Knox College hosted a two-day career and alumni networking event featuring over 20 alumni who returned to campus to share their experiences with current students.

The first day included two film screenings, followed by a Q&A session with Melvin Taylor ’14, who directed the short film Baldy, and filmmakers Vince Singleton ’03, Rana Segal, and Laurie Little, who created The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells.

The panels featured discussions spanning film, theatre, and entertainment careers, as well as explorations of the corporate world, nonprofits, education, and the sciences.

Panelist Jenna Cohen ’14, a project manager and account lead at Sharp Shell Digital, enjoyed being back on campus and seeing how it has transformed while retaining its essence. She appreciated the opportunity to connect with students and reflect on her journey. 

“You learn how to learn at Knox—and that’s the most valuable lesson you will ever learn,” she said.

“I recognize a lot of the sparking drive, nervousness, and anxiety of not really knowing what comes next . . . so I am hopeful that this panel was able to provide a level of comfort in knowing that it will be okay,” added panelist Alice Sherlock ’16, who works as a customer success manager at Wonderlic. 

Panelist Allison Diamond ’14 resonated with that feeling and shared her journey, starting as a fresh-out-of-school theatre major who worked professionally in theatre before pivoting to a nonprofit data management role post–COVID-19. 

“I'm in a role that I never expected I would be in after college,” Diamond said. “Part of going to a liberal arts school and taking random classes is that you'll see connections and gain skills that will help you in your career.”

Levi Morgan ’07, associate director of college engagement, said, “Forever Fire was a collaboration between College Engagement, the Bastian Center for Career Success, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. The goal is to be intentional about inviting alumni back to campus so that they can share their experiences with students and faculty so they can connect with each other in meaningful ways. This will be a yearly program that we plan to grow to include departments and disciplines campuswide.”