Dinner with Strangers

Career and Employment Services (CES) partners with students, staff, faculty, and alumni to present a variety of career-related events.

Dinner with Strangers is an annual event that provides students with an opportunity to practice networking, gain insight from the Logger community, and make connections that can positively impact their career path.

Want to prep for networking events? Check the CES guides and this video created by CES student staff member, Natalie Hernandez-Alvarez.

We also invite you to make an appointment (via Handshake) to meet with a CES advisor — to chat about any career-related topics that you might be wondering about.

Dinner with Strangers

Students can still sign up for the wait list
(Alumni and Faculty have been individually invited to host tables based on their field. If you're an alum who is interested in connecting with students, please join Logger Link!)

What: Logger students, alumni, and faculty gather for a meal, conversation, and networking connections.

This event is an opportunity to gain experience networking in a Logger-friendly environment, and to interact with Puget Sound alumni over a free catered meal.

Following the meal and remarks from our guest speaker, the evening will conclude with dessert plus a speed-networking activity to help you connect with all of the alumni and faculty in attendance — members of your Logger Network who want to meet you and support your career journey!

Guest Speaker: McKenzie Ross '06, Vice President of Marketing at SmartDV

When: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 | 6–8 p.m.
Where: Thomas Hall, Tahoma Room

Space is limited. Sign up early to reserve your seat!

This event is being presented in partnership between Career and Employment Services, Alumni & Parent Relations, and the Maroon Society. Want to be involved with organizing future events, gain leadership experience, and make connections with Logger alumni? Check out the student-run Maroon Society!

Alumni and Faculty Table Hosts

You'll be seated throughout dinner with an alum or two, a faculty member, possibly a staff member, and a few other students. During the speed-networking activity, participants will rotate from one table to the next, to provide an opportunity for every student to connect with every alum and faculty member in attendance.

2023 Keynote Speaker: McKenzie Mortensen Ross '06

2023 Alumni Table Hosts

Tip: Click the alum's name to see their LinkedIn profile. Logger Link notations will take you into Puget Sound's networking and mentorship platform, where you can connect in a Loggers-helping-Loggers community.

Keynote Speaker:
McKenzie Ross '06 (Logger Link) | Vice President of Marketing at SmartDV

Table Hosts:
Hannah Aoyagi '01 | Organizational Equity Manager at Washington State Department of Ecology
Megan Bell '22 (Logger Link) | Legislative Aide at Washington State Senate
Leah Jewett BSN, RN '13 | RN at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
Miriam Cook '14 | Dual Language Social Studies Teacher at Evergreen High School
Indigo Dacosta '19 | AVID Tutor at Tacoma Public Schools
Cheyenne Dewey '16 | Genetic Counselor at Madigan Army Medical Center
Carly Dryden '19 | Paralegal at Blado Kiger Bolan, P.S.
Jeremiah Hobbs '19 | Software Engineer at Microsoft
Kawika Huston '10 | Actor in Musical "Cinderella"
Castor Kent '20 (Logger Link) | Production Manager at Sound Theatre Company
Kahli Kyee '22 | DEI Coordinator at Navitus Health Solutions
Ethan Laser '17 | Senior Product Marketing Manager at Outreach
Gabi Marrese '19 (Logger Link) | Marketing Specialist at Bureau of Education & Research
Doug Owusu '16 (Logger Link) | Controller at B&N Fisheries Company
Emily Parlan '19 | Study Management Specialist at Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.
Clay Ross '09; MAT '10 | 6th Grade Humanities Teacher at First Creek Middle School (Unable to attend)
Alex Shannon '14 | Senior Vice President at WSP
Elliot Stockstad '98 (Logger Link) | Executive Director at MultiCare Health Foundation
Kelly Stroh '20 (Logger Link) | Supply Chain Editor at Industry Dive
Lexus Sullivan '21 | Staff Scientist I at Anchor QEA
Mariah Thomson '20 | Habitat Restoration Specialist at Snohomish Conservation District
Angie Tronset '11 (Logger Link) | SR Talent Acquisition Specialist at Sound Credit Union
Mia Villasenor '16 | Developer Relations Engineer at Google
Keala Yang '17 | Market Research Manager at Microsoft

Alumni Table Hosts are continuing to register. Check back to watch the list grow!

2023 Faculty Table Hosts

Dinner With Strangers taught me the importance of networking despite how uncomfortable it might feel initially. (Even professional folks feel nervous about it!) Networking is not only a great way to help find a career path and advance in your career, but also to make friends.

Table Hosts from previous events

Whether a table host is participating this year or did so in the past, they are interested in connecting with you. Use LinkedIn and Logger Link to reach out!

2022 Alumni and Faculty Table hosts

I learned that it's okay not to know what I want to do after I graduate. Most people don't. A lot of alumni have entered career paths they never realized were options. So just keep moving forward. And networking! :)

Puget Sound is committed to being accessible to all people. If you have questions about accessibility for Dinner with Strangers, please contact Career and Employment Services at ces@pugetsound.edu or visit pugetsound.edu/accessibility.