My role with the SEC, along with the Director of External Affairs, is to act as a liaison between the class and the various departments at Smith. I also help to welcome new students to the program through class visits, and I work to engage with the wide Smith alumni network to build connections with the class. I have always had an interest in government, but it was conversations with classmates that made me want to contribute to the overall class experience by joining the SEC. The manager of external affairs position was in line with some of my previous experience. In the past, I coordinated community events and served on boards of directors. These roles helped me develop organizational and relational skills that will prove helpful for this role. However, the SEC is not singularly focused on experience when choosing their team. It will give great consideration to the applicant’s plans for the role and how those plans are presented during the interview.

My objective with this position is to benefit the student experience by engaging alumni and industry experts to deliver meaningful content that students can take with them in the future. For instance, I’d like to host a talk on queerness in corporate spaces, and I am working with the finance club to develop an event with leaders at one of the major banks. The SEC is a great way to build meaningful connections and to contribute to creating a memorable year for the class.

• SEC position: Manager of External Relations
• Hometown: Laval, Québec
• Country of Origin: Canada
• Prior Industry: Banking and the arts
• Career Focus: Undecided
• Email: p.larouche@queensu.ca