This month’s newsletter features stories about the impact of a Queens education—students graduate career-ready and people-ready. We also have a lot of ways for you to get involved and stay connected to Queens. But first, here’s a few updates to get you started:
Amber Perrell Slack, Ed.D. is returning to Queens! She will be our new vice president for student affairs and dean of students. She previously worked at Queens for 15 years. Details.
This Black History Month, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement has been partnering with student organizations and community groups for a great lineup of events to help students learn and connect with each other.
We mourn the recent passing of Trustee Emerita Jo DeWitt Wilson ’59. Story.
First Destination Report
The results are in! And—spoiler alert—our graduates are crushin’ it! We surveyed the Class of 2024 to see how well their Queens education is serving them in the real world. Check out the results:
95% of graduates are employed, in graduate school, completing an internship, working for a service organization, or pursuing activities of choice.
92% of employed graduates found a position within six months of graduation.
90% of employed graduates felt prepared for their career.
94%of employed graduates accepted a position related to their career goal.
“My time at Queens was transformational, not transactional,” shares Jennifer Smith Daniel ’08. Queens was her first intellectual home, her experience coming full circle as she now works as Queens’ Director of the Writing Center and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs.
As a student, Jennifer says, “Both my professors and my peers encouraged me to be thoughtful and critical about the materials we encountered. It was here that I learned to pay close attention to details – whether it was in a piece of writing we were studying or a piece of legislation we were debating. This foundational way of thinking has served me in all parts of my life, but it has been crucial to my successful completion of my MA and PhD.”
She imparts those same principles and skills to her students today. Her expertise and passion are part of why the liberal arts education at Queens is so valuable and proof of the outcomes made possible through scholarship support. Jennifer’s time at Queens was almost cut short, yet during that defining moment, additional scholarship dollars allowed her to stay. We are grateful for the past donors who made Jennifer’s story possible, and this QUnited, we’re asking you to make more storiespossible—to meet the moment.
QUnited kicks off on Saturday, March 1, culminating in our annual day of giving on Thursday, March 13.When you give to the Queens Fund, you’re helping today’s students, supporting enthusiastic faculty like Jennifer, and paving the way for a generation of Queens graduates to positively shape the world around us.
QUnited Sneak Peek
NEW!Only available on March 13, Royal Naming Perks will give you a chance to temporarily rename some of the best pieces of campus—think ice cream machine or Diana fountain.
NEW!Also exclusive to March 13, Royal Video Perks is giving you the chance to win a personalized video from some of our most beloved Royals—forget Klondike bars, what would you do for a “Hey baby!” from Miss Betty?
We’ve got social media giveaways, vintage finds, and more fun things for you to take home when you participate in QUnited.
And, of course, there are multiple opportunities to have your dollars doubled by our generous challenge sponsors. There may even be a chance to have your gift tripled if you join the Royal Society.
If you’d like to be a part of the excitement, sign up as an advocate to help spread the word. Every Instagram story, phone call, email, text, and Facebook share makes a difference in securing the funds needed to provide a holistic Queens education.
Pictures feature students from the latest Schmoozapalooza..
We got the scoop from Angela Tsuei-Strause ’17, executive director of the Vandiver Center for Career Development, on how Queens prepares our students for graduation and beyond. She shared, “as an alumna, I feel a real kinship and understanding of the Queens experience.” And the best part of her job? Seeing first-year students evolve into career-ready and confident seniors, which she credits to Queens doing an outstanding job engaging students in multi-dimensional learning, including top-notch academics, study abroad, internships, and student life programming.
For Students
What resources does the Vandiver Center offer graduating seniors who are on the job hunt? Throughout their time, career readiness is at the forefront. In fact, students are required to participate in academic internships for graduation. Through Queens’ innovative professional development curriculum, student learn about:
Transferable skills
Hiring trends and the labor landscape
How to write impactful cover letters and resumes
How to effectively interview
And more
We also host on-campus interviews, offer networking opportunities with employers, have a robust job board, and provide individualized career coaching.
What role does the Vandiver Center play for students applying to graduate school? On average, about 18% of graduating classes head to graduate school after Queens. Our office supports students applying to graduate school by helping them understand requirements, application processes, programs, and post-graduate school career goals. We also help students with application essays and statements.
Tell us about Schmoozapalooza? It’s a popular professional networking series that occurs several times a year with each iteration catering to a specific industry. In lieu of the traditional career fairs, we’re taking a more relational and impactful approach. Students and alumni come prepared with resumes, a firm handshake and their expertly crafted elevator pitches and mix and mingle with employers eager to meet new talent. As a result, employers get to know students and alumni as both people and professionals.
For Alumni
What resources does the Vandiver Center offer alumni? The career office offers access to resources FREE for life! Whether you are starting out, making a career change or interested in advancing your career, we are here to help. This includes:
Personalized career coaching
Access to our online ojb board (with roles employers specifically post for the Queens community)
Events
Workshops
How can alumni help the Vandiver Center and current students? Alumni can support the career office’s efforts and students in so many ways:
Hire a Royal! If you have a job or internship opening, consider a Queens student or alum. We can work together to market your opportunities to the Queens community in impactful ways.
