- 1–1:45 p.m. — Check-in, Benton Hall
- 2–3 p.m. — Leveraging LinkedIn, locations on the back of your name tag
- 3:15–3:45 p.m. — Kickoff session, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ Memorial Chapel
- 4–5:15 p.m. — Networking 101, locations on the back of your name tag
- 5:30–7 p.m. — Keynote dinner with Christopher Nulty ’09, Huntington Gymnasium
- 7:15–8 p.m. — Dessert reception hosted by First@¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ, Men of Color Success Network, and Women of Color Network
January 16–17, 2027
Sophomore Connections is an exclusive career conference offered to second-year students during winter break.
We are bringing in our best resources to help you think about your most pressing career questions. Sophomore Connections is a two-day event specifically for sophomores featuring workshops, alumni panels, and networking events to identify and explore your career areas of interest. The event, housing, and food are free for all registrants for the duration of the event.
Planning for Sophomore Connections
Here is how you can start planning now:
- Students should plan to return to campus by noon on Friday, January 16.
- This event, including housing and meals, is offered at no cost to students who register and attend.
- If you have not yet established a LinkedIn profile, go to LinkedIn.com and create a free account.
- Download the ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ Portal app.
Student Schedule
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026
- 8–9 a.m. — Breakfast and late check-in, Frank Dining Hall
- 9:15–10:05 a.m. — Alumni Industry Panel One, locations below
- 10:20–11:20 a.m. — Finding a Summer Experience or Interviewing 101, locations on the back of your name tag
- 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Facilitated networking, locations on the back of your name tag
- 12:30–1:30 p.m. — Lunch, Ho Atrium
- 1:40–2:30 p.m. — Alumni Industry Panel Two, locations below
- 2:40–3:30 p.m. — Alumni Industry Panel Three, locations below
- 3:30–4:30 p.m. — Industry networking receptions, hosted by the ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ Alumni Council
Student Industry Panels Locations
STEM and Healthcare
- Applied Sciences: 301 Olin
- Computer Science and Tech: 201 McGregory
- Data Science: 238 Ho
- Environmental and Sustainability: 341 Olin
- Healthcare Providers: 105 Lawrence
Arts, Creativity, and Media
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation: 304 Olin
- Media and Entertainment: 226 McGregory
- Journalism and Publishing: 334 Olin
- Marketing and Communications: 208 Persson
- Museums, Galleries, and Arts: 210 McGregory
Business
- Business Operations: 101 Ho
- Consulting: 207 Lathrop
- Finance: 350 Olin (Love Auditorium)
Common Good
- Education: 310 Lathrop
- Government and Public Policy: 217 McGregory
- Law: 27 Persson (Persson Auditorium)
- Social Impact: ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ Memorial Chapel, Garden Level
Meet the 2026 Keynote Speaker
Timothy Spence ’01 is chairman of the Board of Directors, chief executive
officer, and president of Fifth Third Bancorp, where he measures the Bank’s success by producing the best total return for long-term shareholders, customers, and regulators. Under his leadership, the Bank has achieved top-tier performance metrics among peers by prioritizing stability, profitability,
and growth.
Before joining the bank in 2015, he was a senior partner at Oliver Wyman, where he advised global financial institutions on strategy. Spence also held leadership roles at two growth-stage technology companies.
Read full bio
Before Fifth Third Bancorp, Timothy served as Senior Partner at Oliver Wyman, where he advised global financial institutions on matters of strategy, innovation, and performance. Prior to joining Oliver Wyman in 2006, Spence held management positions in sales and marketing, corporate development, and finance at two early-stage technology firms.
Spence is a proud 2001 graduate of ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and English literature with high honors. He is a member of the Bank Policy Institute, Ohio Business Roundtable, and Cincinnati Business Committee, and also serves on the board of directors of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum Foundation and on the board of trustees of Cincinnati’s Xavier University.
