The 2021 IU Diversity Career and Internship Fair took place virtually on February 24 from 4-7 p.m. via Handshake. This event provided an excellent opportunity for students to network with potential employers and to explore internships and full-time employment opportunities with local, state, and national employers in public, private, and non-profit sectors such as Eli Lily, Camp Tecumseh YMCA, Indiana Public Health Association, and Tiffany & Co.
The career and internship fair consisted of 30-minute group sessions with multiple students in attendance and 10-minute one-on-one sessions with a single student and employer representative. Ninety-six employers were present at the fair, many with job and internship opportunities.
"This year, we had the largest level of virtual student engagement with 1,951 registered students. This opportunity allowed for students to attend 1,133 group sessions and 1,104 one-on-one sessions with potential employers," Vincent Isom, director of the 21st Century Scholars Program, said. "We want to continue to express the importance of engaging in the OVPDEMA programs cosponsored Diversity Career Fair and the other career fairs on campus."
According to Isom, this is good news. It strengthens the partnerships between the 21st Century Scholars Program (and other OPDEMA Academic Programs) and the various Career Development Offices on campus, ensuring that OVPDEMA students benefit from the opportunities provided through these efforts. “With this being an OVPDEMA cosponsored event, the OVPDEMA academic programs and culture centers, marketed heavily toward our students, this supports the heavy turnout and that 56% of attendees being a part of the 21st Century Scholars Program.”
"We are incredibly proud of this year's diversity career and internship fair," said Yolanda Treviño, assistant vice president for strategy, planning, and assessment. "Even during the pandemic, the energy and enthusiasm were palpable as evidenced by the largest number of student registrations and participating employers in the event's history I am proud of the collaboration between the Career Development Center and our academic support programs, particularly the 21st Century Scholars Program. The work they put into the diversity career and internship fair and pre-fair programs will ensure our students are well prepared for whatever comes their way."
"We had an exceptional turnout for this virtual career fair," Isom said. "It is our goal within OVPDEMA to increase our efforts to improve attendance and raise the bar for student attendance at next year's event. We strive to provide quality service on behalf of our students, and this is one way that we can contribute to creating meaningful opportunities. It is great to see the vision come to life and the growth of this event since the first year to the present."