Previous Event Highlights
Out & Proud Panel: Empowering Our LGBTQIA+ Professionals
In Spring 2025 and 2026, the NEIU Office of Career Development hosted a landmark panel discussion at the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs at NEIU.
This event brought together a diverse panel of professionals to share their real-world experiences navigating workplace culture, identity, and professional boundaries.
Panelist Highlights
"I wanted to be my authentic self, as hiding my identity was exhausting."
— Jeffrey Hamm, Former VP of Digital Experience at Ulta Beauty, panelist.
"The education part is fine because I can speak about my story and my experiences, but it's important to note that my story is not the same as everyone else's. Don't generalize."
— TJ Sandstrom, Corporate Sales Professional, panelist.
Key Takeaways from the Panel
- The Power of Choice: Panelists agreed that disclosing your identity is a personal decision that should be based on your comfort and the organization's specific culture.
- Screening for Your Needs: Experts suggested using "soundboarding" during interviews to establish a baseline of comfort and evaluate if an employer meets your personal needs.
- Defining Boundaries: One panelist shared the importance of maintaining professional boundaries to avoid feeling forced to disclose personal information, noting that "Work is not my family".
- The Choice to Educate: While sharing personal stories can be powerful, panelists reminded students that it is not their responsibility to educate colleagues on LGBTQIA+ issues.
- Recognizing Nuance: The discussion addressed the specific layers of experience for women of color and cautioned against generalizing LGBTQIA+ narratives.
Community Impact
The event provided students with a unique opportunity to connect with the out-of-campus community and find supportive professional relationships. As one psychology student reflected, the town hall highlighted the necessity of finding diverse communities to fulfill needs that one workplace alone might not meet.
Read the Full Story: For a deeper look at the discussion and more student takeaways, read the full coverage of the Spring 2025 event by the NEIU Independent: NEIU Students and Panelists Discuss Being Out & Proud at Work
Panel Highlights
Breaking away from the traditional panel format, this year’s event featured an interactive circular seating arrangement that brought students and professionals together in a shared space for open conversation. Attendees had the opportunity to connect directly with out professionals from a range of fields, including law, public safety, wellness, and mental health, creating a more personal and meaningful dialogue.
The event’s highlights included candid Q&A discussions on navigating identity in the workplace, powerful storytelling from professionals about their career journeys, and insights into industry trends across diverse sectors. Participants heard from voices such as a firefighter, an immigration lawyer, and a social worker, each offering unique perspectives on what it means to lead with authenticity in their profession.
Kickstart Your Career Workshop Series
The Kickstart Your Career Workshop Series was introduced in Summer 2024 through the NEIU Career Development Center as a pilot initiative designed to enhance student engagement during the summer term. The series consists of four sessions: Online Presence, Networking, Resumes, & Internships.
Following its initial success, the program expanded into a recurring Workshop Series in collaboration with the NEIU College of Business and Technology and is now offered each Fall and Spring semester. Through strategic marketing, targeted outreach, data-informed improvements, and ongoing assessment of participant feedback, the series has continued to evolve and strengthen over time.
Participation growth across semesters includes:
- Summer 2024: 56 students
- Fall 2024 (CBT): 39 students
- Spring 2025 (CBT): 71 students
- Summer 2025: 54 students
- Fall 2025 (CBT): 98 students
Since its launch, the Workshop Series has engaged more than 300 students, with multiple participants earning certificates of completion for attending all four sessions within a semester.
The sustained growth and increasing participation reflect the value of cross-campus collaboration, continuous program refinement, and a strong commitment to student success.
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Internships Into Careers Panel
The Internships into Careers Panel brought together a dynamic group of professionals to share how early opportunities can shape long-term success. Featuring speakers from fields such as financial services, information technology, higher education, public health, journalism, nonprofit advocacy, and food systems policy, the event offered students a broad look at the many paths from internship to career.
Attendees were able to hear firsthand how each professional secured their initial internship and leveraged that experience into a full-time role. Panelists shared candid stories about challenges, unexpected turns, and the pivotal moments that helped define their career trajectories.
Students gained practical insights on making the most of internship experiences—learning how to build meaningful connections, stand out in competitive environments, and translate short-term roles into long-term opportunities. The conversation also emphasized the value of curiosity, persistence, and adaptability across industries.
