The Piper Center provides resources and experiences designed to help students and alumni leverage their liberal arts education to achieve their full potential. View the programs below that offer volunteer roles to alumni interested in engaging with current students.
(If you are an alumnus/a seeking vocational and career support from the Piper Center, please see the alumni career services site HERE.)
Share your Career Story
Attend an alumni-student networking event to connect with students and to share your career and vocational journey. Students report that networking with and learning from alumni is a deeply valuable and meaningful experience.
Student-Alumni Networking Events
Attend a student-alumni networking event to connect with students and to share your career and vocational journey. Students report that networking with and learning from alumni is a deeply valuable and meaningful experience. Events include Ole Biz, Ole Law + Policy and Making it in the Arts. Contact: Marietta Ruppe (piper.center@stolaf.edu)
Connections Program (career treks)
Program cities include: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Madison, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Twin Cities
Provide a walking tour of your city to orient students considering relocation after graduation, host a group of students at your place of employment, and/or speak on a panel to provide students with your vocational insight. Contact: Kristi Kehrwald Adair (kehrwa1@stolaf.edu)
Participate in a Virtual Career Panel
Share your career and industry knowledge with students. In a facilitated format, alumni panelists can share their career path, provide advice, and share information to help students prepare for a specific career or just explore option. Contact: Bryan Shealer <shealer@stolaf.edu>
Host Students at Your Place of Employment (Twin Cities)
Help students learn about the world of work and further explore their own career interests by hosting students at your employer work site. Contact: Bryan Shealer <shealer@stolaf.edu>
Assist an Entrepreneur
Ole Cup
Support entrepreneurially minded students by providing feedback on their business pitch at the Ole Cup pitch competition. Or, support student entrepreneurs as a mentor. Student-winners receive start-up funds and mentoring expertise in the following areas: accounting & finance, fundraising & investors, legal services, marketing & social media, payroll & human resources, web & technology. Contact: Meghan McMillan <mcmill2@stolaf.edu>
Assist a Pre-Health or Pre-Law Student
Add your name to the list of St. Olaf alumni and parents who would be willing to offer job shadowing opportunities to aspiring pre-health (e.g. medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, dentistry, veterinary science, etc.) or pre-law students. Contact: Dana L Rechtzigel <rechtz1@stolaf.edu> for pre-health and Leslie Moore <moore8@stolaf.edu> for pre-law.
Recruit an Ole
On-Campus Recruiting
Visit campus in the fall or spring to host an information session and/or hold in-person interviews for an internship or job with your organization. Contact: Bryan Shealer (shealer@stolaf.edu)
Post an Internship or Job for Students
Advertise an internship or job in Handshake, St. Olaf’s career database where current students and very recent alumni can view the posting and apply directly. Contact: Marietta Ruppe (piper.center@stolaf.edu)
Post a Job for Alumni
Post your job opening to the Ole alumni community. Contact: Marietta Ruppe (piper.center@stolaf.edu)
Attend a Job/Internship Fair
Recruit Oles and other liberal arts students from the 18 member MN Private Colleges
Minnesota Private Colleges Spring Recruiting Fair
Contact: Bryan Shealer (shealer@stolaf.edu)
Other resources for alumni
Handshake: a tool available to students and very recent alumni. To obtain your login information, please contact the Piper Center at piper.center@stolaf.edu.
Online Alumni Directory: find contact information and connect with St. Olaf alumni
St. Olaf College’s LinkedIn Alumni Page: explore 24,000+ alumni profiles
Alumni Career Services: please reach out to the Piper Center’s alumni career coach if you are seeking 1:1 vocational and career support.