Building Connections: Fall EPM Networking Events Recap and Alumni Advice
EPM students had two chances this fall to practice networking and meet professionals in the environmental field. The annual Fall Networking Mixer brought students and professionals together for an evening of bingo and conversation, and the EPM Alumni Association led a Networking 101 workshop to share advice for how to build professional relationships.
Fall Networking Mixer
On October 20, EPM hosted its 2026 Fall Networking Mixer. Students, alumni and local environmental professionals gathered around tables to talk about careers and get to know one another.
To help break the ice, attendees played a networking bingo game. Each person received a bingo card and had to find people in the room who matched each square. The game gave everyone an easy reason to start a conversation and meet someone new.
At the end of the night, the bingo winners were called up to collect prizes and take home some EPM merch. Thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a fun evening. We can't wait for next year!
Networking 101: Fall EPM Connect Workshop
The EPM Alumni Association also hosted Networking 101, an EPM Connect workshop focused on how to build professional relationships. Members of the Alumni Association shared what has worked for them and answered students' questions.
The workshop opened with students taking turns choosing which character from a pirate ship scene represented how they felt about networking. Characters from the image ranged from 1 to 20, with some just holding onto the ship trying to survive, one relaxed on a deserted island, or another holding a flag high on the mast. The activity gave participants a chance to reflect on their attitudes on networking before getting into helpful advice and Q&A.
The Pirate Ship exercise asks each person to pick the figure that best matches their role or mood among the 20 characters. Image: “The Pirate Ship” by Dinámicas Grupales, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Top Networking Tips from Alumni
Rachael Alcala, EPM Alumni Association Co-Chair, said reaching out online can be a good option for people who find it hard to connect in person. She suggested looking someone up on LinkedIn first to learn about them. "Professionals love to talk about themselves. So don't be afraid to send that email, she said. “It’s okay. The worst thing they can do is not respond."
Jess DellaRossa, EPM Alumni Association Co-Chair, recommended informational interviews. "My favorite networking tip is to conduct informational interviews, get to know other people, and just learn about their company, learn about how they got into their role, and just start to feel comfortable in the interview space," she said.
Erica Parker, EPM Alumni Association Outreach Manager, encouraged students to be themselves. "My favorite networking tip is to show up as yourself," she said. "I like to do that through fashion, so I really believe in pushing the envelope a little bit on what's allowed in professional settings and showing up as myself, and I think that's been well-received."
Cheryl Winfield, EPM Alumni Association Event Manager, reminded students that they are not alone in feeling nervous. "Networking is obviously a very nerve-wracking experience, and it's important to remember that everybody else is also nervous. So you're in it together," she said. "Just put yourself out there. It's not going to be that bad."
Thank you to the EPM Alumni Association for leading this workshop and sharing their experience with current students.