Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers

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Virtual Summit: Building the Talent Pipeline: Connecting Advising, Recruiting, and Hiring

Monday, June 01, 2026, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM EDT

Category: Webinars

Building the Talent Pipeline: Connecting Advising, Recruiting, and Hiring

Monday, June 1, 2026

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET

Virtual on Zoom

Calling all Career Advisors, Employer Relations Professionals, and University Recruiting Professionals!

This Summit features three distinct tracks, designed to foster alignment and collaboration across the talent pipeline:

Career Advisors: Learn how advising, recruiting, and hiring connect—and how advisors can better support students and employers throughout the process.
Career Center Employer Relations Professionals: Gain tools to deepen employer engagement, expand student opportunities, and navigate an evolving recruiting landscape.
University Recruiting Professionals: Explore trends, strategies, and innovations in building sustainable pipelines and employer–institution partnerships.

Schedule

Time	Session	Description
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM	Welcome and Introductions
10:10 AM - 11:10 AM	Opening Session	Assessing the Impact of the Candidate Experience on Employer Brand Independent researcher and university recruiting consultant Mary Scott will present the highlights of her recent deep-dive on the topic of ‘Assessing the Impact of the Candidate Experience on Employer Brand’. She’ll present data specific to: students’ recruiting attitudes and preferences; expectations of, and experiences with, recruiting events; and the impact of employer engagement on campus brand. Prepare to be surprised! Presenter: Mary Scott, Founder and Managing Consultant, Scott Resource Group
11:20 AM - 12:05 PM	Breakout Sessions (choose from 3 options)	Option 1: Expanding Student Opportunities Through Alumni-Powered Partnerships This session will discuss how Drew University has tapped into its alumni association to serve as a powerful extension of career development efforts. We will share approaches for leveraging alumni relationships to create mentorship, applied learning, and professional opportunities that increase student access, engagement, and career outcomes. Presenter: Kim Giorgio, Director of the Center for Career Development, Drew University Option 2: Partnering with Employers to Offer Skills Based Learning Opportunities The employer you don’t want may be the one your students need. As skills-based hiring becomes more common, it is critical to ensure students have meaningful real-world opportunities to build their NACE core competencies, especially when internships are limited. This session examines how career centers can expand access to part-time and experiential opportunities while balancing concerns about employer reputation and student autonomy. Through a real-world case study involving sales organizations, attendees will explore student outcomes, data, and strategies for evaluating “problematic” employers through a student-impact lens. Presenter: Mallory Powell, Campus Recruiting Manager, Vector Marketing Option 3: Engaging Registered Student Organizations in the Recruitment Process As career ecosystems continue to evolve, registered student organizations (RSOs) are becoming critical partners in connecting students with employers through peer-to-peer engagement, professional development, and networking opportunities. This session will explore how career services professionals, employers, and student leaders can collaboratively build effective partnerships through best practices, communication strategies, and innovative models such as George Mason University’s “Employer and Registered Student Organization Liaison” role. Presenter: Philip Wilkerson, Employer Engagement Consultant, George Mason University Career Services
12:10 PM - 12:55 PM	Panel Discussion	Bridging the Gap: Partnering with Employers to Prepare Students The summit concludes with an engaging panel discussion exploring engaging programs in the evolving employer market, successful partnerships between employers and career centers, and how to develop resources and support for emerging industries or sectors with renewed student interest. The panel will focus on sharing tangible takeaways that you can take back to your institution. Panelists: Cathy Cosgrove, Northeastern University; Malakia Silcott, Tufts University; Jordan Stecker, Yeshiva University; Susan Wood, West Virginia University Institute of Technology
12:55 PM - 1:00 PM	Closing

Opening Session

mary scott headshot Mary Scott, Founder and Managing Consultant, Scott Resource Group

Mary Scott is the founder and Managing Consultant of Scott Resource Group [SRG], a recruitment consulting and research firm specializing in university relations and strategic recruitment issues. Drawing on extensive practitioner experience in the corporate, academic and research arenas, she provides consulting services to major corporations and universities nationwide.

Prior to forming the firm, Mary served as Director, Corporate Staffing, at Aetna. She has additional recruitment experience as Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of St. Joseph, her undergraduate alma mater, and holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut [Go Huskies!!].

Breakout Sessions

Kim Giorgio, Director of the Center for Career Development, Drew University

Kim Giorgio is the Director of the Center for Career Development at Drew University, where she leverages her background in corporate recruitment, early talent program management, and leadership development to strengthen connections between students, alumni, and employers. She leads initiatives focused on meaningful programming, employer engagement, and data-informed strategies that enhance student engagement and career outcomes.

Prior to higher education, Kim spent more than eight years in recruitment, specializing in internships, co-ops, and rotational development programs across multiple disciplines. She brings that industry experience into her work at Drew, helping students build professional networks and gain access to experiential learning and career opportunities.

