Title: MSFS Link Up Program: Bringing Students Together With Alumni

On April 30, 2013, MSFS student Sun Lee (MSFS’14) met with MSFS alumnus Mark Yarnell (MSFS’09) for coffee at Kramerbooks Café. This meeting was part of the Link Up program, an effort to connect students with local alumni. This program provides students with the opportunity to not only learn from experiences of alumni but also to expand their knowledge of careers in areas that interest them. Students contact alumni with similar career goals and MSFS covers the cost of the meal. Sun is one of several students who took advantage of this excellent networking opportunity. Mr. Yarnell, an advocate at Refugees International, helped Sun Lee to “envision her future after MSFS and put things into perspective” by sharing experiences at his work post-MSFS. He also provided contacts that could come in handy for career networking in the future. In summarizing her experience with the Link Up Program, Sun commented that Mr. Yarnell “seemed comfortable in sharing honest personal insights” that could help her in the future.