You may already be dreaming of your future after graduation. Whether you hope to immediately enter the workforce or participate in a competitive scholarship or fellowship program, you can achieve your goals by building a firm academic foundation at SLU.
Meet Laurel Dusek, a member of SLU’s class of 2019 and a two-time Fulbright Program alumna who worked as an English teaching assistant in Colombia.
Laurel Dusek
B.A. in Political Science and B.A. in International Studies, Class of 2019
I Chose SLU Because...
Laurel Dusek, B.A. in Political Science and B.A. in International Studies, Class of 2019, says, “The thing about SLU that drew me in the most was the vibe I felt on campus — it was very comfortable and everyone was very friendly and outgoing, which created a really positive environment. I toured a lot of universities with more stressful environments, but at SLU a lot of students were playing intramural soccer or just hanging out on the Quad in hammocks. The collaborative environment is ultimately what drew me to SLU.”
Major decisions
“I was an undecided major for my first year and a half on campus. I came to SLU knowing I wanted to do something related to social justice. I wasn’t sure if that looked like social work, psychology, or clinical science, so I spent my first year taking gen eds and classes in communication, political science, international studies, and more to test the waters. I ultimately decided on political science and international studies because I felt like they were interesting, but also broad so I could do a lot of things with them.”
Studying in Madrid
In addition to our campus in St. Louis, Missouri, SLU also has a campus in Madrid, Spain, where students can spend anywhere from a few weeks to their entire undergraduate career. Learn More
Right After SLU: Life as a Fulbright Scholar
“Right after graduating from SLU, I did my first Fulbright grant in Leticia, Colombia as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA). We were evacuated suddenly at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I had already applied and been accepted for a second year in the program in Colombia. In my second year from July 2021 to May 2022, I served as a Senior ETA in Pereira, Colombia — I essentially did the same job as my first year in the program, but I also served as a mentor to the first-year ETAs.”
Highlights From My Time at SLU
I Got Here with SLU
“I applied to the Fulbright Program through SLU’s Scholarships and Fellowships Office. They helped me during the whole process, from applying through SLU at the beginning of my senior year to application and interview feedback before submitting my official application to the Washington D.C. office. They helped me make my final application more competitive and ultimately helped me land the program.”
What I'm Doing Now
"I am working in project management for a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contractor, based out of Washington, D.C. I am currently involved in managing two global health projects: EpiC (Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control), a global initiative supporting COVID-19 response activities; and PROPEL Health (Promoting Results and Outcomes through Policy and Economic Levers), which aims to advance family planning, reproductive health, HIV, and maternal and child health priorities. Both of these USAID projects are global initiatives, but I focus my time on the projects in El Salvador and Guatemala."
“Without the experience of studying abroad at SLU-Madrid, I don’t know if I would be where I am today.”
SLU career resources
Job and career preparation starts early at SLU. Career Services can help you explore what career path may be a good fit, and can assist with résumé reviews, mock interviews and finding internship opportunities.
SLU supports our students by providing opportunities to engage in virtual and on-campus internships and experiential learning. As a student or alum, you’ll have access to job fairs attended by hundreds of employers, both in St. Louis and nationwide.
SLU’s career development specialists can assist you with creating a job search plan, equip you with salary negotiation skills and teach you how to access career services available from other colleges and universities located in parts of the country where you may be interested in finding a job after graduation.
Network with other Billikens
Once you become a Billiken, you’re a Billiken for life — and a member of our global SLU network.
Billikens aren’t just current SLU students; they are also our 133,000-plus alumni around the world.
SLU students can join Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow. As an alum, you can get involved with Billikens of the Last Decade, along with alumni clubs in cities across the nation and around the world, to network with other Billikens.
Life after graduation
No matter how you define success, a SLU education will prepare you to achieve it. Our alumni are well-rounded leaders and critical thinkers who make a positive impact on the world.
Where Do SLU Graduates Work?
- Amazon
- American Red Cross
- Anheuser-Busch InBev
- AT&T
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
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- Boeing
- Centene
- Emerson
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Express Scripts
- Federal Reserve Bank
- Fidelity Investment Services
- IBM Global Services
- MasterCard
- Mayo Clinic
- NASA
- Nestlé Purina
- St. Louis Blues
- SSM Health
- Target Brands Inc.
- United Airlines
- UPS
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- The Walt Disney Co.
- Warby Parker
- Wells Fargo
- World Wide Technology
- More
SLU Prepares You to Succeed
Watch a video about the resources available to help you reach your career goals — before and after graduation.
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