College can be a confusing time. Even if a student is sure of a major and career goal, the number of potential paths one can take can feel overwhelming. Often, a career trajectory doesn’t make sense until it’s in the rearview mirror. 

That’s why Lloyd Knox, the Michael and Ester Vaida Endowed Chair in Cosmology and Astrophysics, started the Alumni Seminar Program for the Department of Physics and Astronomy. 

Held every spring quarter, the Alumni Seminar Program features Aggie alums from the department discussing ways they’ve applied their degree post-graduation. The goal is to build professional networks, create a conduit for alumni wisdom, and encourage students to overcome anxieties and pursue their goals. Each spring nine to 10 alumni are invited to participate in the seminar program.   

“It all started when I was chair of our undergraduate recruiting committee and a parent asked me, ‘So if my child comes here and majors in physics, what are they going to do after?’” Knox recalled. “I had an answer, but I thought that was such a legitimate question.” 

At the time, Distinguished Professor Steven Carlip, Department of Physics and Astronomy, had already been inviting alumni to speak to students in one-off events. The parent’s question to Knox provided the spark to formalize the talks. The Alumni Seminar Program officially launched in 2007.

While the alumni speakers share similar academic degrees, their jobs and careers vary widely. Previous speakers have been financial engineers, senior data scientists, and investors and entrepreneurs, among many other jobs and careers.

“Our students are at this both really exciting and vulnerable time in their development,” Knox said. “They’re anxious about the future and it really makes a huge difference to hear from people who used to be where they are now and have found a way forward in a satisfying career.” 

The Alumni Seminar Program has been so successful that Knox is now sharing the model with other departments in the College of Letters and Science. Last year, the Department of History launched its own version of the program. 

“Just like in physics, the path from a liberal arts degree to a job is not as obvious as it is in, say, engineering,” Knox said. “So it’s especially important for the students to see what’s possible and how to get from here to there.” 

“I’m delighted this program is starting to spread across the college,” he added. “I know there are alumni with different majors with interesting career stories that would greatly benefit students in those majors.” 

Knox is always willing to discuss ways that other departments can adapt the model. To learn more about the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s Alumni Seminar Program, contact Lloyd Knox at lknox@ucdavis.edu.  

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