Photos courtesy of the Office of Career Development
Every fall, St. Catherine University’s Career Development Office hosts an on-campus career fair for students and alumni. This year’s career fair took place on September 29 in Coeur de Catherine’s Rauenhorst Ballroom.
Even before hundreds of students entered the space, the ballroom was bustling with employers setting up their tables, connecting with each other and St. Kate’s staff, and getting ready to greet students. Whether students were searching for an internship, preparing for their first professional role, or considering their next career move, the fair offered a welcoming space to make meaningful connections and explore opportunities.
“This was my fourth career fair and it has only gotten better from the first!” said Katie Rivas Sanchez ’27, a senior majoring in financial economics with a minor in data science. “I went in hoping to have informational conversations and left with an interview for a financial advisor position and multiple opportunities for second contact.”
This year’s career fair brought together 51 participating companies representing healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses from throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Multiple St. Kate’s departments also participated, including the Graduate College, Human Resources, Katie Leadership Impact, Alumni Relations, and the Office of Scholarly Engagement. The fair also welcomed the CSJ Justice Commission, which gave our students the opportunity to learn more about the mission and values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, whose vision and legacy helped shape the founding of the University.
A total of 235 students from across the College for Women, College for Adults, and Graduate College attended the career fair, in addition to St. Kate’s alumni who returned to connect with employers and explore professional opportunities.
Beyond making connections and exploring future career opportunities, the fair also offered resources to help students feel confident and career-ready. Student attendees had the opportunity to take professional headshots and shop for professional clothing through Katie’s Closet and Nurse Katie’s Closet — both on-campus clothing stores free of cost to students.
“Our goal is to always ensure that our students feel confident and prepared to connect with employers and build professional relationships,” said Naomi Weiss, employer partnership strategist with the Office of Career Development. “We try our best to provide students with as many resources and opportunities as possible in hopes to set them up for success.”
The St. Kate’s Career Fair would not be possible without the support and collaboration of our campus community, including the dedicated staff, faculty, and students who help make this event a success each year.
“I am extremely grateful to all the support and collaboration we received across campus, especially the staff and faculty who volunteered their time at the Career Fair and helped make this event possible,” Weiss said. “We could not do it without you.”
Career Development has a host of ongoing resources for students, alumni, and potential and current employer partners. Visit the KatieCareer site for more information.