SI Brings Pan-Institutional Presence to 2014 HACU Annual Conference
Representatives from a variety of units across the Smithsonian Institution traveled to Denver for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 28th Annual Conference to conduct outreach to diverse audiences. Emily Key of SLC, Edith Tudae of OHR, Shahin Nemazee of OEEMA, Omar Eaton-Martinez of NMAH and Karen Carter of OFI staffed a double-sized exhibition booth across the 3-day conference and presented a panel discussion at the Student Track on internships, fellowships, and careers at SI to a group of over 70 students from across the country. SI representatives opened with brief introductions about themselves and their respective offices, then split into four smaller, self-selected groups on skill-building topics including “Resumes, Interviews, and Follow-Ups,” “Your Calling Card,” “Building Your Internal Network,” and “Fellowships and Internships.” Also on the panel was Young Ambassadors Program alumna Marilyn Villalobos.
As with SI’s presentation last year, the panel this year drew rave reviews. Undergraduates and graduate students in the audience were thrilled that in addition to the heavily-weighted STEM and corporate career panels, they could hear and discuss information with SI staff on opportunities in the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Attendees also appreciated the interactive, discussion-based format, which gave them a chance to ask questions and add their voice to the conversation. This year’s HACU conference was marked by record attendance, with almost 1,500 attendees, including 440 students and over 700 stakeholders.
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