The Carleton Career Summit is a one-day career conference open to all current class years, designed to help you build the key skills and relationships necessary to begin making informed decisions and taking action toward your future career path.
Activities include alumni industry panels, skill-building workshops, a summer experience poster session, and a student-alumni networking reception.
The Career Summit date for 2027 is Saturday, January 23 (website updates coming in fall 2026)
Saturday, January 24, 2026
10:00–10:15 a.m. – Welcome
10:30–11:30 a.m. – Skill-Building Workshops (choose one)
- Networking 101
- Ace the Interview
- Optimizing Your Search: Strategies for the current job and internship market
11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. – Lunch and Keynote Address
12:45–1:20 p.m. – Dessert and Summer Internship Poster Symposium
1:30–2:20 p.m. – Alumni Industry Panel 1 (choose one)
- Applied and Natural Sciences
- Arts, Creative, and Media
- Business, Consulting, and Finance
- Data and Technology
- Environment, Sustainability, and Conservation
- Government, International Relations, and Law
- Health Professions
- Nonprofit, Public Service, and Advocacy
2:30–3:20 p.m. – Alumni Industry Panel 2 (choose one)
- Same options as above
3:20–4:00 p.m. – Student-Alumni Networking Reception
Alumni Panelists for Carleton Career Summit 2026
Nearly 50 alumni will return to campus to share the stories of their career journeys and how they leveraged their Carleton experience to find a good fit. Listed below are the Alumni panelists for Carleton Career Summit 2026.
Applied and Natural Sciences
- Daniel Baxter ’01 (Physics), Regional Bridge Technical Manager, Michael Baker International
- Ann Isaacs ’20 (Physics), Graduate Student–Astrophysics, University of Minnesota
- Cathy O’Dell ’82 (Geology), Policy Specialist (retired), State of Minnesota – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Andy Tangen ’19 (Chemistry), Senior R&D Chemist, Sherwin-Williams
- Derek Vang ’10 (Biology), Clinical Research Coordinator, Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institute
Arts, Creative, and Media
- Alexander Cooney ’11 (Cinema and Media Studies), Senior Environment Artist, Loric Games
- Carleton Crawford ’93 (Economics), Architect, C3 Design Inc.
- Gretchen Gasterland-Gustafsson ’89 (Studio Art), Professor of Liberal Arts (and Foundations), Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- Anne Guttridge ’18 (Sociology/Anthropology), Video Producer, MPR News
- Dylan Payne ’16 (Music), Music Director, Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts
Business, Consulting, and Finance
- Amy Bevilacqua ’89 P26 (English/Literary and Film Studies), Managing Partner, Green Street Impact Partners
- Jeffrey Bissoy ’16 (American Studies/French/Francophone Studies), Founder, Vida y Deportes, Plugged
- Jean Freeman ’00 (Economics), Principal and CEO at Zambezi
- Jerry McIntyre ’11 (Classical Languages), General Counsel & VP Investor Relations, Orbit Fab
- Cassie Simpson Zinkel ’00 (English), Senior Talent Acquisition Leader, Kohler Co.
Data and Technology
- Hyacinth Diehl ’91 (Morgan Fellow), Tool Using Mammal, CrowdStrike
- Caitlin Donahue ’17 (Computer Science), Software Engineer, Renaissance Learning
- Cayden Ehrlich Somes ’20 (Computer Science), Senior Detection Engineer, Target
- Charlotte Foran ’15 (Computer Science), Software Architect, Thomson Reuters
- Josh Grier ’02 (Mathematics), Director of Data Analytics / Musician, Optum / Tapes ‘n Tapes
- Liralyn Smith ’20 (Statistics), Sr. Data Analyst, Target
Environment, Sustainability, and Conservation
- Ellen Esch ’11 (Biology/Environmental Studies), Forest Policy Program Consultant, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Mark Felice ’08 (Biology/French and Francophone Studies), Peatland Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
- Stu Grubb ’85 (Geology/Science, Technology, and Public Policy), Principal Hydrogeologist, Emmons & Olivier Resources
- Alan Holzer ’00 (Biology), Interpretive Naturalist, Three Rivers Park District
- Amanda Yourd ‘11 (Geology), Hydrogeologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Government, International Relations, and Law
- Jeanne Briggs ’96 (Political Science), Independent Consultant, USAID
- Melia Garza ’05 (Psychology), Legal Analyst, Minnesota Clemency Review Commission
- Bruce Manning ’96 (Political Philosophy), Judge, State of Minnesota
- Jenny Stohl Powell ’89 (Latin American Studies), Executive Director, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
- Bill Yang ’21 (Biology/History), Associate, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Health Professions
- Tam Do ’09 (Psychology), Lung Cancer Screening Program Director, Mpls VA Health Care Systems
- Sarah Hagerty ’13 (Psychology), Sr. Clinical Researcher, Lyra Health
- Anupam Kharbanda ‘93 (Biology), Vice president and Chief, Clinical Innovation, Children’s Minnesota
- Malia Ireland ’97 (Biology), Deputy State Public Health Veterinarian, Minnesota Department of Health
- Dr. Sachin Patel ’00 (English), Pulmonary & Critical Care Physician, Respiratory Consultants
- Dan TerLouw ’93 (Chemistry), Director – Clinical Pharmacy Operations, UnitedHealthcare
Nonprofit, Public Service, and Advocacy
- Ingrid Dai ’20 (Economics/Music), Institutional Giving Manager / Independent Grant Writing Consultant, Propel Nonprofits / Crystallize Grant Writing LLC
- Wendy Harris ’00 (American Studies/Latin American Studies), Bilingual High School Social Studies Teacher, Metro Deaf School
- Anna Heinzerling ’10 (Psychology) Mental Health Therapist, Legacy Mental Health Center
- Jeannette Rebar ’01 (Sociology/Anthropology/Latin American Studies), Community Engagement Coordinator, City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works
- BG Tucker ’11 (Latin American Studies), Executive Director, College Possible Minnesota