In spring 2025, Dwight Hall’s Alumni Mentorship & Career Development…
Dwight Hall’s Alumni Mentorship & Career Development (AM&CD) Task Force continued its commitment to building bridges among students, alumni, and community leaders passionate about public service and social justice. Through a social science in public service panel, a networking event, and monthly office hours, the task force reinforced Dwight Hall’s role as a hub for information-sharing, mentorship, and professional networking, helping students explore meaningful career pathways in social impact fields.
The events were organized by Daisy Gemberling-Webb ’29 (Alumni and Development Coordinator on the 2026 Dwight Hall Student Executive Committee) and Edward Nguyen ’25 (Dwight Hall Communications and Alumni Engagement Associate).
Summer 2026 Public Service and Social Sector Fellowships Information Session
The semester began with an information session held in collaboration with the Office of Fellowships and Funding. Jill Carrera, Senior Associate Director at the Office of Fellowships, and Mark Fopeano, Dwight Hall’s Director of Programming & Evaluation, shared with students the range of available fellowship opportunities and highlighted the transformative impact of Dwight Hall’s Summer Fellows program. Both speakers provided insights into diverse fellowship pathways, offered tips for crafting compelling applications, and connected participants with support networks and resources.
Social Science in Practice & Action
The spring 2026 series continued with a discussion titled “Social Science in Practice & Action” on February 25th, featuring recent Yale graduates who majored in the social sciences and are now pursuing careers in the social sector. Anna Hartshorne ’24 and Alan Gao ’24 shared their journeys and engaged the audience in a conversation about how social science and public service intersect, offering advice to future leaders. The discussion was led by Bridgitte Thao ’27, Dwight Hall’s Urban Fellows Coordinator.
Anna Hartshorne ’24, who studied Sociology at Yale, is currently working in New Haven at Christian Community Action, an organization that provides help, housing, and hope to local families.
Alan Gao ’24, also a Sociology major, has built his career at Education Resource Strategies (ERS), a national nonprofit consulting organization that partners directly with state and district leaders to improve outcomes for students in public K–12 education.
Both panelists emphasized the foundational role Dwight Hall played in their undergraduate experiences and highlighted how the intersection of public service and sociology shaped their professional skills and interests.
Their insights offered the 13 students in attendance a glimpse into dynamic social impact careers and guidance on leveraging college experiences to forge meaningful paths after graduation.
Building Bridges: Student, Alumni, and Community Partner Networking Event
On April 8, 2026, the task force convened a networking reception that engaged more than 60 students, alumni, and community partners.
Designed to foster connections and career explorations, the event offered students the opportunity to learn about internships, fellowships, and full-time roles in public service and social justice fields directly from Yale alumni and community leaders. With local partners such as IRIS and ConnCAT in attendance, participants expanded their networks through conversations and shared advice.
Senior Toast
Rounding out spring 2026 programming, the task force organized a “Senior Toast,” an annual event designed to celebrate graduating seniors. The event brought together individuals who served as fellows, member group leaders, ExComm members, or had other Dwight Hall experiences to share their favorite memories, receive goodie bags, and stay connected to the Hall after graduation.
Ask OCS at Dwight Hall Office Hours
The task force also continued its partnership with the Yale Office of Career Strategy by hosting two office hours sessions titled “Ask OCS at Dwight Hall,” featuring Jorimel Zaldivar, Senior Associate Director for Common Good Careers. During these sessions, students received guidance on career exploration, resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and networking.
When asked about the importance of the task force and these events, Daisy stated that “Students and alumni benefit from the strong sense of community that these events help foster. At the Networking Event, I saw students from different disciplines connect with a wide range of changemakers in the New Haven community. These interactions create meaningful relationships, open opportunities, and encourage collaboration beyond campus.”
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The Alumni Mentorship & Career Development Task Force is part of the Grow pillar of Dwight Hall’s Engage, Grow, and Advance program delivery model, developing students’ intellectual, moral, civic, and creative capacities to the fullest with interactive panels, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Additionally, you are invited to follow Dwight Hall on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay updated on events in spring 2026!
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