Senior vice presidents, actors, artists, authors, community organizers, small business owners, doctors and CEOs — Guilford alumni go on to do a wide array of interesting things and on Sept. 18 and 19 you can hear their stories.

Created last year by the Career Development Center and Alumni Relations Office, Quake Talks offer current students the opportunity to hear from alumni about their lives and work post-college.

“Quake Talks are an opportunity for alumni to come back to campus, particularly during homecoming, to give short 10-minute talks about the things they’re doing and how Guilford plays a role in that,” said Megan Walters, assistant director for internships and Quake Talks co-organizer.

Since their creation, the College has brought Quake Talks to audiences in Boston, New York City and Atlanta. What started as a simple idea has really taken off and has had immensely positive effects on the school’s community.

For students, these talks offer the chance to hear from people who have been in the same place as them and have gone on to succeed.

“We designed the series for students,” said Walters. “The folks coming back to campus are all over the career spectrum. They’ve just graduated and are getting into the field, or they’re the top of their career and are the people our students want to be eventually.”

These talks are designed to reinforce the importance of the college’s values to current students, as well as demonstrate how the experience has led alumni to success.

“It’s like this proof that what is going on here is going to work for them,” said Karrie Manson ‘82, senior director of Alumni Relations and Quake Talks co-organizer. “It’s proof that they can do what they seek to do and that all the ingredients we talk about that are important at Guilford are valuable in their lives and in their careers.”

Quake Talks also serve to bring the school’s community closer by reaching out to alumni in a new, more personal way.

“It is a very visible way to demonstrate that we want alumni back,” said Manson. “A lot of people, when they graduate and move away, assume that means we want them to support the college financially, which we still do, but it busts that myth that it’s the only reason we are going to talk to you.”

For those coming to speak, this event represents an invitation to reconnect and contribute their knowledge to our community.

“It brings us together as a family in terms of the Guilford students,” said James Shields, Jr. ‘00, one of the alumni speaking at this year’s Quake Talks and director of the Bonner Center for Community Service. “We are trying to transform homecoming. The Quake Talks make it so it’s more than just being about alumni coming back; it’s a chance for us to bond with the current students.”

Last year, Quake Talks proved themselves both innovative and highly impactful. Additionally, every talk was filmed and uploaded online. Guilford hopes to create a library of Quake Talks for future use.

This year’s Quake Talks has a diverse lineup of speakers. Students, faculty, staff and anyone who is interested are strongly encouraged to attend Sept. 18 from 11:00a.m. – 3:15p.m. and Sept 19. from 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.

“I think if students wanted to take advantage of the networking opportunities available on these two days they’ll be blown away by what they will find and who they will meet,” said Walters. “You don’t have to be here for the full four hours to get the full experience. Anytime you have available, come and check it out.”