PCSB Welcomes Young Voices to Campus
On August 3rd, the Providence College School of Business welcomed a group of Providence area middle and high school students participating in the Young Voices summer program. With the goal of exposing these students to business majors and careers, they interacted with current students and faculty. Young Voices is a Rhode Island-based non-profit organization that aims to transform youth into powerful advocates to create systemic reform and policy change to improve the lives of youth across the state.
Students arrived to campus and were taken on a student-led campus tour. Upon their return to the Ryan Center, they were welcomed by Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Sylvia Maxfield. She emphasized the value of a business education, especially one like the PCSB that is rooted in the liberal arts and our Dominican values.
The Young Voices visitors were among the first to use the newly installed Dialogue, Inclusion and Democracy Wall in the Ryan Center. They were prompted to explore action items they could bring to their school’s administration to improve their experience; with the hope they would take these ideas back to their schools this fall.
Students then participated in a panel consisting of current Providence College students representing each of the four majors in the School of Business. The panelists shared their experience of finding their places at Providence College, finding the right major – even if it’s not the major they started with – and how the School of Business has given them opportunities that will jump-start their careers.
Faculty from each of the four business majors then led a discussion about careers and professional development. To wrap up the afternoon, faculty members led a mini-case study activity where groups were asked to evaluate a food chain and come up with a pitch to improve the overall business using marketing, management, finance, and accounting strategies.
In a post-visit survey, 100% of the Young Voices visitors expressed interest in a return visit to Providence College for another event. Students shared comments of feeling more confident in themselves, and an understanding that it’s okay not to know exactly what you want to major in or pursue as a career. “Just because you feel one way about a career in the beginning of your college path doesn’t mean you can’t change how you feel,” one student shared.
The Providence College School of Business looks to continue its work with Young Voices, building on this visit and previous visits to campus. Young Voices will be returning to campus to experience the Admissions Open House on October 15.
