On August 8, Caltech alumni and students gathered at the Griffin Club Los Angeles for CAMP West LA, an in-person event from the Career Alumni Mentoring Program (CAMP).
The afternoon paired students with alumni mentors for a series of focused conversations about the choices that come during and after Caltech: navigating career paths, weighing opportunities, moving between fields, and figuring out what comes next.
The program began with brunch and opening remarks from Joseph Greenwell, associate vice president for Student Life and chief student affairs officer, followed by a mentor orientation led by Phil Naecker (BS ’76) and Claire Ralph, director of Career Achievement, Leadership, and Exploration (CALE). Students then joined alumni for structured mentoring rotations throughout the afternoon.
Among the mentors was Anson Lam (BS ’11), an engineering manager at The Aerospace Corporation. Like the other alumni in the room, Lam brought years of experience beyond Caltech to conversations with students who are now considering their own paths forward.
“The CAMP mentoring session was a great opportunity to network and share experiences with the Caltech community,” Lam said. “Even across different years and technical areas, it’s not hard to find something in common and relatable with other Techers. I think this is something unique about Caltech, and shows that it’s worth staying connected with the alumni community over the years.”
That ability to find common ground is part of what CAMP is designed to create. Students gain perspective from alumni who have already faced many of the decisions ahead of them, while alumni have an opportunity to share what they have learned and help the next generation of Techers navigate what comes after Caltech.
CAMP West LA was presented by Caltech Alumni Relations in partnership with Career Achievement, Leadership, and Exploration.
