Professional Liaison

What does Professional Liaison do?

The Professional Liaison Committee strives to strengthen and build a solid network between SWE members and engineering alumni, graduate students, and the corporate world. We host various social and formal events that promote these relationships and offer invaluable career-related opportunities for current undergraduate students.

If you would like to join the Professional Liaison Committee, please email Nadia Ludwig at nludwig2@illinois.edu.

Events & Activities:

We host various social and networking events, such as Be Professional, Professional and Alumni Brunch, and Night of Networking. These events are the highlights of our committee and are some of the largest events in SWE. 

In addition to these events, we do our best to maintain cordial relationships with our SWE grad and alumni through establishment of the Mentoring Program, where undergraduate SWE members and willing SWE grad and professionals are paired up for a mentor-mentee relationship. We have also started the Faculty Firesides podcast to help students bond with UIUC faculty.

Professional Liaison is your SWE home for making professional, alumni and graduate relations, and you’re welcome here to learn. We are always looking for more professionals and ambitious students to join us at our events and activities.

Director:

Nadia Ludwig

 
 

Chairs:

Riya Patel | Alumni Relations Chair

Karissa Patel | Alumni Relations Chair

Allison Lau | Graduate Relations Chair

Jenny Yang | Undergraduate Relations Chair

Dalia Ahdab | Undergraduate Relations Chair

Jessica Seo | Faculty Relations Chair

Sonja Domanus | Secretary & Social Chair

Kriti Gangadharan | Research Park/Industry Relations Chair

Sritha Kavuri | Research Park/Industry Relations Chair

Wikotria Wojtanek | Corporate Networking Chair

Neharika Kurapati | Corporate Networking Chair

Diya Yunus | EVP Leadership Series Chair

Maddie Szkwarek | EVP Leadership Series Chair

 
 

Chair Roles:

  • Alumni Relations Chair: maintains a relationship with Illinois engineering alumni by inviting them to Alumni Brunches, updating them through a newsletter, and growing the LinkedIn alumni group

  • Be Professional Chair: works over the summer ironing out the logistics for Be Professional

  • Conference Chair: works with President to plan attendance to conferences

  • EVP Leadership Series Chairs: Works with External Vice President to arrange SWE’s company-sponsored events such as general meetings and coffee chats

  • Faculty Relations: Hosts UNUC faculty and SWE undergraduates at coffee chats, panels, and a mentorship program to connect students with professors and their research

  • Graduate Relations Chair: Connects undergraduate students with mentors in graduate programs (MS and PhD) and plans events to help prepare for grad school

  • Industry Relations: Connects undergrads with mentors in professional fields, other SWE chapters, and Research Park to host fun events (ex. luncheons, happy hours) to advance students in their career development

  • Mentorship Chairs: Connects students with mentors in professional fields through a mentorship program.

  • Night of Networking Chair: Plans one of the largest professional events for SWE, the Night of Networking

  • Professional Relations Chair: Plans fun and casual events like luncheons and happy hours to connect students with professionals.

  • Professional Liason Support (General PL Committee Member): Collaborates with any chairs in the PL committee where help is needed or which events seem most exciting to be part of

  • Secretary and Social Chair: Plans social bonding events with PL and supports PL’s weekly operations

  • Undergraduate Relations Chair: Plans professional development events with university organizations (ex. Sibel Center for Design) and collaborates with other clubs to host large events to help students succeed in the professional world