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Sophomore Career Connections
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Sophomore Career Connections
People in a crowd smiling and visiting.
Sophomore Career Connections
A large group of people seated in a circle listening and speaking.
Sophomore Career Connections
A group of people seated at a large table in a cafeteria talking over a meal.
Sophomore Career Connections
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Sophomore Career Connections
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Sophomore Career Connections

Sophomore Career Connections:

Linking the Liberal Arts to the World of Work

Vassar’s Center for Career Education (CCE) and Office of Advancement are thrilled to welcome you to the 12th annual Sophomore Career Connections (SCC), a signature weekend dedicated to networking and professional self-discovery.

The program will be held on January 16–18, 2026, in person. If you have any questions, please email cce@vassar.edu.

SCC is specifically designed to bridge a liberal arts education with the professional world. By drawing on the vast expertise of Vassar’s best career resource—our inspiring alum and parent mentors—students will gain industry-specific knowledge, tap into the extensive Vassar network, and focus on your professional development in a supportive environment. The connections made this weekend are crucial stepping stones as students begin to explore summer internships and life beyond Vassar.

SCC intentionally incorporates elements of Life Design, a purposeful approach to crafting a fulfilling life. Students and mentors will engage in hands-on activities that foster creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, all with a "fail fast" mindset. This framework will help you envision bold, creative futures, uncover new possibilities, embrace curiosity, and design a life filled with purpose and adventure.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the alum and parent mentors who have generously offered their time to guide 270+ students and lead 18 industry-specific panels this weekend. We hope our mentors also enjoy the opportunity to impart their wisdom and forge new connections of their own.

Sophomore Career Connections is made possible by the generous support of Carol Ostrow ’77, P’09, ’15 and Michael Graff P ’09, ’15.

2026 Keynote Address Vassar Family Feud: Liberal Arts Edition

Friday, January 16, 5–6 p.m. | Gordon Commons / ACDC, East Side

“Survey says… your Vassar degree is more powerful than you think!” Join hosts Damon Ross ’94 and Eddie Gamarra ’94 for a high-energy, interactive game show where sophomores and mentors go head-to-head to uncover the real-world value of a liberal arts education.

Headshot of Damon Ross.

Damon Ross ’94

Keynote Speaker

Producer at DreamWorks Animation
 

Headshot of Eddie Gamarra.

Eddie Gamarra ’94

Keynote Speaker

Founder of Gamarra Media, former VP at Nickelodeon

Students

Sophomore year is a time of big decisions—major selection, off-campus study options, and internship planning. This program is designed to assist you in thinking about these topics while utilizing our best resources: Vassar alums and parents and our Center for Career Education staff. Not sure what you want to do yet, career-wise? No worries, you are in good company! Most attendees of this program are not certain about their career path. This program is designed to let you explore multiple areas of interest.

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