Discover the “Why” Behind Hiring WashU Students
The WashU Center for Career Engagement invites organizations to the annual Hire WashU Employer Forum, a unique opportunity to connect with WashU students and university leaders while gaining valuable insights into what makes our students exceptional in today’s competitive talent market. Designed for both new and returning employer partners, the forum offers an inside look at the distinctive qualities, aspirations, and academic preparation of WashU students. While not a direct hiring event, it provides meaningful engagement through interactive discussions that help organizations understand what students value in employer relationships and how to enhance their recruitment strategies across schools and campus partners.
- Keynote Insights: Gain thought-provoking perspectives from dynamic keynote speakers who share emerging trends and insights on the future of work and professional development.
- 2026 Keynote: Chelsea Schein, Vice President of Research Strategy & Hannah Bower, Director of New Partnerships at Veris Insights
- 2025 Keynote: Shawn VanDerziel, President & CEO, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
- 2024 Keynote: Matt Berndt, Head of Indeed’s Job Search Academy
- Student & Professional Connections: Join a casual networking lunch with WashU students and engage in interactive panels where they share their recruitment journeys, challenges, and successes. Participate in meaningful conversations that reveal what defines a WashU student — from their academic experiences to the innovative programs that shape their career paths.
- Leadership & Academic Perspectives: Hear directly from senior university leaders and students representing WashU’s top schools as they discuss institutional priorities, talent development, and the academic innovations preparing students for success in today’s workforce.
Due to limited space, we ask that organizations limit participation to two representatives.
Hire WashU 2026 Date: April 16, 2026
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Danforth Campus/ Contact us with any questions
5th Annual Hire WashU 2026 Keynote Feature:
The Students of Today: What Matters Most to Tomorrow’s Workforce
What do today’s students really want from work, and how are forward-thinking employers evolving to meet them? Veris Insights will pull back the curtain on new, data-driven research gathered from thousands of students and hundreds of employers to reveal how this generation is reshaping the early talent landscape. From changing job search behaviors to the influence of AI and shifting definitions of career success, this session will share the insights powering the recruiting strategies of the future, and what they mean for anyone competing for top student talent today.
Chelsea Schein is the Vice President of Research Strategy at Veris Insights, a market research consultancy dedicated to helping University Recruiting and Talent Acquisition leaders attract, engage, and recruit top talent. She is also an award-winning instructor of Negotiations and Business Ethics at the Wharton School of Business. Dr. Schein earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research has been featured in leading journals and outlets including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Harvard Business Review, and The New York Times.
Hannah Bower is the Director of New Partnerships and one of Veris Insights’ first hires (formerly Ivy Research Council). She began her journey building the University Recruiting Member Experience team before transitioning to the New Partnerships team almost three years ago. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College and former collegiate swimmer, she brings joy, humor, and a relationship-based approach to every conversation. She is passionate about building strong, lasting partnerships grounded in the best University Recruiting & Talent Acquisition data and strategic support available on the market.
Explore Last Year’s 2025 Agenda
- 8:30-9:00 a.m. Check In and Networking Breakfast – Frick Forum, Knight Hall
- 9:00-9:10 a.m. Welcome from Norma Guerra Gaier, Associate Vice Chancellor for Career Development and Education – Emerson Auditorium, Knight Hall
- 9:10-9:40 a.m. Academic Excellence Insights panel 1 from WashU deans and academic leadership
- 9:50-10:20 a.m. Academic Excellence Insights panel 2 from WashU deans and academic leadership
- 10:45-11:45 a.m. Keynote speaker Shawn VanDerziel, President and CEO, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
- 12:05-1:25 p.m. Lunch with students and remarks from Dr. Anna Gonzalez, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs – Clark-Fox Forum, Hillman Hall
- 1:40-2:40 p.m. WashU Student Innovation Showcase – Bluedorn Family Presentation Room, Sumers Welcome Center
- 2:50-3:50 p.m. Student Experiences Spotlight: Real Voices, Real Journeys
- 3:50-4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks from Norma Guerra Gaier
Parking & Transportation
Parking is available in Millbrook Garage on Throop Drive.
For rideshare drop-off, please use Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center for your drop-off location. Please follow signs to Knight Hall immediately next to the Charles F. Knight Center.
For rideshare pick-up, please use Sumers Welcome Center at 1 Wrighton Way for your pick-up location.
Golf cart shuttles will be available for traveling between locations on campus, and for transport back to your parking location.
Career events at WashU are intended to be accessible to all. If you need specific accommodations, please email hiretalent@wustl.edu.