U-M History held its third Undergraduate Banquet and Career Conference on October 9, 2026. Seven alums made their way back to Ann Arbor to connect with current students and help them think through their many options post-graduation.
This year we were joined by:
Mary Basso, BA 2020
Law Clerk to Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh, Michigan Supreme Court
Abra Berens, BA 2004
Chef, author, and former farmer
Alex Blouin, BA 2009
Connected Product Partnerships Lead, Ford Motor Company
Matt Feierstein, BA 1994
President of EverCommerce and CEO of EverPro
Bethany Nagle, BA 2013
Classroom Resources Program Coordinator, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Yezenia Sandoval, BA 2019
Training and Development Program Manager, Chicago Jobs Council
Matthew Trieste, BA 2004
Principal, Relationship Manager, Central Bank and International Account Services (CBIAS), Markets Group, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Learn more about each of the invited alums here.
The event began in the morning with a workshop in the Vandenberg room of the Michigan League. The workshop was hosted by the LSA Opportunity Hub. After department chair Will Glover gave some welcoming remarks, each alum introduced themself. Then, Luciana Nemtanu — Director of Student Experience at the Hub, and a History alum herself — kicked off the roundtables workshop.
Students met and chatted with two alums at a time, and then were guided to move to a different table, so that each attendee was able to hear from all alums and their diverse backgrounds and experiences. After all tables had been rotated, lunch was served and students were able to network one-on-one with any alums they personally connected with.
That evening, the banquet dinner was held in the Terrace Ballroom at the Graduate by Hilton Hotel. Dozens of history students, majors, minors, and those interested in the field, gathered to enjoy a formal plated dinner and an evening of community.
Val Kivelson, director of undergraduate studies, welcomed everyone and encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity. Kate Wroblewski, assistant director of undergraduate studies, briefly re-introduced each of the alums, and then dinner was served.
After dinner, Kivelson and Wroblewski moderated a discussion with the alums, and the alums answered questions posed by the students in attendance. Some of the advice given was practical — alums recommended that students get involved in extracurriculars, and try different activities to understand where their interests lie.
The discussion also delved into the very present question of how AI is impacting the job market. Opinions varied on the extent to which it should be used by students applying to jobs, and in the workplace itself, but there was a consensus that the technology is here to stay, and that having a basic understanding of it is beneficial.
The evening ended on an encouraging note that emphasized the power of community. Glover reiterated that everyone in the room was a member of the U-M History community — a powerful resource for networking, but also a source of compassion and understanding.
See a selection of photos of the event below:
