Alumni Share Insights at Leadership Conference

Weiller

Students gained insight from Oswego alumni during the third annual Future Oswego Leaders Conference March 8 and 9.

This event, organized by Omicron Delta Kappa and co-sponsored by the Oswego Alumni Association, provided students the opportunity to network with alumni professionals.

Matt Weiller ’84 delivered the keynote address in the Campus Center. Weiller, a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State, has served as a U.S. diplomat since 1991, working both in Washington and embassies around the world.

A German major and Russian minor at SUNY Oswego, Weiller served as a resident assistant in Funnelle Hall.
“Being a resident assistant is surprisingly similar to working in an embassy,” Weiller said. “You work in close quarters with the same people night and day.”

Jackie Maguire ’13, a dual major in adolescent education and mathematics, said of the conference, “I liked how diverse the speakers were — each one came from different backgrounds.”

Following the luncheon, breakout sessions were hosted by Weiller, Saleem Cheeks ’01, management supervisor of public affairs for Eric Mower & Associates, and Sara Wallace M ’10, executive team member for DestinyUSA.

A political science graduate, Cheeks credits his role as president of the Student Association as a factor that landed him his first job with the New York State Governor’s office.

Wallace spoke of hard work and success at a young age. “It’s not just about getting the job,” Wallace said. “It’s about hitting the ground at 100 percent once you have landed it.”

Wallace studied history and political development as a graduate student at Oswego.

Wallace emphasized setting challenging personal goals, “Don’t settle for anything less; tell yourself, ‘Yes I can, and I will do this.’”

—Tyler J. Edic ’13

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