SGA tackled all things pre-professionalism this week, inviting AJ Aronstein and Nikki Youngblood-Giles from Beyond Barnard to come speak about everything their office has to offer.

After a quick fall break hiatus, Barnard’s Student Government Association is back! At this week’s Monday night SGA meeting the much-loved campus celebs AJ Aronstein and Nikki Youngblood-Giles from Beyond Barnard were invited to speak about the services and opportunities their office can provide.

Beyond Barnard was established in early 2018 and has since met with SGA three times, but Mr. Aronstein kicked off the meeting by reflecting on how much the small office has grown and accomplished in the past two years. If you didn’t know, Beyond Barnard acts as a resource for all current Barnard students and all Barnard alumnae for life (That’s right, even if you graduated in 1977 you can still use Beyond Barnard’s services). The office aims to help students and alumnae will all sorts of things: internships, student jobs, post-grad careers, graduate school, medical school, fellowships, and more. They stand by their mission to “support all students and alumnae as they define, pursue, and achieve success in their careers and communities.” So, if you’re stressing about that summer internship application, maybe stop by to brush up on some interview skills or work on that resume you haven’t touched since freshman year.

Ms. Youngblood-Giles kicked off the meeting with a discussion round the values of Beyond Barnard. She stressed that the office’s work with diversity and inclusion is instituted in all that Beyond Barnard does, from individual student advising meetings to large scale projects. Beyond Barnard is trying to focus on changing the narrative around students with “non-traditional” academic and work backgrounds (a stereotype they are trying to dismiss altogether); they’re working making it known across campus that truly any student can achieve any academic or professional goals they set their mind too, no matter their background or identity.

In terms of future endeavors, the office is working to make on campus student employment more accessible on Handshake and BarnardWorks, with Mr. Aronstein stressing how committed they are to finding students fantastic jobs on campus and for federal work study. The creation of the first graduate fair was implemented this fall, with over 30 programs and institutions present. The office has also just added an alumnae chat lounge for students to go in with small groups to meet with alums, particularly in arts/entertainment and finance/consulting. There have been a number of tech fairs and arts panels in the past semester, which they are planning on expanding in the coming months.

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