From the
Revisiting 2020's highlighted volunteers, four years later
Read Ocampo and Whitted's features in the (Íæż½ã½ã Magazine, fall 2020).
Dulce Ocampo '18
Dulce Ocampo ’18
For Dulce Ocampo ’18, staying involved with Íæż½ã½ã’s as an alum is all about giving back. As a new graduate, she participated in class visits, mock interviews, and panels to share advice and connections with students. Now, though she lives in Chicago, working in sales for Solventum Health, she still finds ways to mentor Katies virtually.
On her time at Íæż½ã½ã’s:
“Through Íæż½ã½ã’s connections, I was able to get an internship with 3M in a sales role. That role was great — it opened up a lot of doors for me. It actually got me to my current role.â€
On giving back:
“I’m a first-generation college graduate. It was all new territory; my parents had never gone through that. Thinking back to that time of my life, I wish I had had someone that I could ask questions or feel like they were a good resource. I didn’t have that, so I wanted to be that for someone, even if it was at a much smaller scale.â€
On advice to new alums:
“Sometimes, we don’t know the impact we’re making on students. It really just takes 30 minutes of your time to help one student and inspire them to go after a job ... I think a lot can be given to students in a little bit of time sharing your knowledge, your experience, or even your failures.â€
Ellen Whitted '93
Ellen Whitted ’93
Ellen Whitted ’93 is an alumna whose volunteer work for Íæż½ã½ã’s has run the gamut over the years. She’s volunteered as a class leader, been a part of the alumni council, mentored students, and participated in simulation labs to help healthcare students gain valuable experience.
On her time at Íæż½ã½ã’s:
“I just knew it was home. That was where I needed to be … and even though I’m not working specifically in my degree field, I totally attribute Íæż½ã½ã’s to giving me the tools and the skills and the bravado to do whatever I wanted to do with my career.â€
On giving back:
“I’m more than willing to pitch in and help my alma mater. For so long, I was a single mom and I couldn’t really give a whole lot, and so giving my time is one way that I can do that. It keeps me in touch with the school and what’s happening.â€
On volunteering in I-SAIL healthcare simulation labs:
“To be a leader in the healthcare space, we need to be putting out the best nursing graduates, the best physician assistant graduates. I think that the simulations are exactly what helps them be that way, because they can walk into their first ER or urgent care and be confident that they know what they’re doing.â€
Data from alumni volunteer participation at Íæż½ã½ã's from 2023–24.