By Kathryn Lynch, Garren Nordquist, Karoline Robak, and Carmine Tricco
Western New England University has more to offer than its enriching educational programs and courses in which thousands of students have enrolled over the past 100 years. The university has many organizations and offices that are in place to help ensure students are equipped with the tools and support they need to succeed. In an exciting opening ceremony on Thursday, September 26, 2024, Western New England University officially renovated and re-opened the Kevin S. and Sandra E. Delbridge Career Center for all the school’s students and graduates to benefit from.
Whether students are having difficulties finding a job on campus or are working on a project with engineering groups, there is a dedicated workspace and employees on campus to help them. When originally considering and enrolling in college, many, if not all, students have the final goal of obtaining a successful job in a field they are interested in. To make this daunting task more manageable for Golden Bears, The Delbridge Career Center is open and ready to be that final puzzle piece students need to help them solve job search concerns.
Faculty, staff, students, and sports teams attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate this monumental and integral part of our campus expansion. In addition to all the benefits and gratitude expressed by the speakers at the event, University President Robert E. Johnson said, “The Delbridge Career Center is more than just a resource—it’s a hub for empowering students to be curious, to adapt and to be able to contribute as global citizens.”
A key factor in this 10-million-dollar renovation was to create a safe, open, and inviting space for students in all stages of their pre-, current-, and post-college careers.
To do so, Kevin and Sandra Delbridge, benefactors of this student success hub, found it vital to create it front-facing toward the campus, with its main entrance centered on the students and all those who walk by to promote career success and utilization.
Board member and class of 1977 WNE alumni Kevin S. Delbridge said during his speech, “By co-locating the Career Center in the Welcome Center, we are letting prospective students and their parents know that career development is important and that this University is prepared to assist students in achieving their career goals.”
Delbridge continued, “No doubt students should come to Western New England to learn, to compete, to make lifelong relationships and to have fun, but at the end of the day, they come here to get a job and a career, which presumably leads to a paycheck and lifelong independence – or at least not living with mom and dad.” His comment ignited laughter in the room.
Delbridge went on to explain the importance of the location for the new Career Center; “First, by co-locating the career center in the welcome center, we’re letting prospective students, and their parents know that this university takes this very seriously, the career aspirations of the students, even before they set foot on campus.”
Patricia Goff, Associate Vice President of the Career Center and one of the speakers at the event, said, “The center is more than a new facility; it is a promise to educate and empower our students, setting them on a pathway for their professional goals fully prepared to advance and succeed, and ultimately make lasting contributions to the field of their choice.”
“There is something important to be said of having a hub that resembles a modern corporate office environment,” said Sean Alvord, a Western New England graduate student with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, who is continuing his education here, working on a Master’s in Accounting. Alvord said he will be helping and mentoring students reach their career goals through the new center.
“The Delbridge Career Center embodies our commitment to helping students,” said Alvord after his speech and during the reception in the newly remodeled center. In 2025, Alvord will join Deloitte, the largest public accounting company in the world, and will work with the company to create new opportunities for our students.
Dakota-Marie Dinielli was one of many students who attended the ribbon cutting. “I am very grateful to go to a school where we have people who can donate and give back to their community,” the junior, working on her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Psychology, continued. The Career Center, I feel, is going to be a big step for our school and a really nice resource for the students. I know that the people here will help me with my future career,” said Dinielli.
Whether you need help with a resume, finding an internship or job, or assistance in career exploration, the numerous resources available at The Delbridge Career Center are endless. The new Career Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
