Confident at Commencement is a senior-focused series designed to help students transition from College to what comes next, whether that’s a job, graduate school, volunteer work, or something else still in the works. It’s about the practical things people wish they had understood earlier: how to navigate a job search, how to evaluate an offer, how to manage money, and how to make decisions when nothing feels completely certain.
Sessions are led by alumni partners who can speak honestly about their experiences. The goal is to help you leave K feeling more prepared and more confident in your next step.
Some students choose to take this course for PE/Wellness credit while others simply drop in for class topics/speakers they are particularly interested in (no RSVP needed). Topics vary each year, but commonly include: job search, career conversations, expressing your value, negotiating offers/benefits, your first year out, taxes and early career finances, saving and investing, pivoting, and making complex decisions. Expect a mix of alumni perspectives, reflection, and usable takeaways.
Note: alumni interested in future sessions of Confident at Commencement should contact Rachel Wood at rwood@kzoo.edu
Speaker Lineup – Spring 2026:
Wednesdays, 2:45-4 p.m. – Dewing 103
Week 2 — Alejandro Alaniz ’18, Assistant Director, Center for Career and Professional Development, Kalamazoo College
Job Search & Career Conversations
→ Alex helps K students navigate career exploration, job searching, and connections with alumni and employers. He runs Hornet Treks to various cities in the U.S., and teaches our FirstGen2Success course. After graduation he went back to Texas to teach English for several years before returning to K as a staff member and current graduate student at neighboring WMU.
Week 3 — Jess Fowle ’00, Director of Health Careers, Fellowships, & Undergraduate Research, Kalamazoo College; Independent Educational Consultant
Expressing Your Value
→Jess works closely with students pursuing health careers and fellowships (including Fulbright), helping them clarify direction and present their strengths effectively. She also works indepentdently as a College Admissions Consultant. She has held other roles at K in the past including Associate Director of Admission and Interim Director of the Heyl Science Scholarship Fund.
Week 4 — Megan Taylor ’06, Tax Manager, Plante Moran
Taxes & Early Career Finances
→ Megan advises individuals and businesses on taxes and financial strategy, including planning for complex and evolving financial situations. A long-time Confident at Commencement speaker, Megan’s talk focuses on actionable takeaways.
Week 5 — Brita Boer ’90, Director of Human Resources, WACO/JUNKERS Aircraft Corporation
Offers, Benefits, A.I., OH MY!
→ Brita leads hiring, employee development, and workplace culture, with insight into how organizations evaluate and support talent. She has been a featured speaker at many CCPD events, discussing her myriad of experiences in HR.
Week 6 — Thomas Bentley ’25, Analyst, Pro Personnel, Minnesota Twins
Figuring Things Out: The First 365 Days After Graduation
→ Thomas is a recent graduate working in professional sports, navigating early career decisions and unexpected changes in real time. His blog post The First Step and 3 Bad Ideas is a great read. Thomas played Baseball at K and also worked as a Career Advisor with the CCPD.
Week 7 — Alex White ’18, Investment Advisor Representative, Miller Financial Services
Saving & Investing
→ Alex works with clients on financial planning and investment strategies to support long-term stability and growth. At K he played both football and golf and studied abroad in Costa Rica.
Week 8 — Jayden Thurmond-Oliver ’24, Analyst, Revenue Operations, Stryker
How to Be Someone People Want on Their Team
→ Jayden currently supports Emergency Care Trials in the Medical Division at Stryker, having recently worked as an analyst with Kellanova. He studied abroad in Chile.
Week 9 — Nicole Taylor ’23, Senior College Access Advisor, Bottom Line & Bianca Delgado ’17, Customer Success Manager III, Renaissance Learning
Pivoting: When Change Is Inevitable
→ Nicole, a former Career Advisor with the CCPD, currently supports students in accessing and succeeding in college and career pathways. Bianca, former Recent Graduate Trustee at K, currently works with organizations to effectively use technology to support learning and growth. Both women have made major pivots in their careers since graduation, and will join for an informal moderated conversation on circuitous paths and finding meaning in work and life.
Week 10 — Elizabeth Okey ’07, Vice President, Community Impact, Wintrust Financial Corporation
Go Out. Do Well.
→ Elizabeth has nearly 20 years of experience in social impact, business and stakeholder engagement and communications. At Wintrust she specializes in social impact, communications, brand positioning, employee engagement and community relations. Highlights from her inspiring Why We Play talk are worth the read!