September 19, 2022
University of Wyoming College of Business students meet with entrepreneurs in the Jonas Bank Atrium during a recent College of Business Seminar on Sept. 8. (UW Photo)
This year, the University of Wyoming College of Business embarked on a mission to create a more inclusive and fair career fair for its business students.
In addition to lowering barriers to enrollment, the college also gave UW-branded t-shirts to students who attended the event to wear jeans instead of dresses and t-shirts.
The career fair held on September 8 was the largest in terms of student participation and employer participation in the history of the UW College of Business. The event has increased by 100% compared to last year and more than 300 students participated in the fair.
Scott Beaulier, dean of the UW College of Business, was impressed with the event.
“My first job fair as dean of a business college blew me away,” he says. “As I walked around the fair and visited with our students and employers, I heard an overwhelming theme that our ability to lower barriers to participation at this event made everyone feel more comfortable participating.”
On the employer side, 85 companies — from Texas to Minnesota — were at the event. The number represents a 121 percent increase from 2021. A total of 37 Wyoming-based employers attended, along with many other businesses with a strong presence in the state and region.
“It takes a dedicated team of student success professionals to not only celebrate this fun and exciting day at college, but to prepare our students to take full advantage of it as they plan for their future careers,” says Director Taylor Trueck. Peter M. and the Paula Green Johnson Center for Student Success. “It is because of our people and their hard work that such transformative events are possible.”
The scale of the event calls for innovative use of the east wing of the College of Business Building for the first time. Students began their journey on the top floor of the building; They worked in different departmental corridors to talk to different employers; And left the atrium of Jonas Bank.
“Our responsibility as a business college is to ensure we are relevant to our industry partners. Having more than 85 partners in our building hiring our best and brightest minds shows that we are fulfilling that mission,” said Steve Russell, assistant dean of the UW College of Business. Not only are they providing opportunities, but they are engaged with us throughout the year, ensuring that we are not only a Wyoming business school, but a top school in our state.”
In addition to the 85 employers at the fair, the college has close employer partnerships with more than 200 organizations, and UW business students continue to have strong placement rates upon graduation.
Organizations interested in partnering with the UW College of Business can go to the college’s employer partner site or email Russell at steve.russell@uwyo.edu.
