Critical Connections

By Abigail Sullivan '25, February 15, 2024

Students learn from alumni at annual panel discussion.

Eden Strachan '21 and Ricardo Gomez-Perez '13 were two of the panelists at the Intercultural Career Connections Panel.

(Photos submitted)

The opportunity to hear from alumni regarding their time at IC and their professional development can be invaluable. Such an opportunity is provided at the annual Intercultural Career Connections Panel, which brings together alumni who represent diverse identities and professions.

This year’s event featured Ricardo Gomez-Perez ’13, Leonardo Wise’20, and Eden Strachan ’21. The trio recounted the professional barriers they’ve overcome and shared advice on how to set oneself up for success in the workforce.

Marsha Dawson, the Dean of Students in the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life, reflected on the importance of the event.

“Events like these are critical because for our students to navigate the future successfully, it requires the wisdom and insights of those who have walked the path before them.”

Marsha Dawson, Dean of Students

“Events like these are critical because for our students to navigate the future successfully, it requires the wisdom and insights of those who have walked the path before them,” she said. “Alumni can provide invaluable guidance and inspiration, even for me, but certainly for our students, by illuminating the challenges and wins of navigating life after college and the professional world.”

All three panelists recalled overcoming barriers on their journeys. As a student, Strachan, who was a Park Scholar and now runs the multimedia brand Black Girls Don’t Get Love, often struggled with imposter syndrome, lacking the experience and expensive equipment of some of her peers. However, through hard work, she was able to overcome that.

“If I don’t have the skill, I can learn the skill,” she recalled telling herself, before encouraging attendees to “think in the long term” and utilize resources like student organizations and collaborations with peers to create the experiences they’d like to live out.

In addition, panelists emphasized the importance of finding a supportive community. Gomez-Perez, who works as a gift accountant at Cornell and is an assistant coach for the Ithaca College wrestling team, recalled a time in his accounting career when he was not given the proper support and was unable to thrive professionally.

He realized he needed a team of supporters and advised audience members to remember their worth and refuse to settle for an environment that does not acknowledge one’s personal and professional value.

“The voices of our panelists for events like these validate current students’ experiences and feelings while also providing inspiration and creating the opportunity to network, as students never know who they will meet along the way to their idea of a successful life,”

Marsha Dawson

The panelists also described the way their cultural identities have influenced their careers. As they explained, one’s identity informs their reality.

Wise, who currently serves as a Title IX investigator and prevention specialist at Ithaca College, says that his goal is to join the FBI, a dream that grew out of a desire to see more people who looked like him in law enforcement. He values his unique life experiences and trusts that any “failure” he endures will lead him toward better places. He encouraged students to refuse to compromise who they are and work to carve out a space where they can be authentic in the workplace.

“If you fail, you adjust, and try again,” Gomez-Perez concurred.

Above all else, the panelists emphasized the value of developing interpersonal skills and building genuine connections. Strachan encouraged audience members to accept support from others whenever necessary, Gomez-Perez advised students to embrace the unexpected and take every opportunity to build new skills, and Wise told audience members to be intentional in their interactions and build connections with people who know what you are capable of.

Speaking at the event was a bit of a full circle moment for Wise, who attended the Intercultural Career Connections Panel several times as a student. He was grateful for the opportunity to “pay it forward” and was excited to share his own lived experience.

Wise expressed his hopes that every attendee leave the discussion with a different takeaway. As he sees it, he’s simply there to offer up his experiences, hoping that every attendee walks away having learned something valuable.

Nathanial Shears ’26 said he was struck by the panelists’ advice to be true to oneself and refuse to sacrifice your core values to please others.

Jesus Noriega ’25, co-president of student organizations La Asociación de Mexicana and Brothers for Brothers, viewed the panel as an opportunity to connect with the BIPOC community on campus. He emphasized the importance of forming connections between BIPOC students and alumni.

Dawson believes that’s one of reasons events like this are so successful.

“I think the voices of our panelists for events like these validate current students’ experiences and feelings while also providing inspiration and creating the opportunity to network, as students never know who they will meet along the way to their idea of a successful life,” she said.