Fredonia will welcome back alumnae Emily Barber (B.S., Communication Studies, 2016) and Lauren Orlowski (B.S., Public Relations, 2015) for a two-day on-campus residency, sponsored by Writers@Work, on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 19 and 20.
Drawing on their professional success and involvement in Buffalo’s nonprofit community and in the corporate sector, these young alumnae will share tips for promoting students’ unique skill sets to potential employers and the personal and professional value of being active in the local community. All events in the series are free and open to the public
On Thursday, Ms. Barber and Ms. Orlowski will present a public talk, “Alumni at Work - Career Tips and Community Engagement,” from 7 to 8 p.m. in the William Center’s Pucci Room S202. The talk will highlight advice for students and graduates entering the workforce and also touch on how alumni can give back to the community through volunteering and non-profit involvement. A reception with light refreshments will follow outside of the Pucci Room.
On Friday, both women will discuss careers and career planning with students enrolled in the humanities from 11 to 11:50 a.m. in the Williams Center Room S204.
Also on Friday, Barber and Orlowski will present a writing workshop, “Beyond the Résumé: The Subtle Art of Promoting Your Unique Skill Sets,” from noon to 1 p.m. in the Williams Center Room S204. The workshop will help students and graduates learn what employers seek in a job applicant as well as how they can promote their skill sets well beyond the résumé.
Barber, who also has a minor in Leadership Studies from Fredonia and earned a M.S. in Communication and Leadership, with a concentration in Not-for-Profit Management, from Canisius College in 2018, is a talent management specialist for Performance Management Partners (PMP), a consulting firm that provides search and organizational development services to Western New York-based organizations.
Beyond the workplace, Barber serves on the advisory board of Next Generation United through the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County and the advisory committee of Rising Stars through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She also was selected for Leadership Buffalo’s Class of 2019.
Orlowski, who also has a minor in Leadership Studies from Fredonia, is a development manager for the Western New York Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). She leads the CFF’s young professional programs, Rising Stars and Tomorrow’s Leaders, and facilitates Great Strides in WNY, a national walk fundraising initiative. She is a member of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s young professional program.
Writers@Work is an alumni writers-in-residence series featuring both well-established and emerging writers, editors and publishers in a range of professional and creative genres. The series seeks to connect Fredonia’s alumni, students, faculty and community members with a focus on the diverse ways writing and the humanities make a difference in the world.
Writers@Work is sponsored by Fredonia Alumni Association, Fredonia College Foundation, Fredonia College Foundation's Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund, the Mary Louise White Fund and the Faculty Student Association. The program is made possible by a partnership of Admissions, Alumni Affairs, Career Development Office, the Fredonia College Foundation and the departments of Biology, Business Administration, Communication, English, History and Theatre and Dance.
For more information, please visit online at https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/writers-at-work
