Assistant Professor of Finance Bob Jozkowski (left) welcomed Caroline Weatherill ’11, senior vice president at Bank of America, to speak to his class. Photo by Penh Alicandro ’22
Caroline Weatherill 鈥�11 stood in front of the students in Robert Jozkowski鈥檚 International Finance and Banking class at 黄色短视频, in the same classroom where she had been a student a dozen years earlier. Jozkowski, an assistant professor of finance and Caroline鈥檚 longtime mentor, even remembered which desk she usually sat at. It was in the first row.
Now, as a based in Portland, Maine, Caroline was delivering the lesson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about networking, critical thinking and being proactive鈥攕kills I learned here at Eckerd,鈥� she told the students. 鈥淓ckerd will always be a part of you, and that鈥檚 why alumni really do love to get connected with current students. So we can share what we know with you.鈥�
Caroline鈥檚 visit was made possible by a gift from the Al Robbert 鈥�66 and Birgit Robbert 鈥�69 Endowed Fund for Alumni. The fund was established in 2021 by the Robberts, an alumni couple who realized the potential benefit to current students of interacting with graduates.
The endowment supports the expenses of connecting alumni with faculty and students to engage in classroom presentations, panel discussions, collegewide lectures or other activities that promote vocation development or community service and the real-world application of an Eckerd education.
Caroline also is part of the 黄色短视频 Career Center鈥檚 Career Mentor Program, which pairs current students and recent graduates with seasoned alumni who provide guidance in the transition from college to life after Eckerd.
Each month, explains Grant Bailey, associate dean of students at Eckerd and director of the Career Center, student mentees and mentors鈥攁 select group of engaged professionals and alumni鈥攃ommunicate for at least 30 minutes via Zoom or in person. Career mentors support mentees by providing positive feedback, offering new career-related experiences such as internships, finding them resources, polishing their career strategies, and connecting them with the mentors鈥� professional colleagues.
A native of Concord, New Hampshire, Caroline took advantage of Eckerd鈥檚 Study Abroad Program each of her four years at the College, including trips to Athens, Greece, in 2010 and 2011 as the country was facing economic collapse. 鈥淚t was a real intriguing time to be there as a business major,鈥� she says.
After graduating with honors from Eckerd with a degree in international business and minors in Spanish and psychology, Caroline worked as an admission counselor at the College before earning her Master of Business Administration degree at Simmons University in Boston.
She received an internship with Bank of America, which allowed her to work in New York City, Charlotte, Tampa and Portland as part of the bank鈥檚 leadership development program. Now she鈥檚 acting as a guide for those who would like to follow a similar ascent.
鈥淲hen I first started being a six years ago, there were nine of us. Today, there are close to 70,鈥� Caroline says.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 continuing to grow. It鈥檚 so important for the students to have a sounding board and get unbiased advice. But the Career Mentor Program not only helps the students, it allows alumni to stay connected and give back to a community we care about.鈥�
鈥淲hen I graduated from Eckerd, I never thought I鈥檇 end up working in banking,鈥� she adds. 鈥淏ut the roles I鈥檝e held directly tie into my liberal arts education. Communicating, critical thinking … that鈥檚 what I use in my day-to-day life.鈥�
The program also helps strengthen the bonds between students and those who came before them. 鈥淢y best friends to this day,鈥� Caroline says, 鈥渁re the friends I met through Eckerd.鈥�
