Authored by: Victoria Whaley
Edited by: Leslie Wells
To succeed after graduation, students need more than academic knowledge. They need guidance, mentorship, and real-world connections. That’s where O’Neill School alumni can step in. Through O’Neill Indianapolis’ Backpack to Briefcase program, alums can give students the gift of their time, experience, and opportunity. The program, created by O’Neill Indianapolis Career Services Director Stacy Lozer, is one way O’Neill helps bridge the gap between college and career through alumni engagement.
“In my role, I look for multiple ways to impact our students as they work toward their career opportunities,” said Stacy Lozer, director of career services for O’Neill Indianapolis and an alumna of O’Neill’s MPA program. “As an alum, I also know the immense value of my degree and how it helped me navigate my career through many different opportunities.”
Her experience and connections provided the foundation for Backpack to Briefcase.
“Who better to introduce our students to than our own alumni?” Lozer asked. “The program was envisioned with just that in mind: connecting our alumni to our current students—future alumni.”
Whether it’s a resume review, a mock interview, or a career conversation, students walk away with more than just advice—they leave inspired.
“It brings me great joy as an alum to see that connection happen,” Lozer said.
What Is Backpack to Briefcase?
- 47 student participants
- 13 engaged alumni, 7 of whom have returned for multiple events
Each student spends 30 minutes with an alum, talking about everything from resume and cover letter reviews to LinkedIn optimization and networking strategies. These sessions often evolve into meaningful career conversations, offering students unique insights they might not find elsewhere.
But the true value of Backpack to Briefcase lies in the stories that come after the meetings have ended.
- Steve Broniarczyk met with a student interested in Public Safety Management and introduced her to a FEMA internship program. She applied and was accepted as a FEMA Corps leader—a life-changing opportunity sparked by a single conversation.
- A graduate student connected with Ed Sagebiel, who immediately opened his professional network. Sagebiel even continued mentoring the student for more than a year, meeting outside the program and offering ongoing guidance.
- Jill Lees and Kevin Jowitt have helped countless Criminal Justice majors understand the path into law enforcement, offering practical advice and encouragement that students carry with them into their careers.
While the events are invitation-only at this time, they will open to entire student body if availability and time allow. For more information, reach out to Stacy Lozer via slozer@iu.edu.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.