This spring, an array of CAS student scholars pursuing majors and careers across science, technology, mathematics, healthcare, social sciences, and humanities embarked on two active career networking opportunities in Atlanta and San Francisco, both sponsored by the LEADS Institute.

Launched in 2021 by CAS with the generous support of alumnus David Koschik ’79 and his wife Izumi Hara, the LEADS Institute seeks to transform the college experience for talented and motivated students. Through bold, high-touch programming and a cutting-edge approach to their success, LEADS empowers students to thrive from day one—boosting their confidence, sharpening their skills, and positioning them as top contenders for graduate programs, professional schools, and competitive careers. This objective strongly aligns with the recently announced CAS Means Careers initiative.

Career Trek was led by LEADS Institute director Carolyn Craig, who arranged to connect students with industry professionals from companies like Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz as well as graduate and professional schools like John Marshall Law School, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Stanford University. Many representatives were successful Miami alumni eager to help students explore their career dreams.

“Beginning their first year and all the way through graduation, students in the LEADS Institute have the opportunity to network with our alums early and often,” said Craig. “This is a key element of their involvement, and our Career Treks this year helped students get a feel for what it would be like to live and work in the host cities.”

A total of 24 CAS students from two signature LEADS initiatives, the Humanities and Social Science (HASS) Scholars Program and the Science, Technology, Equity in Public Health, Mathematics, and Medicine and Healthcare (STEMM) Scholars Program, took part in the excursions. The first group visited Atlanta during J-Term, and the second jetted to San Francisco during spring break in March.

Student impressions

“I wanted to expose myself to the real world,” said Alvaro Arranz, a Political Science major and HASS Scholar. “As someone who is considering law school, the Atlanta Career Trek opened my eyes to a lot of different opportunities and job styles that I could see myself thriving in and enjoying.”

“I hoped to see if ‘big law’ was something I wanted to pursue in my career,” said Carver Spangle, a pre-law History and Political Science major and HASS Scholar who also went to Atlanta. “The biggest impact for me was visiting the law firm King and Spalding, which helped me better realize the law I want to practice.”

In San Francisco, students met numerous professionals, including Miami alumni working as venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. They also took the Mission District Food Tour to sample some of the city’s rich culinary heritage.

“San Francisco holds special meaning for me,” said Bronwynn Graham, a HASS Scholar and Public Health major.  “We met tons of employers smack in the dead center of [investment and technology firms like] BlackRock and Ironwood. It was great to experience, and I also loved exploring Japan Town!”

“As a pre-med student, I wanted to gain further experience in other career fields such as finance and business, where we were able to meet very successful individuals,” said Niya Fried, a STEMM Scholar pursuing a Biochemistry major and a Premedical and Pre-Health Studies co-major. “I had never been to San Francisco and thought it would be fun to see the Golden Gate Bridge!”

“What made me interested was the opportunity to travel to a place I've never been to, and I hoped to learn something new,” said Zoology major Brody Swinford, a STEMM Scholar. “Some highlights were the food tour of the Mission District and exploring Pier 39.”

“Many Miami alumni revealed that they never thought they’d be working in their current roles, often venturing into fields completely different from what they had studied during their time at Miami,” Graham said. “This visit taught me the importance of keeping an open mind about my own career goals.”

“The trip was great insight into other careers,” Fried added. “One thing that I learned from all of the alumni we spoke to was to work very hard and to go after your goals. If not, you miss out on many opportunities that could've been.”

David Koschik, whose support helped make these experiences possible, explained his intentions for the LEADS Institute.

“We believe in access to higher education, and access takes a number of different forms, all supported by the LEADS Institute,” he said. “Miami gave me a great foundation for life, and I’ve always thought that it’s important to support Miami so it can do what it did for me for generations of new students.” 

Lillian Shelley, a STEMM scholar with majors in Biology and Psychology and co-majors in Premedical and Pre-Health Studies and Neuroscience, was excited to take advantage of her opportunity. “I made connections that I will definitely keep in the future, and it makes me excited to potentially move to Atlanta after I graduate!” she said.

“Each alumni conversation was engaging and inspiring, showcasing the diverse paths Miami graduates have taken,” Graham said. “This experience wouldn’t have been the same without their insights and stories.”