Terry Begley, GABELLI ’86, the CEO of corporate banking at PNC Financial Services Group, kicked off the evening. He shared that as the new chair of the council, he’s excited to harness its passion for the University to help Fordham’s new president, Tania Tetlow, with “what she’s trying to accomplish.”

Fordham’s ‘Knights of the Round Table’

The reception served as the first official opportunity for Tetlow to meet the council, a group of successful professionals and philanthropists committed to mentoring Fordham’s future leaders, funding key initiatives, and raising the University’s profile.

“I am so excited to have my own council!” she told them at a reception prior to the mentoring event, which was held in the Lowenstein Center’s 12th-Floor Lounge. “I’ll think of you as Fordham’s Knights of the Round Table: You bring your wisdom, your contribution, your expertise—so much—to Fordham and our students.”

Tetlow said she loves hearing about the ways council members not only “help with the kind of donations that pay forward opportunity” but also engage with “our students quite directly—mentoring them, giving speeches, doing so much for the school.” She added that she’s “eager” to take in their advice and work with them to continue to enhance the Fordham experience for students.

Forge New Connections

Margot Reid, GABELLI ’21, special events and professional development chair of Fordham’s Young Alumni Committee, opened the roundtable discussion portion of the evening by welcoming alumni and parents “back here, back home, to Fordham.” She encouraged the students and recent graduates to really “make the most of this unique opportunity to connect with … the Fordham family” in the room, a group that included graduates from class years spanning five decades.

At 10 tables, each one featuring at least two mentors, attendees shared their stories—from what brought them to Fordham and who in the Fordham community has had the biggest impact on them to how to navigate the workforce while staying true to their values along the way. Guided by discussion prompts, they also delved into how Fordham’s global network of more than 200,000 alumni can help.

Garismar Ramirez, a Fordham College at Rose Hill senior studying neuroscience, asked the mentors at her table how they transitioned to the workforce after college, noting that she feels it would be a big jump to go from worrying about GPA and test scores to performing well every day on the job.

Thomas E. Kelly III, PAR ’11, ’13, said that he did it by learning to be comfortable with ambiguity and trusting in his ability to do a “good job.”

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t be anxious,” he said, adding they should aim to perform with as much excellence as they can.

Kelly, a member of the President’s Council, also encouraged students and recent graduates to use the resources Fordham offers, through the alumni relations office, the Career Center, and the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, to help overcome any nervousness or anxiety they might have about interviewing and networking.

Trust the Process

Guthrie Garvin, FCRH ’99, a managing director at the real estate and investment firm JLL and member of the President’s Council, said that it’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself to find “the job” you’ll have for the rest of your life.

“I’ve been doing the same thing for 18 years, but it was a pretty circuitous path before that,” said Guthrie, who spent some time in education and sales before turning to real estate. “Find what you think you’re passionate about and jump in, but don’t be afraid to pivot if it turns out that there’s another path that seems more exciting. It’s part of the process.”

Speaking of process, Errol Pierre, GABELLI ’05, senior vice president of state programs at Healthfirst and member of the President’s Council, told the students that internships could help them determine what they’re most passionate about. Thanks to a series of three internships he completed as an undergraduate, he learned what he didn’t like. And “if you can align passion and profession, the sky’s the limit,” he said.

Remember You Belong

Halley Rodriguez, a Fordham College at Lincoln Center senior and a member of Fordham’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), said she was curious about how to combat imposter syndrome.

In response, Garvin encouraged each of the students at the table to “be confident in yourself and where you should be,” to resist the temptation to “run from what’s a little uncomfortable,” and to remember always that they will bring value to the organization that hires them.

“Constantly tell yourself, ‘I’m supposed to be here,’” Pierre said. “The time it takes to be in your head [worrying]takes you away from performing.”

“It’s going to be OK,” O’Neill laughed.

Even though O’Neill and her husband, Terry Begley, GSB ’86, are Fordham alumni, she said the Summer Send-Offs, regional events hosted by Fordham alumni and parents to welcome students and their families, helped reassure her that her son would be able to successfully make the move from their Charlotte, N.C., home to the big city.

“Especially when you live so far away, as we do, it was so important to know what type of environment he was going into,” she said.

Kitty and Thomas Wynne, PAR ’13, hosted the Connecticut Send-Off for the second time on June 24. Kitty said the group of students and parents who attended were enthusiastic, collegial, and ready to hit the ground running.

“It’s going be a good crew,” she said. “If these are the kind of students Fordham’s attracting, they’re in great shape.”

One of the main objectives of the send-offs is to help students make Fordham connections in their home communities before arriving on campus. Wynne said students talk about sharing rides home and build the courage to start making new friends.

But the connections can be just as powerful for parents, she said. Wynne said she stays in touch with parents she met at last year’s event, offering lodging recommendations for campus events, and helping put their minds at ease.

“It’s nice on my end that I was able to be a lifeline if needed,” Kitty Wynne said.

Bob and Ellen Kelly, PAR ’11 and ’13, three-time hosts of a Summer Send-Off in Rumson, N.J, said their party, which features Italian catering, tends to inspire a very practical line of questioning from parents.

“We give out a lot of advice about restaurants on Arthur Avenue,” said Ellen Kelly. “We’re like their local Zagat guide.”

Kelly’s sons Nick, FCRH ’11, and Ben, a rising senior in the Gabelli School of Business, both attended the event to field student questions. Kelly said both parents and students shared a deep interest in internships and career opportunities, questions her sons were well equipped to answer. Nick is now working at CBS in Manhattan, while Ben continues school.

She said that the parents she met were pleased to hear about her sons’ career experiences both during and after life at Fordham.

“They’re really pleased to learn about the way that Fordham is so hands-on, and from day one,” Kelly said. “The integration of Career Services is important to everybody.”

Though there are only a few incoming freshman from the Carolinas area, Tracy O’Neill said she and her family will be reaching out individually to welcome the parents as well as introduce her son Ryan to the incoming students.

O’Neill said she has consistently been surprised by the warmth and generosity of the Fordham family and wants to share that message with others. When her son was sick during his first year at Fordham, O’Neill said she received a call at home from the local pharmacy, assuring her they would deliver her son’s medication and that he would be OK.

“We discovered the same thing everyone says over and over about Fordham—there’s such a feeling of family,” O’Neill said.

If you are interested in hosting a Summer Send-Off in your community, contact Alex Morr, assistant director for the parent fund, at [email protected] for more information.

by Jennifer Spencer