2021 MSS Alumni Day

Zoom screen of 2021 MSS Alumni Day

On November 10th, the MSS program had its 2021 Alumni Day organized by the GCC. Seven MSS alumni joined the event as panelists to share their professional insights with current MSS students. The event started with opening remarks from the program director, Dr. Funda Gunes, who warmly welcomed all alumni and students to the event. The students then had the chance to learn from the alumni about their backgrounds and professional experiences through a panel discussion moderated by the GCC members. The panelists all worked in diverse fields including technology, finance, healthcare, and entertainment, and therefore provided the current students with fantastic insights into each field. They highlighted the importance of communication skills in a professional setting, the ability to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience, and the ability and willingness to continuously learn through work experience. They also offered valuable tips for job interviews and encouraged the students to be confident during the interview process. At the end of the panel discussion, each panelist gave a piece of advice to help new graduates better transition from student to professional life. Following the discussion, students had the chance to ask the alumni their specific questions in smaller breakout rooms. Students enjoyed listening to alumni and talking with them to get more insights into a real working environment, as well as to make more informed decisions on the career they would like to pursue.