From agile local businesses and nonprofits to regional healthcare leaders and multinational corporations, there are many creative ways to partner with Quinnipiac, said Alison Witherspoon, vice president of strategic programs and partnerships.

“At Quinnipiac, we’re growing a partnership ecosystem where employers engage with a central point of contact to co-create solutions addressing a range of needs, from talent development and continuing education to innovation, employee appreciation events and community engagement,” Witherspoon said.

Witherspoon noted that each unique partnership is built on a strong relationship to create opportunities that truly resonate.

“Employer relationships create a ripple effect across the university, community and region — opening doors for students, enriching faculty engagement, strengthening community connections and ensuring Quinnipiac is part of the solution to workforce and societal challenges,” said Witherspoon.

Brooke Penders, Quinnipiac director of employer relations, career and experiential learning, said the university’s strategic partnerships can give students significant exposure to companies which are seeking the qualities and skills of Quinnipiac graduates.

“It’s building important relationships which can consistently expose students to professional opportunities,” said Penders.

As a strategic partner, Quinnipiac collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim to help strengthen its workforce pipeline. Boehringer Ingelheim Day at Quinnipiac brought students and company leaders together for targeted networking, career exploration and panel discussions highlighting diverse career opportunities across one of the world's leading family-owned biopharmaceutical companies.

“Boehringer Ingelheim’s enthusiasm for connecting with Quinnipiac is unlike anything I’ve experienced before, and I think we have a really unique opportunity to build a pipeline and a relationship that’s going to be mutually beneficial for the long run,” Penders said.

Fueling the business workforce of the future, Quinnipiac’s strategic partnership with PepsiCo fostered Pepsi Day at Quinnipiac. Shining a light on Pepsi’s Campus Development Program, hundreds of students connected with regional company leaders during panel talks, classroom discussions and product information sessions sharing samples of Pepsi’s wide array of beverage lines.

“Pepsi Day at Quinnipiac is one of many Pepsi-Quinnipiac collaborations to ensure students are aware of and connected to experiential learning and early career opportunities throughout the Northeast and beyond,” Penders said.

Quinnipiac’s collaboration with strategic partner and insurance leader Travelers gave students direct insight into Travelers’ Emerging Talent Programs, featuring a panel discussion with Bobcat alumni who shared how meaningful internships with Travelers evolved into long-term professional careers with the company.

Travelers Assistant Vice President of Emerging Talent Acquisition, Jamie Roshka, said the strategic partnership has created an important pipeline for Travelers leadership and development programs.

“Quinnipiac produces top talent and great students for us, and the majors really align with the job functions that we’re looking for,” Roshka said.

A long-standing strategic partnership between Quinnipiac and Hartford HealthCare sets the benchmark for healthcare education and building the state’s healthcare workforce. By creating pipelines across a wide range of professions, it transforms how Connecticut educates, trains and retains top talent.

“The result of this partnership is a stronger educational experience for our students, a more robust healthcare workforce for our state and a shared capacity to improve the health and well-being of the communities that both Quinnipiac and Hartford HealthCare serve,” said Quinnipiac Provost Debra Liebowitz.

A strategic partnership between Quinnipiac and ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions has expanded to include the ADVANCE Leadership Program intensive at the School of Business. Created to boost knowledge and skills within the sales leadership team, the program complements other ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions training, said Jon Laing, director of professional training and development.

“Many companies put a lot of effort into technical training to teach people about their products, but don’t put as much effort into professional development. We try to have the right balance. It’s good to have strategic partners like Quinnipiac that you can rest on for other aspects of professional development,” Laing said.  

As one of Connecticut's largest institutions of higher education, Quinnipiac is committed to building long-term partnerships and driving mutual growth opportunities with innovative companies and nonprofit organizations. Learn more at qu.edu/partnership