“I completed my third co-op at The National Board of Medical Examiners, which is now my full-time job. The board finds so much value in Drexel’s Co-op program. I now run the co-op program at the board, and it has been such a rewarding experience to be on the other side of the process.”
— AYELET “YELI” ARBELY ’19
“My co-ops took me from photographing for the Drexel Fashion Design program to the halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, photographing on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ I’ve appeared in 18 publications, culminating with publication on the front page of The New York Times!“
— CHRIS SIRACUSA ’19
“My co-op experience was rewarding for me and fruitful for my employers. I was ambitious and eager to make a meaningful contribution. I still work with the company and have lasting relationships 40 years later.”
— KAREN JEHANIAN ’82
“Right out of school, my co-op experience and my power systems curriculum helped me land an opportunity with PJM Interconnection. I wouldn’t have gotten such an opportunity — in the middle of a recession — had it not been for my education and co-op. Earlier this year, I celebrated my 10-year work anniversary, and I look fondly at my Drexel years and my co-op that truly shaped my career.”
— ANKIT KHAROD ’08
GOLDEN ADVICE FROM THE CLASS OF 1969
Today’s jobs look nothing like they did 50 years ago, but this advice on how to make the most out of one’s work experience from the Golden Dragons Class of 1969 stands the test of time.
“Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to investigate and learn as much as you can on the job. Talk as much as you can to people who’ve had that experience that you are seeking to gain.” — MARY LOU BURKE ’69
“Co-op is a wonderful time to try different things. And you’re young enough that whatever happens to you, you can recover! You’ve just got to take advantage of the experiences when they’re offered to you.” — ROBERT FRICK ’69
“Move around and learn as much as you can from all different kinds of people. You just never know what you’re going to do down the road, so my advice is to make yourself very agile.” — BARBARA MANLEY ’69
HOW CAN I SUPPORT CO-OP?
Today, co-op spans 89 disciplines, across 38 countries and more than 1,500 employers, from Google and Goldman Sachs to small nonprofits and entrepreneurial startups. Some pay cost-of-living stipends, while others are made viable for students only through donors’ generous support of the Drexel Co-op program. Alumni play a critical role in making co-op richer, more diverse and more responsive to student and workforce needs. Here’s how you can shape a brighter future for the Drexel Co-op program.
MAKE A GIFT. Nearly 20 percent of students pursue opportunities that are not adequately salaried, whether they’re located abroad, in research or nonprofit positions, or in high-cost-of-living cities. Too many students make a difficult choice: the best co-op opportunity for their career or a less relevant but more affordable option. Donor investment in co-op creates opportunities where industry funding doesn’t exist or is very limited. Learn more at future.drexel.edu/co-op.
HIRE A CO-OP. The Drexel Alumni Network — including alumni referrals and recommendations — is the University’s greatest asset when it comes to creating quality co-ops for our students. Hire a co-op and provide fellow Dragons with career-defining opportunities. Learn more here.
Do you have a great co-op story to share? Visit here.