Schools represented at this conference:

American University
Bucknell University
Capitol College
Carnegie Mellon University
Colgate University
Community College of Baltimore County
Cornell University
Emory University
Gallaudet University
George Mason University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Gettysburg College
Grinnell College
Kent State University
Maryland Institute College of Art
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McPherson College
Morgan State University
Nazareth College of Rochester
North Carolina A&T State University
Northwestern University
Pennsylvania State University
Portland Community College
Rutgers University
Spokane Falls Community College
Springfield College
Syracuse University
Towson University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Delaware
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
University of Maine
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
University of Maryland, College Park
University of New Orleans
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
University of Richmond
University of Texas, San Antonio
University of Utah
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Western Michigan University
Williams College
Winston Salem State University

2011 National Conference

The 7th Annual National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Student Career Conference & PRIDE Career Fair took place September 23-25th, 2011. The conference brought together over 330 participants including LGBTQ employees from some of America's top inclusive corporations. Chai Felblum's keynote address was engaging and inspirational and each of the breakout sessions and workshops educated, prepared, ad empowered students with great resources and materials to all of the conference attendees.

Essay Contest Winner Emily Berk

OFW's Founder Riley Folds congratulates Emily.

"Before I experienced OUT for Work, I was scared, anxious, and uncertain about my future and the future of my peers. OUT for Work CHANGED MY LIFE. Every single experience has helped me grow from a confused, awkward, and self-doubting individual into a confident, driven, sure-of-herself soon to be grad.

From the first day of the conference, we were treated to useful Q/A with successful, diverse (ethnically, sex, gender, major, etc) LGBTQ folks, stellar presentations by two accomplished professionals, and a great responsive networking opportunity with a brilliant group of accomplished, smart, driven individuals.

I felt changed. I met people who helped me discover the questions I needed to ask to be most successful in my job hunt and professional life as an engineer, computer scientist, young professional, queer woman, trans ally, and supporter of diversity in the workplace. I feel prepared. I’ve met contacts that I can ask those questions to. The 'It's All About You' break out session led by Lockheed Martin was PHENOMENAL. I learned how to network well in an hour. It was the most useful job hunt advice I have ever received.

I know how to make myself an attractive presence to a recruiter. OUT for Work filled me with hope, inspiration, and a sense of community. I ran into newly successful old friends and made many new ones. Even just the experience of seeing a visible presence of such a strong, talented group of diverse queer people has transformed me.

OUT for Work has left me with purpose and confidence."

- Emily Berk, University of Maryland, College Park

 

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

"The contacts that I have made with these brilliant and empowering professionals will help me in my personal goal to be as great as they are because they will forever serve our inspiration and perhaps as mentors as I progress through my college-work. Therefore, I must extend my gratitude to OUT for Work, the professionals, and the sponsors for showing me, inspiring me, and teaching me how valuable we truly are in any industry that we choose to work in."

- Edgar Uribe, The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

"I learned not only how to incorporate my LGBTQ activism onto my resume, but why that work actually makes me more of an asset to a future employer"

- Casey Lyons. Williams College

"OUT for Work has taught me the importance of letting myself shine. Themes emerged from the keynote to the panel discussions about the importance of being confident, original, and ultimately true to one’s self."

- Colin Bohan, University at Chicago

"OFW does a remarkable job of pooling together resources of all kinds for our benefit and to progress and further move our position and visibility in the world."

- Marcus Markle, University of California, Berkeley

"At OUT for Work I found a network of professionals that care about my career development and security in what once shook my confidence."
- John Espinosa, The University of Illinois

"As a career center professional and a member of a gold certified university, I will bring back to my colleagues innovative ideas about assisting and reaching out to this amazing population of students."
- Kelly Fleenor, The University of New Orleans