In late March, Pamplin International Programs and Pamplin Career Services teamed up to host the annual Global Connections Mixer at the Inn at Virginia Tech. This special event aims to foster connections and provide valuable career insights for international students. It offered a unique opportunity for students to network with industry professionals and gain practical career advice.

The evening began with an inspiring keynote address by Maria Zareen, the newest Career Advisor at Pamplin Career Services. Drawing from her own experiences as an international student, Maria’s insights resonated deeply with the audience, setting a thoughtful tone for the evening. Following the keynote, attendees enjoyed a delicious meal while engaging in networking opportunities and practicing their elevator pitches—a skill they had learned earlier in the evening. This provided an excellent chance for students and faculty to forge new relationships and strengthen existing ones.

The excitement continued after dinner when attendees listened to a diverse panel of industry professionals, professors, and students. We were honored to welcome Dr. Adrienne Andersch, Manager of Cost Accounting and Inventory Control at Volvo, and Dr. Rohaya Ansari, System Integration Engineer at Torc Robotics. Additionally, Dr. Onur Seref, Associate Professor of Business Information Technology, and Rahul Bhatt, a First Honors graduate from Pamplin and a former student of NMIMS, shared their journeys as "foreigners" navigating both professional and personal challenges. Their stories were both moving and inspiring, leaving a lasting impact on the students.

We are incredibly grateful to have such supportive resources at Virginia Tech, which ensures that international students feel welcome and at home. A heartfelt thank you to Dean Michelle Seref and Dean Reza Barkhi for their opening and closing remarks, as well as to the Pamplin International Programs, Career Services, and everyone involved in making this event a resounding success.

-Written by Gabi Rolader, Global Mentor Program