The University of Lynchburg’s Center for Career Engagement Opportunities is seeking participants for a new program called Career Champions, which will “connect students with professionals who may provide guidance on occupational information, industry trends, job search strategies, and networking,” the office said in a written statement.
These mentors will come from the University’s “alumni, board of trustees, or other constituents.”
Career Champions has already started drawing participants, according to CEO Executive Director Christine Harriger, who says she hopes to “firm up” the program even more over the summer.
“The first step for Career Champions is to roll it out to the board of trustees, especially the alumni board,” said Harriger. “They all want to help so badly.”
Harriger said she is often approached by board members who ask how they can share their expertise with Lynchburg students and invite them into their professional network.
“I envision Career Champions as not a very strict, rigid mentoring program … I want more of an open conversation.”
She is confident that the program will benefit students, helping them “start their network, but also connect with very high level people that have vast experience and a wealth of connections.”
By the fall of 2026, she hopes to begin matching students with mentors.
Harriger, who has won numerous awards for her work in career development, likes to think of the world of work as being divided into “career clusters.” Examples include journalism, writing, and English in one cluster and business management and consulting in another.
“The world of work is so vast, and that’s what’s challenging for a lot of people … they’re trying to figure out where they fit within an ever-evolving workplace.
“If you think about things in terms of career clusters, … then we can align you with the contacts that you’re going to need to start building your network.”
Harriger believes that “teaching students how to fish, instead of fishing for them” is the best way to empower young people looking to join the workforce, especially in an age when AI and robotics are disrupting the global job market.
She hopes that another benefit of Career Champions will be to give students a chance to explore multiple fields of work, deciding what they like and don’t like.
“When I was at JMU, I had a student who thought she wanted to go into accounting. We got her a great internship, and she came back and said, ‘Christine, I can’t do this all day, every day.’
“So, I switched her to finance — broader based, more aligned with her strengths and preferences … and, you know, I’ve followed her on LinkedIn, and she’s done great!”
While the full scope of Career Champions is set to appear in the fall semester, the CEO is hosting several events over the next few months that will help students become more career-viable.
“It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you,” said Harriger, adding that 90% of jobs and internships begin with some kind of personal connection.
On March 31, there will be the “Suit Up! Catwalk to your Career” event, which Harriger hopes will encourage students to try on professional business attire.
On April 10, they will host “Conversation Starters” from 5-7 p.m. in the West Room, an event that will give students the tools to carry on a conversation and make connections.
“The board has such great depth and range as well as … other constituents of the University. I want to extend the reach and depth of what the Career Center can do to bring in all of these really well-networked people that are eager to help,” said Harriger.
For more information about CEO events and resources, visit their webpage.
