Over 800 students begin professional journeys during Behavioral, Health, & Nursing Career Fair

Students from Liberty University’s wide-ranging healthcare programs spent Tuesday afternoon making potential career-starting connections with multiple organizations during the semester’s Behavioral, Health, & Nursing Career Fair held in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom.

Within the three aisles that stretched across the large room, 825 students had the opportunity to meet representatives from 60 organizations, including many local providers, like Centra and Carillion, and other top-rated hospitals in Virginia like UVA Health and VCU Health, some of the top hospitals in the U.S (including the Mayo Clinic), regional fire departments and behavioral health providers, and worldwide organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and MedSend.

The fair was facilitated by Liberty’s Career Services office.

“These events bring organizations to campus, allowing students to engage face-to-face with recruiters, ask questions, and begin building professional relationships early in their academic journey,” said Sarah Fendrich, assistant director of career coaching for Career Services. “Career Fairs serve a greater purpose than simply connecting students with job openings — they play a vital role in helping students build confidence, refine their communication skills, and establish professional networks that support long-term career development.”

School of Nursing senior Christian Link said the fair was an opportunity to learn about the organizations firsthand.

“This career fair gives us lots of opportunities to ask questions (directly) to the places we’re interested in,” he said, noting he has an interest in serving with the armed forces and was able to speak with Army representatives. “You can look up questions or information about a job online, and maybe you’ll find the answers, but it’s very reassuring to talk directly to the people from the organizations and see if it’s a place you’d like to go to someday.”

As a master’s student in clinical mental health counseling, Elizabeth Soto has her sights set outside of Central Virginia, and she said she appreciated the broad scope of organizations represented.

“I’m grateful that they have people coming in from different parts outside of the local region because I do plan on branching out,” she said. “Also, seeing how proud the different companies are of their work and the effort they put into it is very special to see.”

Given their Christian mission that aligns with Liberty, the Samaritan’s Purse team informed students about summer internships and future opportunities on the organization’s international crisis relief teams, which call for two years of medical experience before joining.

“We love Liberty University and its students; they really are Champions for Christ, and that’s why we’re here,” said Bethany Witzig, campus relations program specialist for Samaritan’s Purse. “We look for people who are aligned with our mission who want to share the Gospel and who want to help others in Jesus’ name, and we know that Liberty students have those same goals. We want them to be aware of their ability to serve, through whatever skill set they have, as a part of Samaritan’s Purse.”

The benefits were twofold: the students were able to meet organizations face-to-face and the organizations were able to assess the students. Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute counselor Nicole Hamby said she’s witnessed the professionalism and ambition of Liberty students.

“Everyone has been enthusiastic, sharing what they’re studying and what they want to do with their degrees and genuinely interested in our work,” Hamby said. “It’s been nice to see a lot of ambitious young people who are wanting to accomplish things and work at the places represented here, including us.”

“Many of the organizations that attended the (career fair) are faithful participants who return year after year,” add Temple Ansell, assistant director of employer relations for Career Services. “Their continued presence is a testament to the exceptional quality and character of our students. Employers frequently share how impressed they are with the professionalism, work ethic, and values our students bring into the workplace — so much so that they return to recruit more.”

Career Services staff maintain that students who attend career fairs as early as possible often see the benefits in enhanced opportunities, relationships, and personal communication skills, with each fair becoming more impactful as students grow in confidence and experience.

The next Career Services Fair, focused on the fields of business, engineering, and technology, is scheduled for Sept. 23. View the full events schedule on the Career Services website.