Career Fair and ‘Life After Mary Wash Week’ Prepare Students for Success Beyond Graduation

September 25, 2026

Lisa Chinn Marvashti

What do University of Mary Washington seniors Mia McDermott and Anijah James, and junior Drake Morris have in common?

Each has learned career-ready lessons through college internship experiences.

McDermott focused on confidence-building. James put priority on collecting strong mentors. Morris found value in accepting that it’s OK to make – and learn from – mistakes.

“Internships give you clarity, confidence and real-world experience that you can’t get in class,” said McDermott, who’s interned with UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) and the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad. “Even one semester can help you discover your strengths and make future career decisions easier.”

Two students, holding flyers and notebooks, stand in the middle of a busy ballroom.

A student takes information from a prospective employer at UMW's Life After Mary Wash Week Career and Internship Fair

A man speaks with a student at a college career fair

The expanding Life After Mary Wash Week culminates with the Oct. 1 Career and Internship Fair, which will be held in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

She’s among the more than 30 percent of all UMW students who complete at least one internship, some of whom will share their stories at a Sept. 25 Life After Mary Wash Fellows Symposium. The offering is among several in this year’s Life After Mary Wash Week lineup, which also includes a Graduate School Fair, Etiquette Dinner, Pop-Up Boutique and Speed Career Prep. Presented by the CCPD, the series concludes with its keynote event, the Career and Internship Fair, set to bring dozens of employers to the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The events are designed to build on one another, said Associate Director of Employer Engagement Linda Rowe, culminating with the fair, where students will connect with prospective employers while leveraging the skills and assets they’ve acquired along the way. From Aspetto Inc. to Washington Heritage Museums, about 40 businesses and organizations hoping to hire UMW students have signed up to participate, including school districts, health networks, park services and more.

Increased interest from students looking to prepare for life after college and employers hoping to engage with them has caused the annual Life After Mary Wash Week to expand, with events fanning out for more than two weeks to create a comprehensive career experience.

An "etiquette dinner' menu and a bare plate with a utensil are at the top of the image, while a plate with salad is at the bottom

Two students share a conversation over a formal place-setting

A woman uses her hands while talking and sitting at a formal dinner table

Two students sit at a dining table during an etiquette dinner

The Etiquette Dinner, part of Life After Mary Wash Week events, drew about 40 students, who learned lessons about what to do during a formal business meal.

“Whether students are pursuing jobs or graduate school, or just want to sharpen their professionalism and communication skills, Life After Mary Wash Week has something for everyone,” CCPD Director Michael Dunn said. “We are pleased to collaborate with employers, community partners, faculty, staff and alumni to offer new programs, alongside classic events like the Pop-Up Boutique and the Career and Internship Fair.”

2026 Life After Mary Wash Week events include:

Sept. 15: A Grad School Fair opened the series with a bang. The fair welcomed 24 graduate programs to the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom, introducing participants to admissions representatives able to explain options.
Sept. 23: An Etiquette Dinner brought about 40 students to the Chandler Ballroom for a meal and an experience aimed at increasing their confidence in displaying the etiquette and networking skills that come with business-related fine dining settings.
Sept. 25: The Life After Mary Wash Fellows Symposium calls on student members of UMW’s Internship Fellows cohort to share their on-the-job experiences with fellow students in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Colonnade Room, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Sept. 28: Student-Athlete Speed Résumé Reviews lean into UMW’s Division III emphasis on building the academic side of student-athletes, providing feedback for Eagles across all 20 varsity sports. The event will take place in Goolrick Hall, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 1 to 3 p.m.
Sept. 28 and 29: A Pop-Up Boutique in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Gourley Living Room, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers a pop-up thrift shop where students can find no-cost professional attire. The boutique is co-sponsored by Student Activities and Engagement, and Goodwill Industries of Fredericksburg.
Sept. 29: A Speed Career Prep event in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s South Living Room, from 9 a.m. to 2 pm., allows participants to polish their résumés and develop elevator pitches.
Sept. 30: A Careers in Congress event, co-sponsored by CCPD and the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, will take place in Lee Hall, Room 411, from 4 to 5 p.m. U.S. House of Representatives Talent and Development Manager Elizabeth Mihalcea will lead the event, along with UMW alumni panelists.
Oct. 1: The Career and Internship Fair brings the main event to the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with dozens of employers hoping to hire UMW students and alumni for jobs and internships.

For more information about career-readiness resources for students, visit UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development website.

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