LL.M. students network with business, public policy students
by Darren Schenck
photos by Maria Iacobo
Students from three of USC’s most prestigious international programs mixed and mingled on Nov. 3 at the annual Student Networking Mixer, an evening event held at the University Club. Scores of students from USC Law’s LL.M. program, the USC Marshall School’s International Business Education and Research (IBEAR) International MBA program, and the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development’s Master of International Public Policy and Management (IPPAM) program participated in the event.
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| Students from three international programs participated in the networking event |
The purpose of the mixer was to encourage international students to network with domestic students and to reach out to potential colleagues from other USC schools.
“Many students in the LL.M. program tend to meet and socialize primarily with other international students,” said Misa Shimotsu-Kim, director of USC Law’s Graduate & International Programs. “We want them to see the value of networking for their long-term career, with domestic as well as international students.”
For some international students, networking is a foreign concept, according to Anne Marlenga, G&IP’s associate director. To prepare for the event, LL.M. students had invited some J.D. candidates to hold a session on ice-breaking skills.
“Networking is not always a concept in their culture,” Marlenga said of the LL.M. students who attended the session. “They aren’t always sure how to initiate conversation in such a setting. The J.D. students demonstrated how it’s done, and it really made an impact.”
Han-Wei Huang ’12, an international investment and tax attorney from Taiwan and G&IP’s SBA representative, attended the event to expand his range of contacts and colleagues.
“I wanted to meet people from different international programs, especially in business and public policy,” Huang said. “You need diverse perspectives to understand the American system of business. By networking, I wanted to learn how to interact with people of different cultural backgrounds and to meet potential clients.”
He said the event was “fabulous.”
Anastasia Yurkina ’12, who graduated from law school in her native Russia last year, said she attended the event because she’s interested in international business transactions.
“It was an incredible opportunity to meet people you can help, and who are willing to help you,” she said. “You have to network to meet prospective clients, and this event helped me make new contacts in the business school.”
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| Dean Robert K. Rasmussen addresses the students |
The students heard from SPPD Dean Jack H. Knott and from the Marshall School's Vice Dean Shantanu Dutta
and Assistant Dean Selo Imrohoroglu.
USC Law Dean Robert K. Rasmussen emphasized the value of networking within the Trojan Family.
“We recognize the significance of the learning that occurs outside of the classroom as it benefits your overall experience at USC,” he told the students. “While time in each of your respective programs may be short, you significantly contribute to the culture and fabric of our university. This year’s event is a continuation of a partnership among our schools and an introduction to what we hope will develop into longstanding friendships among our students.”
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