May 23, 2022 – Some 50 Marist College students traveled to New York City last month to garner some real-world business experience. The Road to the Workplace networking event took place at Barclays investment bank in Manhattan, featuring students meeting in person with business leaders, all of which are Marist alumni.

Sponsored by the Marist College Center for Career Services, Road to the Workplace trips give students opportunities to network with alumni and other professionals at their company work sites. Students who attend these events receive an introduction to an organization’s culture, tour work environments, and learn about available professional development opportunities within various career paths.

The day began with attendees discussing the value of networking at different points in their careers. Following the panel, there was an open networking session with more than two dozen Marist alumni to connect with students.



“Since 2018, Marist College students have had the opportunity to visit and tour the workplace of numerous employers to get a better understanding of the company culture and to see what it’s like to work for that organization,” said Desmond Murray, Associate Director for the Employer Experience at Marist.

Students who made the trip, appreciated being able to connect with Marist alumni outside of the virtual setting.

“The alumni networking event was a great chance to finally meet notable alumni in person that I have talked to over Zoom during Career Services Events throughout the pandemic,” said Marist student Chloe Zampelli ’22. “It was so nice to attend an event that was solely dedicated to getting to know one another. It has helped so many of us further our relationships with alumni or begin a meaningful one,” she said.

“I thought it was a great experience to get the real-world business feel and networking with successful people that went to Marist,” said Elley Wells ’22. “It showed me how important networking is and building impactful relationships. Great opportunities can come from putting yourself out there,” she said.



This was the first Road to the Workplace trip since December 2019 due to the pandemic. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Career Services and Beta Alpha Psi.

Murray says the purpose of the program is for students to visit a workplace and see if that employer aligns with their career goals and aspirations. “Many of the students will participate in an internship after attending a Road to the Workplace Career Trip and that internship may even lead to a full-time job,” he said.

Marist students that go on Road to the Workplace trips receive an introduction to an organization's culture, tour work environments, and learn about available professional development opportunities within a variety of career clusters.

To learn more about Marist’s Road to the Workplace events, visit the Center for Career Services webpage.