GORHAM, Maine  –  Before the second semester of the 2021-2022 academic year gets underway at the University of Southern Maine and Husky student-athletes get back into the swing of preseason, off-season and in-season regimens, the Huskies' Athletic Department and the University's Career and Employment Hub will virtually welcome back three former USM student-athlete standouts, and welcome a trio of industry leaders in the health care, education and business management/marketing field to take part in the ongoing Husky Pack Chat series. Husky Pack Chats are a virtual series that provide a path for USM student-athletes at all stages of their collegiate careers with an opportunity to prepare for all facets of the job hunt and build a connection with USM's Career and Employment Hub.
 
Sponsoring the event, Huskies at Work: Connecting the Interview Process with Practice, the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics is excited to welcome back former Husky standouts from the men's basketball, women's basketball, and men's track & field programs to take part in this vital Husky Pack Chat series. Generously giving of their time and sharing their employment experiences are Jared Marshall '21, Keenan Hendricks '21 and Haley Johnson '10, 14.
 
A former member of the Huskies' men's track & field team, Marshall earned his degree in Exercise Science and is presently Assistant Track & Field Coach and Digital Media Coordinator at UMass Dartmouth.  Hendricks, an alum of the Huskies' men's basketball team, earned his degree in Business Administration – Marketing & Management and is a Digital Marketer, Art Sales and Gallery Assistant at Elizabeth Moss Galleries.  Johnson, an alumna of the women's basketball team, earned her Master's degree in Education at USM after earning her undergraduate degree in Sociology.  Johnson is currently a Kindergarten teacher at Odyssey Community School in Manchester, Conn.
 
During this online event, each of the former Husky standouts will share their insight on how their time in athletics has helped shape their careers. Reflecting upon the highly sought after and transferable skills and traits USM student-athletes sharpen and gain during their years in competition and practice, including time management, decision making, self-discipline, motivation, adaptability and coachability, each of these Husky alums have relatable and valuable experiences to share.
 
Each of the alumni panelists will be paired with a current USM student-athlete and an industry representative in the health science, education or business management field. After an educational session on interview processes and tips, breakout rooms for each industry will occur and mock interview sessions will be held and reviewed.
 

Pack Chat with the Career Hub
Huskies At Work: Connecting the Interview Process with Practice
Monday, January 10, 4:00-5:30, via Zoom
 
During this session, you will:

• Learn from leaders in the field of Health Sciences, Education, Business Administration.
• Hear what transferable student-athlete skills each panelist finds most helpful in their current career path
• Learn about the unique first-hand job search and interview experiences of the panelists
• Have the opportunity to ask questions directly to panelists
• Attend breakout sessions for each of the disciplines

Links to resources will be provided by the Career & Employment Hub.

 
"This is a tremendous opportunity for our current student-athletes to learn from their peers, our student-athlete alumni, and to ask questions about starting their career search from individuals who have had similar experiences and are embarking on the beginning stages of their own career paths," said Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Kimberly Turner.
 
Each of the three USM student-athlete alumni participating in the Husky Pack Chat were outstanding during their time in a Southern Maine uniform.  A four-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete, Marshall had a tremendous career with Huskies' track and field helping USM to multiple indoor and outdoor track and field championships.  An USTFCCAA All-Region athlete and NCAA National Championship qualifier, Marshall was the 2017 Little East Conference Rookie Athlete of the Year and the 2019 Little East Conference Track Athlete of the Year.  To this date, Marshall holds several school records in sprint and hurdle events.
 
A two-time team captain and four-time William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete, Hendricks was active within the Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and earned the 2019 University of Southern Maine Emerging Leader Award and was selected as the 2021 recipient of the Albert D. Bean Leadership Award at the conclusion of his career as a member of Southern Maine men's basketball. 
 
Another four-time William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete, Johnson helped Huskies' women's basketball to four consecutive trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament, and a pair of Little East Conference titles.  A team captain during her career, Johnson helped USM to a record of 95-23 during her four seasons at USM and is still in the top 10 for career field goal percentage shooting 54.9 percent. 
 
"Our work with the USM Career & Employment Hub and previous Husky Pack Chat sessions have given our current student-athletes an opportunity to learn about resume and cover letter preparation, the career search process, interview skills, and more," said Samantha Norris, USM women's basketball coach and SAAC Advisor.  "Our alumni panels offer a unique opportunity for current Huskies to learn from some of our tremendously successful alumni and see those lessons in action."
 
.Dr. Brian Porter, Assistant Superintendent of the Gorham School District;  Allie Platts, Senior Talent Specialist of L.L. Bean; and Joe Baty, Recruiting Specialist for MaineHealth will join the Husky Pack Chat as industry leaders and hiring professionals. Each of these industry leaders will share what transferable student-athlete skills each panelist finds most desirable and provide insight and guidance on the successful interview process.
 
Three student-athletes are also taking part in the mock interviews and breakout sessions.  Sophia Slovenski '22, a member of the Huskies' volleyball and women's track and field programs will join Marshall and Baty from Maine Health.  An NCAA National Champion and two-time All-American, Slovenski is earning a degree in Health Sciences.  Captain of the Huskies' wrestling team, an All-Region wrestler, and presently ranked 15^th in the nation at 285, Jake Peavey '22 will join Husky alum Hendricks and L.L. Bean's Platts. Peavey is pursuing his degree in Business Management.  Captain of the Huskies' women's ice hockey team and a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) All-Academic pick, Jordan Colbert '23, will join Husky alumna Johnson and Dr. Porter from the Gorham School District. Colbert is completing a degree in Elementary Education.
 
USM's Career & Employment Hub is a resource to multiple audiences, serving University of Southern Maine students, business and community partners, and faculty and staff.  Assisting students in connecting to their future through career exploration, self-assessments, interviewing skills, internship searches and more, the Career & Employment Hub also connects community partners to USM's greatest resource – its students and faculty – to help develop workforce connections, fill service-learning experiences, internship, and volunteering opportunities as well as traditional employment. Located on the Portland Campus in Luther Bonney Hall, interested parties can learn more about all the activities, workshops and one-on-one guidance opportunities at https://usm.maine.edu/career-and-employment-hub