!), the group also gave a panel presentation on October 28th entitled: “Smithsonian Institution Partnerships with Higher Education: How We Can Work Together to Build Opportunities for Aspiring Latino Professionals,” which turned out to be one of the most well-attended sessions of the entire conference. During this informative workshop, which was highly interactive and collaborative, SI staff discussed internships, fellowships and employment opportunities at the Smithsonian, then broke into small group discussions based on audience members’ specializations and needs (career center representatives, faculty, students, HR staff, etc). Conversations were so enthusiastic the session ran past its allotted time and, afterwards, participants mentioned repeatedly that it was one of their favorite of the entire conference. The highlight of the presentation was a guest appearance by David Hernandez, Museum Educator at the Art Institute of Chicago and an alumnus of the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Young Ambassadors Program very first cohort.