Oglethorpe sophomore students stepped out of the classroom and into professional workplaces across Metro Atlanta for the first-ever Oglethorpe Goes to Work Day, a unique experience designed by the Career Development office to help students explore potential career paths.
Members of the class of 2028 chose from a wide range of job sites representing different industries such as healthcare, the arts, sports and finance. During their visits, students met with professionals, toured workplaces and asked thoughtful questions to help them better envision themselves in future careers.
Mar Cabeza Mejia ’27, a sophomore who is ahead in her credit hours and on track to graduate early, visited the International Rescue Committee (IRC). As a Spanish major passionate about the global community, Cabeza Mejia found the experience especially meaningful as she learned about career opportunities within the organization.
“As someone who aspires to be a translator to help people, I was able to learn about a variety of jobs within the organization that involved translating for newcomers, classes and legal departments,” said Cabeza Mejia. “This opportunity opened my eyes to the endless number of jobs in my field and gave me the tools to apply for internships and ask questions.”
At several job sites, Oglethorpe alumni welcomed students and shared insights into how their OU education paved the way for their current careers. Debbie Bachmann ’02, the director of customer marketing at The Coca-Cola Company, was one of five alumni who connected with students at the company’s Atlanta offices.
“As soon as I heard that Oglethorpe students were coming to Coca-Cola, I jumped at the chance to meet and talk with them,” said Bachmann, a business administration graduate. “I have such a special place in my heart for Oglethorpe, so it’s always great to give back in any way I can. I was just really excited to meet everyone, and I hope to see some of them again someday as an employee of The Coca-Cola Company.”
The Coca-Cola Company and IRC are just two of the 20 job sites students visited. Other locations included Chick-fil-A, Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Woodruff Arts Center, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta Gas Light, EY, Grady Health System, Emory University School of Law, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Jonathan W. Johnson LLC, Academy Theatre, Global Payments, HiEd Success, Marsh & Oliver Wyman Actuarial, Inc., Georgia Swarm Professional Lacrosse, Atlanta Braves, Georgia Film Academy and Cox Family Office.
This new initiative not only invites students to think more intentionally about their future careers but also strengthens connections between employers and the critical thinkers and future leaders being shaped at Oglethorpe.
“When employers engage with Oglethorpe students through workplace visits, internships or mentorship, they meet candidates who bring fresh perspectives and intellectual curiosity,” says President Kathryn McClymond.
As students reflect on their Oglethorpe Goes to Work Day experience, many will begin mapping out their career paths from internships to long-term goals. This event, along with other career-preparedness resources, is helping OU students develop the skills and confidence to make an impact as tomorrow’s professionals.
“Many students have a hard time envisioning themselves in a professional environment or understanding where to begin in their career development process,” said interim director of career development Karlie Burrell.
“Networking opportunities like these help students to understand that nobody’s career development process is linear,” said Burrell. “I am grateful to the professionals who took the time to connect with our amazing students, as well as the students who did such a wonderful job representing Oglethorpe University.”
View more photos of Oglethorpe Goes to Work Day below.