Into the Queen City connects students with leading Cincinnati employers
Career trek the first event of the 2025-26 Presidential Career and Leadership Series
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Published
Miami University students met with the Cincinnati Bengals as part of Into the Queen City, the first event of the Center for Career Exploration and Success’s 2025-26 Presidential Career and Leadership Series.
Into the Queen City connects students with leading Cincinnati employers
•
Published
Abigail Jaramillo aspires to work for the Cincinnati Bengals one day. So, when the sophomore Sport Communication and Media major learned about an opportunity to meet with Bengals staff at Paycor Stadium, she seized it.
Jaramillo was one of the Miami University students who took part in Into the Queen City, the first event of the Center for Career Exploration and Success’s 2025-26 Presidential Career and Leadership Series. Held on Oct. 10 in Cincinnati, this immersive career trek gave students interested in law and government, or management, sales, and consulting, a chance to connect with some of the city’s leading employers.
“I was inspired by meeting with Bengals staff members, especially since many were Miami alumni,” Jaramillo said. “Working for the Bengals would be a dream come true, and now I have a better understanding of what it will take to achieve it.”
In addition to the Bengals, the participants visited the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. Outside of their career-focused activities, they explored downtown Cincinnati, walked through Washington Park, and split into small groups to visit nearby shops and attractions on their own. They also connected with Miami alumni over dinner and took in a performance of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
The group’s trip to Paycor Stadium featured an employee panel, a behind-the-scenes tour featuring stadium secrets, and a photoshoot on the field. The panelists discussed their day-to-day responsibilities, ongoing projects, and the preparation that goes into home and away games.
The City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber visits each included an office tour and a panel discussion with employees, who shared details about their roles and program initiatives throughout the year.
Brandon Prew, director of experiential education, said that career treks like Into the Queen City highlight how opportunities are often closer to home than students realize.
“In just one day, our participants immersed themselves in Cincinnati’s energy,” Prew said. “Their experiences gave them firsthand insight into leadership, community impact, and the dynamic career opportunities that exist right here in our region.”
The trek was meaningful because the students were able to connect directly with employees from some of Cincinnati’s most recognized organizations. Many even exchanged LinkedIn profiles with the panelists at each stop.
“This event showcased the best of what experiential education can offer,” Prew said. “It allowed our students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice.”
Jaramillo said she would recommend career treks like Into the Queen City to students interested in meeting professionals or visiting real-world work settings.
"Take every opportunity you can, especially ones that are outside of Oxford," she said. "Be open to people and make sure you’re putting your brand and your name out there so it’s easier to make connections later on."
The next event in the Presidential Leadership Career Series is Into the Capital City from Jan. 21-23 in Columbus. It is designed for students interested in accounting and financial services, arts, communication, media and design, or health and science.
The last trek in the series, Into the LAND, will take place during spring break from March 24-27 in Cleveland. It is geared toward students seeking careers in economics and data analytics, education, nonprofit, and human services, or engineering and technology.
Registration remains open for future career treks. Employer partners will be announced at a later time. More programs and events like these can be found at the Center for Career Exploration and Success website.
Jaramillo was one of the Miami University students who took part in Into the Queen City, the first event of the Center for Career Exploration and Success’s 2025-26 Presidential Career and Leadership Series. Held on Oct. 10 in Cincinnati, this immersive career trek gave students interested in law and government, or management, sales, and consulting, a chance to connect with some of the city’s leading employers.
“I was inspired by meeting with Bengals staff members, especially since many were Miami alumni,” Jaramillo said. “Working for the Bengals would be a dream come true, and now I have a better understanding of what it will take to achieve it.”
In addition to the Bengals, the participants visited the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. Outside of their career-focused activities, they explored downtown Cincinnati, walked through Washington Park, and split into small groups to visit nearby shops and attractions on their own. They also connected with Miami alumni over dinner and took in a performance of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
The group’s trip to Paycor Stadium featured an employee panel, a behind-the-scenes tour featuring stadium secrets, and a photoshoot on the field. The panelists discussed their day-to-day responsibilities, ongoing projects, and the preparation that goes into home and away games.
The City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber visits each included an office tour and a panel discussion with employees, who shared details about their roles and program initiatives throughout the year.
Brandon Prew, director of experiential education, said that career treks like Into the Queen City highlight how opportunities are often closer to home than students realize.
“In just one day, our participants immersed themselves in Cincinnati’s energy,” Prew said. “Their experiences gave them firsthand insight into leadership, community impact, and the dynamic career opportunities that exist right here in our region.”
The trek was meaningful because the students were able to connect directly with employees from some of Cincinnati’s most recognized organizations. Many even exchanged LinkedIn profiles with the panelists at each stop.
“This event showcased the best of what experiential education can offer,” Prew said. “It allowed our students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice.”
Jaramillo said she would recommend career treks like Into the Queen City to students interested in meeting professionals or visiting real-world work settings.
"Take every opportunity you can, especially ones that are outside of Oxford," she said. "Be open to people and make sure you’re putting your brand and your name out there so it’s easier to make connections later on."
The next event in the Presidential Leadership Career Series is Into the Capital City from Jan. 21-23 in Columbus. It is designed for students interested in accounting and financial services, arts, communication, media and design, or health and science.
The last trek in the series, Into the LAND, will take place during spring break from March 24-27 in Cleveland. It is geared toward students seeking careers in economics and data analytics, education, nonprofit, and human services, or engineering and technology.
Registration remains open for future career treks. Employer partners will be announced at a later time. More programs and events like these can be found at the Center for Career Exploration and Success website.
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.