Alumni Panelists
Applied Sciences
Katie Cascino ’15
Senior Technology Development Associate, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures
Christopher Donnelly ’15
Laboratory Manager, Yale University
Changchang Liu ’15
Senior Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb
Zora McGinnis ’11
At-Sea Fisheries Technician, Southwest Lobster Science Society
Jamie Wasylenko ’01
Principal Scientist II, AbbVie
Business Operations
Rich Grant ’02
Principal, Northlane Capital
Sammi Kaden ’15
Director, Strategic Initiatives, BigBear.ai
Greg Kafaf ’12
Director, Market Access, Novo Nordisk
Travis Snell ’94
President, Concord Property Management
Computer Science and Technology
Brittney Chin ’21
Software Development Engineer, Amazon
Meg Imperato ’21
Backend Engineer, Spotify
Ali Jordahl ’20
Software Engineering Manager, Pega
Emily Klein ’18
Implementation Manager, Valon Technologies
Carlton Walker '10
Director, Wiz
Consulting
Steve Bosak ’90
Innovation Consultant, Tenworth Consulting
Jane Brogan ‘02, Director, CohnResnick
Jane Eilbacher ’10
Principal, Oliver Wyman
Bailey Graves ’16
Associate Director, Macro, A Savills Company
Sin Mei Ko ’85
Delivery Director, Financial Services, ServiceNow Business Group, Accenture
Data Science
Courtney Diamond ’12
Director, Digital Analytics, Hilton
Ahmad Emad ’13
Data Science Manager, Google
Scott Konicki ’10
Mathematical Statistician, U.S. Census Bureau
Catherine Walsh ’16
Scientific Programmer, National Institute of Mental Health
Education
Amy Brown ’13
Research Associate, Community College Research Center
James Carino ’16
Admissions Counselor, George Mason University
Caitlin Hertzendorf ’20
Speech-Language Pathologist, Hamilton Central School District
Kelly Johnson ’94
Math Teacher, Highland Park HS
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Peter Bertone '20
Founder, CEO; PhD Candidate, GyroGel; Dartmouth College
Tim Burkly ’10
Co-founder, Lackawanna Corporation
Taylor Buonocore Guthrie ’08
Facilitator and Keynote Speaker, Self-Employed
Patrick Doyle '90
Vice President, Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce
Andres Echenique '83
Technology Entrepreneur, Self Employed
Omer Jilani ’93
Head of Strategic Partnerships, Veylan
Per Sekse ’78
CFO, Nikigo Sauce LLC
Environmental and Sustainability
Nicole Dienst ’22
Associate, Global Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley
Lauren Frisch ’12
Program Manager, Carbon Markets, Netflix
Jenna Lilly ’17
MS Student/Teaching Assistant, Cornell University Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
Amy McNamara ’96
Freshwater Ecosystems Strategist, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Katie Roberts ’01
Vice President of Regulatory Assurance, Longenecker & Associates
Finance
Jake Anderson ’07
Vice President, Heitman
Andrew Colbert ’05
Senior Managing Director, Ziegler
Michela Hendell ’18
Head of Investor Relations, Global BioAccess Fund
Jack Metelski ’15
Vice President, Manager Research Analyst, Morgan Stanley
Steven Robinson ’95
Partner, Aristeia Capital
Government and Public Policy
Jeremy Bennett ’09
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Virginia Association of Counties
Bart Haggerty ’98
Deputy Chief Clerk, The Board of Elections in the City of New York
Kelley Hardon ’15
House Campaign Director, Climate Power
Kira Palmer ’19
Senior Development Associate, The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority
Kelsey Soderberg ’17
Senior Policy & Partnerships Adviser, Office of Governor Wes Moore
Nicole Svajlenka ’08
Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Healthcare Providers
Larry Durland ’02
Flight Nurse, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Adam Gonzalez ’13
Deputy Medical Examiner, El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner
Geoffrey Guenther ’11
Infectious Diseases Physician, Boston Children's Hospital
Emily Messing ’12
Medication Safety Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Sean Rossi ’15
Pediatric Hospitalist, Concord Hospital
Journalism and Publishing
Jonathan Dienst ’90
Chief Investigative Reporter, NBC
Matthew Elliott ’95
Senior Editor, CNET
Alexandra Hinrichs ’07
Children’s Book Editor, Children’s Book Author, Islandport Press, Self-Employed
Mara Stein ’19
Producer, NBC News
Law
Mike Aguilar ’96
SVP Compliance, American Express
John Dabney ’92
Senior Vice President, Counsel, Paramount Skydance Corp.
Samantha Elliott ’97
Federal District Court Chief Judge, United States District Court-New Hampshire
Madeline (Canning) Stevens ’18
J.D. Candidate, Charles Widger School of Law
Pamela White ’19
Associate, Greenberg Traurig LLP
Marketing and Communications
Zach Chapman ’93
Chief Revenue Officer, Plex Inc
Hannah DeGarmo ’17
Associate Director of Communications, Art21
Kimberly Elek ’87
Co-founder/Chief Communications Strategist, McReynolds Elek Communications
Emily Guenther ’13
Director, Partnership Marketing (Paramount+), Paramount Global
Sarah Haas ’16
VP, Wealth Communications, Citi
Media and Entertainment
Imani Ballard ’18
Senior Associate, Content Merchandising, Tubi
Stephen Brown ’81
EVP of Programming and Development, Fox Television Stations
Maggie Davis ’21
Production Manager, Warner Bros. Discovery
Kevin Heffernan ’90
Writer, Actor, Producer, Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Museums, Galleries, and Archives
Emma Barrison ’24
Gallery Assistant, Sean Kelly
Natalie Ramirez ’19
Director of Operations, LA Opera
Jessica Rossi ’15
Museum Educator and Professional Development Coordinator, New Hampshire Historical Society; Public Programs Manager, The Pursuit of History
Social Impact
Alyssa Berger ’16
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Strong In Therapy
Sara Darcy Duncan ’17
Grants Manager, Rudin
Melissa Graham ’91
Major Gifts Officer, Saint Ignatius College Prep
Jenna Jacoby ’13
Sr. Account Manager, International Rescue Committee
Amy Leo ’03
Mental Health Counselor, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµ
Past Keynote Speakers
2025
president and CEO of Bozzuto and chair of ¸Ô±¾ÊÓÆµâ€™s Board of Trustees.
2024
creative director at Droga5; founder of the Museum of Nail Art
2023
Executive Vice President, Head of Global Distribution, IMAX Entertainment and Senior Vice President, IMAX Corp
2021
Executive Director, North Shore University Hospital
2020
Sports photographer and cinematographer
2019
Commercial Sales Attorney at LinkedIn