March 17 marked my one-month anniversary as Director. I celebrated that afternoon by participating in the first State-of-the-MBA session with several of you in attendance. I used that time to update everyone on the changes and initiatives that the Graduate Career Services (GCS) office is undertaking. For those of you who didn’t attend, here’s what’s been happening:

First, note our name change to Graduate Career Services. This new name reflects our additional focus on serving the career exploration needs of Executive and Flex MBA students, as well as counseling and programming for the Master of Accounting program. This does not in any way mean that the GCS staff will be devoting any less time to the needs of the full-time MBA students. I am in the process of re-structuring staff responsibilities so that we all can be more proactive and responsive in addressing the needs of all Mason graduate students. I will update you when the reorganization is complete.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you over the last month during lunchtime focus groups. Your feedback and suggestions are helping me to prioritize on future job development and program plans. I will be continuing to host these small-group sessions during the week of March 23 and I hope that you will consider participating.

As well, I’m now available to meet individually with students to discuss job search issues, GCS programs and initiatives, and related topics. Email me mark.case@mason.wm.edu if you would like to schedule a meeting. I’m extending my “official” office hours to 7 p.m. each weekday in order to give you additional meeting times to consider.

GCS will be offering Alumni Career Services to all alumni of Mason graduate programs effective this spring. You will want to register with GCS for this service before you leave campus in May. By doing so you will be able to continue accessing MasonLink for contact information on employers and fellow alumni. In addition, by registering you will be extended on-campus interviewing privileges for up to three years following graduation. Watch for further information, coming soon, on how to register.

GCS is collaborating with a select group of Executive Partners in the launch of the EP Ambassadors initiative in April. These EPs will be visiting senior-level alumni and other connections in 10-12 of the companies that you have mentioned to us as being first-tier on your corporate “wish lists.” Their goal is to pave the way for me to follow up with the appropriate contacts in each organization and find job/internship opportunities. The EPs have been an invaluable resource for me since my arrival, and I plan to work closely with them on numerous future initiatives for your betterment.

I have begun to plan job development activity for this spring and beyond, in collaboration with staffs of the Mason School’s Corporate/Alumni Relations and the Undergraduate Business Program. We are looking beyond the “usual suspect” locations, i.e., DC/NoVa and New York, and will expand our targeted cities further in the South and Midwest. As our schedule becomes complete I will circle back to you with our plans. And let us hear from you if you have any suggestions.

Another collaborative opportunity on the verge of implementation is the campus-wide Hire W&M initiative. We are partnering with our counterparts in the undergraduate Career Center and the Law School, making an appeal to all W&M alumni to consider networking with and recommending current graduating and intern candidates for positions in their respective organizations. We are hopeful that this effort will result in more opportunities to connect with participating alumni of all degrees and majors in addition to our loyal Mason alums.

Finally, GCS is helping to sponsor the upcoming Capital Alumni Connections reception and program in Richmond on Saturday, April 18 from 4-6 pm. A large alumni turnout is expected, thanks to the hard work of Andrew Sterrett ’10 MBA and his steering committee. Free bus transportation from the ‘Burg to Richmond and back is being provided by GCS – we hope that as many of you as possible will plan to attend this premier networking event.

My hope is that the next 30 days and beyond will yield great opportunities for us to work together and to help you get to where you want to go. I’ll be back with more updates in the near future!