Networking Nights

alum talking to students

The Graduate Office of Career and Life Design hosts several networking nights each year for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. 

Mingle with advanced degree alumni and fellow graduate students at our dynamic networking events. These gatherings are ideal for forging connections and fostering professional relationships.

Quant Night for Masters, PhDs and Postdocs

Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 5-7 p.m.
Etter-Harbin Alumni Center

Are you a quantitative/data-focused advanced degree student or scholar? Interested in chatting with professionals within the data science field? Come meet with alumni and recruiters in a relaxed environment at this campus-wide networking event.

Ask alumni about their career journey, from academia into industry, their current role, advice on entering the job market and ways to be a competitive candidate. Some alumni will be accompanied by a recruiter from their organization who can answer questions about hiring and navigating the HR process. Represented organizations may be hiring for immediate openings and others will be looking to connect with future candidates. Recommended dress code for this event is business casual.

Companies Include: AMD, Aurora Energy Research, Exxon-Mobile, Microsoft, Maximus, Ramp, Sandia National Labs, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas 2036, Teachers Retirement System of Texas

Register Now

Quant Night

Event Status
Scheduled
Thursday October 29, 2026, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Etter-Harbin Alumni Center
Are you a quantitative/data-focused advanced degree student or scholar? Interested in chatting with professionals within the data science field? Come meet with alumni and recruiters in a relaxed environment.

2026 Employers and Alumni

Past Networking Nights

Qualitative Research Night for Masters, PhDs and Postdocs

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. | Glickman Conference Center

Are you an advanced degree student or scholar engaged in (or want to learn more about) qualitative research? Interested in chatting with professionals working in qualitative research positions? Come meet with alumni and recruiters in a relaxed environment. Ask alumni about their career journey, from academia into industry, their current role, advice on entering the job market and ways to be a competitive candidate. Some alumni will be accompanied by a recruiter from their organization who can answer questions about hiring and navigating the HR process. Represented organizations may be hiring for immediate openings and others will be looking to connect with future candidates. Recommended dress code for this event series is business casual.

Stay tuned for a list of participating companies and recruiters!

2026 Alumni & Recruiters

Click through to learn more about our Spring 2026 participants and read their bios. Check back for updates!

  • Julian Asher

    Julian Asher

    Sr UX Research Manager
    Target
  • Jerica Bornstein

    Jerica Bornstein

    UX Research
    Expedia Group
    Human Development and Family Sciences, Ph.D.
  • Vershanjali Chauhan

    Vershanjali Chauhan

    Senior UX Designer
    Target
    MSIS 2024
  • Lynn Cowles

    Lynn Cowles

    Health and Food Justice Programs Manager
    Every Texan
  • Merrill Davis

    Merrill Davis

    Vice President of Communications
    Texas 2036
    Master of Public Affairs
  • Sydney Hussett

    Sydney Hussett

    UX Researcher
    Expedia Group
  • Stacia Long

    Stacia Long

    Senior Research Scientist
    Gibson Consulting Group
    UT MA Language and Literacy Education
  • Amber O'Connor

    Amber O’Connor

    Food Policy Analyst
    Every Texan
    Anthropology, Ph.D. and MA
  • Stacy Ganderson

    Stacey Swinehart Ganderson

    Head of Accessibility
    Cornerstone OnDemand
  • headshot

    Jacqueline Whearty

    Research Associate
    Center for Policy Research
    Human Development and Family Sciences, Ph.D. 2021, M.A. 2018
  • Jess White

    Jess White

    Director of UX Research
    Expedia Group
    Linguistics, Ph.D. and M.A.
  • Jocelyn Wright

    Jocelyn Wright

    Director, Community and Market Development
    Six Red Marbles
    French, Ph.D. and M.A.
  • Rick Ybarra

    Rick Ybarra

    Senior Program Officer
    Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
photos of participants

Past Participating Alumni & Recruiters

View alumni and recruiters who have joined us at past Qualitative Research Night events.

Arts & Humanities Night for Grad Students and Postdocs

Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 5-7 p.m.

Are you a graduate student or postdoc interested in a career in culture, literature and the arts? Interested in chatting with industry professionals who share your creative spark? Arts & Humanities Night is a campus-wide networking and recruitment event for graduate students in the arts and humanities.

Come meet with alumni and recruiters in a relaxed, open environment. Ask about their career journey, the transition from academia into industry, their current role and advice on entering the job market, being a competitive candidate and navigating the HR and hiring process.

Recommended dress code for this event is business casual.

SHIFT Makers mocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

humanities alumni

Past Participating Alumni & Recruiters

View alumni and recruiters who have joined us at past Humanities Night events.