On February 8, 2023, the Center for Career Education (CCE) invited undergraduate students and recent alumni interested in careers in social impact, government, non-profit, education and more to participate in the 2023 Impact + Policy Showcase!

Representatives from FEMA, Partners for Justice, Peace Corps, Success Academy Charter Schools and Teach for America spoke about the missions of their organizations, potential career paths within their industries, and shared job, internship and fellowship opportunities within their respective organizations. After the employers’ introductions, students were given the opportunity to connect with employers during an open networking session.

ICYMI, here were the key takeaways from the event:

Passion for the cause leads to a rewarding career

Ricky Woodruff, Talent Acquisition Recruiter at Success Academy, offers advice to students pursuing a career in education: “Follow your heart and know that the work you are doing is impactful.” Woodruff also highlights resourcefulness and grit as key factors leading to students’ success in the industry.

Serving the global community

Representative Dorie Hagler shared that “joining the Peace Corps was one of the best decisions of my life.” The experience taught her how to rely on herself, helped to develop intercultural competence, and foster a stronger commitment to equity.  The Peace Corps has an alumni network of 240,000+ who have worked on international projects ranging from education, community economic development, environment, health, and more. 

Perseverance is key when it comes to a career in criminal justice reform

Rebecca Solow, Co-Founder & Executive Director at Partners for Justice, gave this advice for students pursuing a career in criminal justice reform or criminal justice social impact: “Find something you really care about that once you see the reality of the world, you can’t unsee it, and don’t give up. Don’t take no for an answer.” Rebecca emphasizes that being passionate about a social issue is key to pursuing and persevering within a career in criminal justice reform. Partners for Justice works to ensure that anyone who faces criminal charges is fully supported by non-attorney Client Advocates. 

Creating educational equity and justice for children through advocacy

Collaboration amongst educators and community members is a core component to making an impact. Teach for America representative Juliana McCormick shared the importance of teamwork in making progress towards change. McCormick  looks for leadership skills in potential candidates and encourages students to highlight such experiences in their application. 

An internship makes a difference in the federal job search process

Russell Fox, Federal Preparedness Coordinator — Director, National Preparedness Division at FEMA, recommends that undergraduate students try to get an internship with FEMA in order to break into their full-time roles. In Russell’s 20+ years of experience with FEMA, he says: “I work with climate change. My team is involved in equity for not only internal staff but with our partners. There are lots of jobs that FEMA does that interest you, younger people, out there and what you care about is what we do. That’s why I joined FEMA: to help people. If you want a career doing that, it’s a great place to be.” Russell oversees a staff of 33 people in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Essential traits and skills for success in impact and policy careers

  • Perseverance

  • Passion for the cause

  • Resourcefulness

  • Collaboration

  • Leadership

  • Intellectual curiosity and continuous learning

Explore Industry-Specific Resources

Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to continue the conversation about exploring careers in impact and policy!