The 2023 Level Up series kicked off on September 26 with the Level Up Young Alumni Mixer at the Orange Snail Pub on Keele Campus. Hosted by Young Alumni Ambassadors Ali Rushdi (MBA ’19) and Avreen Kochhar (BHRM ’19), the event invited 91ŃÇÉ« alumni back to campus for an evening of food, drinks, music and a chance to meet other alumni to grow their professional and social networks.

To encourage networking amongst those in attendance, the evening included an icebreaker game of “Alumni Bingo,” which was a big hit for the attendees and allowed guests to branch out and meet new people.

One of the young alumni in attendance, Michael Pious (ECON ’20), shared his thoughts on the event.  “I loved attending this networking event. I got a chance to learn so much from other alumni and what they are doing with their professional lives and their hobbies,” said Pious. “I also got to make connections with people I would not have met. Young alumni can make friends with like-minded people and even mentors from attending events like these.”

The Young Alumni Mixer marks the first Level Up series event for 2023-24 calendar, with events scheduled for the fall and winter terms. Level Up brings recent graduates together to grow and develop professional and personal networks, featuring alumni guest speakers who help recent grads in their career and life journey. The event series covers a broad range of topics that young alumni can use in both their professional and personal lives, as can be seen in the upcoming fall webinars, “Becoming an Entrepreneur: Young alumni panel and Q&A” on October 17 and the “Working Abroad Alumni Panel” on November 7.

“Hearing from the various experts and alumni speakers on timely matters such as buying your first home, filing a tax return, or tips for entrepreneurs and growing your business, presents alumni with the opportunity to become knowledgeable on topics of interest or relevance to them, while also offering a community of support,” says Kochhar. When discussing what recent grads can gain from the Level Up series, Kochhar cites the value in learning from alumni leaders who have gained valuable life and work experience. As she explains, “what you gain from such events can vary based on what you set out to achieve and the effort you put forward, but having access to a wide range of people you can learn from is certainly a key benefit in my view.”

Click here to learn more about the Level Up series, including recordings from past events, and check out the upcoming Level Up events for the 2023-24 year.

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91ŃÇɫ’s alumni community at your fingertips

91ŃÇÉ« U alumni are passionate about giving back to their alma mater, and as a student, you can gain invaluable insights from their experiences—after all, they’ve been in your shoes. Whether you’re inviting an alumni speaker for your student club, joining a Mentor Circles session, or benefiting from your professors inviting alumni guest lectures in the classroom for experiential learning, there are countless ways to tap into the wisdom and perspectives of our global community of changemakers. 

Explore the following programs whether you are a student, alumni or faculty to engage, contribute and gain from the unique perspectives of our rich and diverse community. 

Student Ambassadors

The Student Alumni Ambassador Program (SAAP) at 91ŃÇÉ« is a dynamic initiative that bridges the gap between current students and the alumni community. By fostering connections with student leaders—such as club leaders, peer mentors, recruitment ambassadors, college councils, and student athletes—SAAP aims to create a sense of community that links student and alumni experiences. SAAP aims to enhance personal and professional growth while strengthening the pathway from student to engaged alumni through meaningful alumni engagement activities. Interested in getting involved? Contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, Alumni Engagement Officer at issajama@yorku.ca or 437-774-4371. 

Student Clubs Funding

The Alumni Engagement Fund for Student Clubs supports officially registered student organizations at 91ŃÇÉ« in involving alumni in their events. This fund encourages connections between student clubs and our alumni community. Whether you need a speaker, a diverse panel, or a fireside chat, we can help find the right alumni for your event. Student organizations can apply for this funding to cover event costs, such as food and more with the support of our alumni engagement team. Please contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, Alumni Engagement Officer at issajama@yorku.ca or 437-774-4371 with questions. 

Send your application on .

Mentor Circles 

The Mentor Circles program at 91ŃÇÉ« offers students the opportunity to connect with 91ŃÇÉ« alumni to discuss career-related interests. Through informal meetings, alumni share insights about their job, industry, and experiences, providing students with valuable knowledge and networking opportunities. The program is flexible, allowing alumni to choose convenient times and locations, without requiring long-term commitments. This initiative supports students in navigating their academic and career paths while enhancing their leadership and interpersonal skills. Interested in getting involved? Contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, Alumni Engagement Officer at issajama@yorku.ca or 437-774-4371. 

Use this 91ŃÇÉ«-exclusive hub to connect with others on a global scale, based on what matters to you most. Reach out to mentors, network with alumni and your classmates, and access events, resources, and opportunities to support your professional development. 

PAL 

The Professor Alumni Link (PAL) program at 91ŃÇÉ« fosters connections between faculty members and alumni to enhance experiential learning opportunities for students. It provides support for professors engaging alumni in classroom settings by offering resources like thank-you gifts, meal reimbursements, and complimentary parking on campus. The program aims to enrich the educational experience by bringing real-world perspectives into academic settings. The program fosters networking, mentorship opportunities, and strengthens the bond between 91ŃÇÉ«'s alumni and the academic community. Professors can access the PAL fund through the university's Alumni Engagement Team.  

Learn more.  

Stay in touch: Update your info

Whether you’re a student or one of our alumni, don’t miss out on news from 91ŃÇÉ« Alumni & Friends! Sign up for the 91ŃÇÉ« U Alumni News newsletter and update or change your info and communications preferencesĚýłŮ´Ç»ĺ˛ą˛â.

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