Mallory Powell, Campus Recruiting Manager, Vector Marketing

After getting her start in television and casting, Mallory Powell found an opportunity with Vector Marketing that married her passion for helping young adults thrive and working with higher ed. For the past 10 years, Mallory has served as the Campus Recruiting Manager facilitating open communication between Vector Marketing managers and their local colleges and universities.

An alum of Monmouth University, Mallory is an active member of the many regional ACEs and NACE. She currently serves as the membership co-chair for EACE and is stepping into the Director of Employer Engagement Board position for SoACE in July.

She is proud to be a working mom setting an example for her 2 daughters. Mallory and her family reside in New Jersey.

Philip Wilkerson, Employer Engagement Consultant, George Mason University Career Services

Philip Wilkerson is an Employer Engagement Consultant at George Mason University Career Services, where he builds meaningful partnerships that connect employers with the George Mason community and expand access to internships and career opportunities. He leads engagement across industries including Media, Arts & Design, Sports & Recreation, Hospitality & Tourism, and Technology & Engineering.

A dynamic communicator and relationship-builder, Philip is a Distinguished Toastmaster, TEDx speaker, and a 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) “Mentor of the Year” nominee. His work has been recognized through honors such as George Mason Employee of the Month and Black Alumni Forty Under 40, along with multiple awards for leadership, service, and inclusive excellence.

Beyond his role, Philip is the host of the Positive Philter Podcast, where he amplifies conversations around personal growth, purpose, and community. He is also deeply committed to mentoring and advising student organizations, helping students and professionals alike navigate their paths with clarity and confidence.

Panel

Cathy Cosgrove, Senior Co-op Faculty Advisor, College of Science Co-op Employer Relations Northeastern University

In my current role as a Senior Co-op Faculty Advisor at Northeastern College of Science, I teach Professional Development for Co-op class, a prerequisite for students to be eligible for co-op. In addition to teaching and advising students with their co-op search, I serve as the College of Science co-op employer relations point person sourcing new co-op employer leads, consulting and training co-workers and new hires in employer relations and representing the college in university wide employer initiatives.

Prior to joining Northeastern University, I worked at several public and private colleges in employer relations roles. I have also stepped out of higher education and worked in financial services for fourteen years. I am a proud parent of two grown sons, avid golfer, gardener, hiker, and runner.

Malakia Silcott, Associate Director of the Career Center, Tufts University

Malakia Silcott currently serves as part of the advising team of Associate Directors within the Tufts University Career Center – Medford campus. She is the career community leader for undergraduate students who are pursuing careers in the Life Sciences, Healthcare or Environmental Affairs. Prior to working at Tufts, Malakia’s background has included working with traditional and non-traditional aged students at both commuter and residential colleges throughout the state of MA that have included Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brandeis University, Havard University, Northeastern University and Bunker Hill Community College. Included within her 20+ years in higher education, she has taught career planning classes for credit at two different schools, worked on a US Department of Labor grant, supported TRIO based retention initiatives, and has a particular interest in the career development strategies of 1st generation college students, women in underrepresented careers and international students. Malakia holds a Master of Science degree in College Student Development & Counseling from Northeastern University and prior to her graduate study earned two degrees from Oberlin College, a BA in Psychology and BA in African American Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, reading books on personal finance, and attending music and cultural performances in the Boston and New York area.

Jordan Stecker, Assistant Director of Career Advising, Yeshiva University

Jordan Stecker is a Professional Career Counselor, Licensed School Counselor, and Certified US Veteran Sponsor. He serves as the Assistant Director of Career Advising at Yeshiva University. In 2024, he was appointed as the youngest-ever faculty member at YU, where he serves as an adjunct in the psychology department. Jordan has notably provided psychological and educational support to US Military Veterans, cancer survivors, individuals who overcame homelessness and abuse, as well as traditional and non-traditional college students. Jordan earned a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology with a focus in School Counseling, a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling, and an Advanced Certificate in College Advising, all from Teachers College, Columbia University. He earned his Bachelor's in Marketing Communications from Ithaca College.

Susan Wood, Director of Career and Professional Development, West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Susan Wood serves as Director of Career & Professional Development at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, where she leads employer engagement, career readiness initiatives, and programming designed to support students’ long-term career success through employment, continuing education, and professional growth opportunities. Over the past five years at WVU Tech, she has worked closely with students, faculty, advisors, employers, alumni, and community leaders to strengthen connections between education and workforce needs. Her work focuses on developing collaborative, student-centered strategies that support career exploration, mentorship, internship opportunities, and successful transitions from college to career.

What is a Virtual Summit?

Each Summit brings together EACE members across roles and functions for half-day, topic-focused learning and networking, with multiple sessions, peer engagement, and actionable takeaways you can use immediately. These Summits are intentionally segmented by focus area, allowing you to tailor your experience to your role, career state, and professional goals.

Why Attend an EACE Virtual Summit?

EACE Virtual Summits are designed to give you the feel of a conference in a compact, focused format: curated content, peer sharing, and meaningful engagement without the travel.

Registration & Pricing

Stand-Alone Pricing