LORMAN, Miss. — Alcorn State University’s Office of Career Services returned with new ideas following its participation in the annual conference of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, held June 8-12.
The conference brought together career services professionals from colleges and universities nationwide to explore emerging trends, share best practices and discover new tools that strengthen career readiness for students.
Michael Harper, director of Career Services and Pre-Professional Programs, said NACE sets the national standard for career services in higher education by establishing professional competencies. Throughout the conference, attendees participated in educational sessions focused on student engagement, challenges within career services and the integration of artificial intelligence into career development.
The conference also featured an extensive exposition of career development technology. Through NACE, Alcorn established a partnership with Career Closet, an online platform that provides students with free professional attire for interviews, internships and career opportunities. Harper said the conference continues to introduce the office to innovative resources that enhance its ability to support students’ professional growth.
“The best thing that we can do is invest in our students,” Harper said. “The way that we invest in our students is by investing in ourselves. We do that through professional development. Attending conferences like NACE gives us the ability to develop professionally, and by doing that, we are able to prepare our students for tomorrow’s workforce.”
Harper said the conference reaffirmed Alcorn’s commitment to equipping students with the skills and resources needed to compete in a changing job market.
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As Career Services implements ideas gained through NACE, students can expect expanded access to career development resources that support their academic and professional success.
