Sending Leaders into the World: Center for Career and Professional Development Holds Accounting, Career, and Ministry Fairs

This past month, the Center for Career and Professional Development hosted three different events on campus to aid current students in finding jobs and internships to step into now and after graduating. By creating opportunities for students to connect with companies and organizations, Dallas Baptist University upholds its Vision Statement to produce Christ-centered servant leaders who courageously strive to transform the world.

Desi Henk, who serves as DBU's Vice President of the Center for Career and Professional Development, says, "As we seek to help students find and fulfill God's call on their life, it is truly a privilege to partner with some of the best and brightest students in the world and connect them with leading companies, churches, and nonprofits as they go from University Hill to be leaders in their respective vocations." This spring, DBU catered to the needs of Patriots all across campus by holding the Accounting Fair, Career Fair, and Ministry Fair.

DBU Spring Accounting Fair

With nearly 100% of the accounting students on campus participating in this year's Accounting Fair, DBU eagerly partnered with respected and renowned firms looking for well-educated current students and upcoming graduates.

"It is essential DBU hosts small-scale expos to target those who have majors within certain colleges and to provide top employers for DBU students to connect and network within their specific field of interest," Henk says. The Accounting Fair had ten different firms in attendance and was given the opportunity to host Ernst & Young Deloitte, whose firm is among the "Big 4" accounting firms in the world and ranks highly among Fortune 500 companies.

DBU Spring Career Fair

DBU hosted 52 outstanding companies for this spring's Career Fair and over 200 students attended, many of which were able to exchange their resumes for the first time. With companies like Guidestone, TTI, Mouser Electronics, the United States Department of Treasury, Salem Media Group, and GEICO in attendance, opportunities were made available for students called to a variety of different career paths.

"We were greatly encouraged by students who handed out their resumes for the first time and interacted with companies, as they represented DBU well," Henk says. "Many students came dressed professionally and made meaningful connections with top employers and industry leaders from a variety of career fields."

DBU Spring Ministry Fair

This spring's Ministry Fair proved to be beneficial to both DBU Patriots and the local Church. With 35 churches and nonprofits in attendance, the 75 DBU students looking to fill ministry positions jumped at the opportunities presented to them to serve. "So many of our students made meaningful connections with some of the most faithful and influential churches in the metroplex," Henk shares.

Henk continues by saying that "there were many students who connected with the churches who came to recruit on campus and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet future employers." By the end of the Ministry Fair, 8 Full-Time staff positions were offered by churches in attendance and were accepted by DBU Patriots.

Dallas Baptist University is passionate about equipping its students with the tools they need to boldly step into their respective fields. These spring fairs gave students the opportunity to lean into their callings and make connections with companies, churches, businesses, nonprofits, and firms before leaving University Hill.

"My prayer is that God would use these students in a profound way to make a meaningful impact as lights for the Gospel, wherever God leads them," Desi Henk shares. Knowing it is the Lord that guides their paths, DBU looks forward to seeing the many ways its graduates will glorify Jesus Christ and serve the world in the days to come.