Ole Career Volunteer

As a St. Olaf alum, family member, or friend of the college you are able to offer students a unique perspective into the world of work and life beyond the Hill. Volunteer with the Piper Center to support Oles in their career journeys.

Ready to Volunteer? We want to hear from you!

Register for upcoming Alumni-Student Virtual Meet Ups
Update your Alumni Contact Information – this allows us to invite alumni to relevant events and volunteer opportunities!

We also offer ongoing volunteer opportunities and encourage alumni to consider engaging with students as employers.

Whether you are sharing your career story and industry knowledge directly with students as a speaker or 1:1, hosting an internship, or posting a job for a fellow alum – your engagement makes an impact. Thank you.

Seeking vocational and career support from the Piper Center as an alum? Please see Alumni Career Services.

Share your career story, industry knowledge, and connect virtually with students. You will be matched for brief 1-1 conversations (8-10 minutes in length) with up to 6 students in one hour.

Please register to attend any of the upcoming events that align with your experience and insight!

Alumni and students at a panel conversation

Alumni engage in a variety of meaningful ways as employers:

Share a job or internship opportunity: Submit this quick form or email HireOles@stolaf.edu
Host an internship for a St. Olaf student
Host a work site visit or an event in the Twin Cities
Connect with students virtually, or in conjunction with an upcoming Connections Trip

Please contact Bryan Shealer (shealer@stolaf.edu), Senior Associate Director of Employer and Alumni Relations, or see our Employer Resources page for more information.

Share opportunities with fellow alumni! Do you have a job opportunity that requires more experience than current students can offer? Share your job opening with the St. Olaf alumni community by emailing HireOles@stolaf.edu OR post it directly in the St. Olaf College Alumni Group on LinkedIn.

Internships are critical to student career development, offering an opportunity to build skills, gain experience, explore career paths, and make connections.

Internships can take place year-round, but demand is highest during January and over the summer months, based on the academic calendar.

Please contact Bryan Shealer (shealer@stolaf.edu), Senior Associate Director of Employer and Alumni Relations to begin a conversation about what may be a good fit for you, your company/organization, and the needs of students.

Job shadowing allows students to learn first-hand about the work setting and career paths, and to build professional connections in a field of interest.

Please be in touch if you may be able to offer job shadowing, or would like to discuss this possibility:

Volunteer to connect with Pre-Health Students for shadowing or similar opportunities.

Healthcare Shadowing opportunities: Dana L Rechtzigel <rechtz1@stolaf.edu

Job shadowing is most in demand in healthcare, but can be helpful in other settings as well. Please reach out to discuss this opportunity if you are open to providing it for students!

General contact: Kristi Kehrwald Adair <kehrwa1@stolaf.edu>

Individual conversations can have a tremendous impact on students! Here are some of the ways St. Olaf alumni and students are connecting 1:1:

Virtual Alumni-Student Speed Networking Events – see the full schedule of events and register above!
Alumni Career Chats – 20 minute conversations between students and alumni are scheduled at various times throughout the academic year. If you would like to consider connecting with students on campus or virtually please reach out!
Job Shadowing Opportunities, particularly in Health & Law career fields – students need to gain experience in the field to help shape their path and to prepare to apply for further education.
- Healthcare Shadowing opportunities: Dana L Rechtzigel <rechtz1@stolaf.edu>
- Law-related Shadowing opportunities: Leslie Moore <moore1@stolaf.edu>
- General contact: Kristi Kehrwald Adair <kehrwa1@stolaf.edu>
Assist an Entrepreneur – Support entrepreneurially minded students by providing feedback and mentoring students prior to the the Ole Cup pitch competition. Contact: Meghan McMillan <mcmill2@stolaf.edu>
Individually arranged 1:1 conversations – Students and alumni often reach out to one another directly, by referral or via LinkedIn. Thank you for supporting Oles who reach out to you! By replying to messages, lending insight or sharing resources, and connecting with individuals to the extent that you’re able to at any given time you help shape the career paths of students and fellow alumni!

Contact: Kristi Kehrwald Adair (kehrwa1@stolaf.edu), Associate Director for Alumni Career Engagement

Share your career and industry knowledge with students. In a facilitated format, panelists share their career path, and provide advice based on their industry, occupation, educational path, and/or lived experience.

Various in-person and virtual alumni panels take place each academic year. Panels are curated with the intention of representing a broad range of viewpoints in terms of industry area, alumni identity, educational path, and other characteristics. If you are interested in serving on a future alumni panel, please be in touch!

Contact: Kristi Kehrwald Adair <kehrwa1@stolaf.edu>

Engage with students in your city!

Each Fall Break, January Break, and Spring Break a group of students travels to a different part of the country to explore careers, learn about the city itself, and to connect with alumni. Volunteer as a work site host, share your industry knowledge during an alumni panel, or help students explore the city alongside other alumni volunteers.

Program cities include: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Madison, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C.

Regional cities include: Twin Cities and Rochester, MN

Contact: Kristi Kehrwald Adair (kehrwa1@stolaf.edu)