Attend Schmoozapalooza to mix and mingle with students.
Participate in our mock interview program.
Donate to our career closet. Your new and gently used professional attire helps our students look polished in the workplace and at interviews.
BONUS: Interview Advice from Angela
Cater all your interview preparation to the job description, organization, and trends in the industry. Oftentimes, when it comes down to multiple qualified candidates, the employer will lean towards the individual who can clearly demonstrate an understanding and interest in the company as it relates to the job description and candidate’s qualifications. Through the tips below, you’ll be able to answer interview questions with their goals and your qualifications in mind.
Do your research on the organization. Familiarize yourself with the content highlighted on the company website, social media, and press releases for current news and other findings. Knowing this information will help you answer interview questions in a manner specific to the job and organization.
Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewer. Your questions should showcase your research and insight. For example, it’s a great idea to inquire about the next steps for the company’s strategic plan as it relates to the department you’re interviewing for.
Thank you to Angela for sharing information about the Vandiver Center and its impact on our students!
Help With Virtual Mock Interviews
Remember how we just mentioned a few sentences ago the mock interview program? Well, the next one is March 24-27, and we need your help!
Sign up for a 90-minute slot—or more than one slot—and we’ll pair you with three students for 30-minute interview sessions. We provide the questions, a feedback form, and the students’ resumes. Interviews are virtual using Microsoft Teams and facilitated by Vandiver Center staff.
Contact Blaise Gourley with questions. Thank you for being so supportive of our students!
Royal Weekend Recap
We welcomed more than 200 alumni back on campus to celebrate their reunion, join us for Homecoming, honor generosity, recognize athletic achievements, and soak up the Queens spirit. We also presented alumni awards; be sure to check out all of our recipients and their bios.
If you were able to attend, served on a committee, or helped make the weekend possible—thank you!
You can view all of the photos from the weekend on our Facebook. We look forward to seeing you next year for another amazing Royal Weekend!
Celebration of Generosity
We had the opportunity to honor our scholarship donors and Royal Society, Albright Society, and Ministrare Society members at the Celebration of Generosity Brunch (second photo above) on Saturday of Royal Weekend.This special group of Royals consists of supporters from young alumni and Arete Society members to friends and neighbors.
On February 19, 2025, we honored both Janet Nelson ’77 and Jeff Brown (JB) ’03 as Trustees Emeriti for their years of service. Join us in celebrating their dedication and service to Queens.
Janet Nelson ’77 joined the Board of Trustees in 2017, serving on and chairing the Academics Committee, which cemented her place on the Executive Committee, where she used her influence to champion faculty efforts and support students. Janet’s ties to Queens began with her parents. Many alumni may know her father, Norris Preyer, who taught at Queens from 1957 until 1990. Her mother, Kathryn Preyer, helped found the Friends of the Library. Both Janet and her parents have been truly generous in their support of Queens. Thank you, Janet, for your time as a Trustee, you have more than earned your Trustee Emeriti title.
Jeff Brown (JB) ’03 earned his MBA at Queens and served on the McColl School of Business Board and Advisors and Queens’ Board of Visitors before joining the Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, he served as chair of the Compensation and Admissions & Marketing Committees and was a member of the Finance & Audit and Executive Committees. JB and his wife, Sara, were key supporters in our transition to Division I athletics, and JB used his Ally connection to help secure their partnership with the Charlotte Talent Initiative. The Browns were also recently inducted into the Ministrare Society for surpassing $1 million in gifts to Queens. JB, we thank you for your continued commitment to the success of Queens and know you are truly deserving of your Trustee Emeriti status.
Latest @ Queens
Ethics Bowl Three-Peat Champs
Queens competed in the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Ethics Bowl this month where our students won for the third year in a row. Congratulations! Get the story.
ASUN Champions
The Queens men’s swimming team captured the university’s first-ever ASUN championship title. Director of Swimming Jeff Dugdale was also named the ASUN Men’s Coach of the Year. Congratulations! Read more about the historic win.
The Learning Society hosted Dr. Abraham Verghese
Renowned physician and bestselling author, Abraham Verghese, MD, was the Learning Society’s most recent featured speaker. His presentation, “The Caring in Health Care: Challenges and Opportunities in a Technological Era,” offered a unique perspective on the ever-evolving role of technology in healthcare. Learn more..
Virtual Reality & Nursing
The Presbyterian School of Nursing is revolutionizing its nursing education program by incorporating Patient Ready virtual reality (VR) immersive education into its clinical training curriculum. The headsets were made possible by the generous support of alumna and Queens Board of Trustees member Christie Hunt ’05 and her husband, Jon. Read the story to see how this technology is helping prepare our students for their careers.
Geddy Lee Visits Campus
Rock icon Geddy Lee, best known as the bassist and vocalist for the legendary band Rush, was featured as the guest speaker at Queens University’s Stan Greenspon Holocaust and Social Justice Education Center’s annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day event on January 27, 2025. Read more.
