MANSFIELD, PA—More than 60 Mansfield University students traveled to Harrisburg to participate, along with students from five other colleges and universities, in a Senior Transitions Conference on March 29-30.
In addition to MU, students from Lock Haven University, East Stroudsburg University, Bloomsburg University, Lycoming College and Susquehanna University took part in the two-day event spearheaded by the Mansfield University Student Life Division, led by Nichole Lefelhoc, Career Center director, and Andee Dunham, associate director for Student Life & Student Transition. MU Senior Meredith Shewell, a Communication/Public Relations major, attended the event and was also responsible for post-event publicity and chronicling the activities.
This is the second year for the conference, which Lefelhoc and Dunham created as a way to make seniors comfortable as they transition from student life to career life.
“Seeing the light bulb moment while students walk from session to session is the most rewarding part of the conference,” Lefelhoc said. “It’s a switch from this is scary to now I know and I’m not alone. That’s when I know that the conference has served its purpose.”
Professionals from the six universities with students attending make up the conference committee. All six schools are part of the North Central Pennsylvania College Consortium, which is a network of career services offices.
On the first day of the conference students went to various breakout sessions spanning topics such as how to lead an effective job search, personal branding and how to read a benefits package.
“The transitions conference was really fun and I learned a lot. It gave me the opportunity to learn information that professors don’t get to mention during class. I’m a lot more confident with negotiating my salary after attending the benefits package session.” Kate Younkin, a junior Public Relations major, said.
Local professionals, many of whom were alumni from the schools involved in the conference, conducted mock interviews on the second day.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to network with fellow seniors from nearby universities as well as established professionals in various fields and occupations. I really appreciated the fact that the conference focused on sharing relevant, important skills like information about interviewing.” Coty Behanna, a senior History 
major who will be attending graduate school at the University of Maryland in the fall, said.
“I enjoy seeing students engage not only with other student but with various employers and alumni during the conference, these are the moments that make the conference valuable,” Dunham said. “You watch their academic career come to fruition.”
Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) is the presenting sponsor for the conference and has committed its support for the next two years.
For more information on the Senior Transitions Conference and the MU Career Center, go to career.mansfield.edu
For information on the Student Life & Student Transition Office, visit mansfield.edu/student-affairs
To view more pictures from the conference, click here.