Joseph E. Ackels ’82 and Kristin Larimore ’89, ’91 will offer inside perspectives on their careers to students participating in the SMU Connection Winter Externship program.
They join 290 alumni across the country in providing one-day job-shadowing opportunities to current SMU undergraduates over winter break. The SMU Office of Alumni Engagement collaborates with the University’s Hegi Family Career Development Center and various departments across campus to recruit students and match them with alumni hosts.
Both Ackels and Larimore have volunteered for the “day in the work life” experience before.
Ackels, an attorney with Ackels & Ackels, L.L.P., in Dallas, considers the chance to share his insight a natural extension of what he does on a daily basis – “help people in their search for solutions to life’s challenges.
“Students seeking guidance about their career paths will have many questions, but not much experience. A glimpse at a day in the life of a lawyer will open eyes as to an attorney’s ability to impact lives every day,” explains Ackels, who holds a J.D. from Dedman School of Law.
In sharing his daily routine – “warts and all” – he discovered an unexpected benefit: “Surprisingly, the externship gave me the opportunity to reflect on my own work. I found myself explaining why I chose to give certain advice, or not to do so. It’s just a great opportunity to teach ethics outside of the classroom.”
For Larimore, the role of externship host links to her work as a volunteer campus recruiter, identifying talent for her company’s summer internships.
“The program allows us to introduce GE to first-years and sophomores and start developing relationships with SMU students we might recruit for internships, when they are juniors and seniors,” she explains.
“For the students, it’s a great opportunity to explore their career options and start making professional connections,” she adds, “and for me, it’s another way to give back to my alma matter and keep connected with students.”
Larimore earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from SMU and has been an unwavering supporter of the University through the years. She co-chairs the Class of 1989’s 25-year reunion committee, is a 25-year Mustang football season ticket holder and has served on the Mustang Club board.
She also gives an annual gift to Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences in honor of the late Michael Best, a former dean, psychology chair and professor.
“Dr. Best is the reason for the trajectory of my career, and I’m grateful to him and SMU for literally helping to shape my future,” she says.
That great SMU experience inspires her “to give back to the University any way I can.”
The Winter Externship program is one of myriad platforms for alumni to give their time and expertise in support of the University. As of this month, 464 alumni around the globe – in 25 cities and 24 states, as well as Canada, China, Greece, Japan and Vietnam – have signed up to help recruit and mentor students, participate in career events, and many other activities.
Find out more online about opportunities to serve and lead as Mustang volunteers, or send questions to involved@smu.edu.
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