“That kicked off my career:” York College Alum Connects with Students at Spring 2026 Career Expo, Experiencing a Full-Circle Moment
As Marianna Lally ‘26, a senior at York College of Pennsylvania, walked into the Spring 2026 Career Expo, she hoped to connect with possible employers while continuing her education. As graduation approaches, she’s focused on turning years of classroom learning into a clear next step. Opportunities like the College’s Spring Career Expo are helping her do just that.
For Lally, the event represents both a culmination and a beginning. A finance major graduating in May 2026, she will continue her education at Vanderbilt University, pursuing a master’s degree while exploring opportunities in asset management with a global financial firm. Her interest in international markets was shaped by experiences in Belgium and Turkey, where she was exposed to capital markets and the broader impact of finance on the global economy.
The York College Spring 2026 Career Expo on March 18 brought together around 130 employers and campus partners, all eager to connect with Spartans about what comes next, whether that’s an internship, a first job after graduation, or an on-campus opportunity.
Just a few rows away from Lally on the M&T Bank Field House floor, York College alumnus Cristal Batista ‘16 was having a full-circle moment.
Now a Director of People Operations at Two Dudes Painting Company, Batista was back at York College recruiting for a human resources role. Just a decade ago, she was a student walking the same Career Expo, hoping someone would take a chance on her.
A 2016 psychology graduate, Batista said she quickly realized she wanted to chart a different path than many might expect. “People saw psychology and automatically thought clinician,” she said. “There were people here who saw beyond ‘psychology equals clinician.’”
It was at the York College Career Expo that she found her first opportunity in human resources, an experience that ultimately launched her career in organizational development.
“That kicked off my career,” Batista said.
Today, she returned not just to hire, but to give current students the same opportunity she once received. “I continued to attend these kind of events and gained more HR-related experience, so I knew I could come back here and hopefully find someone great,” she said.
The Spring Expo showcased a wide range of national, regional, and local employers, including many major companies headquartered in the York area. For students, that meant a unique chance to explore career pathways and build professional connections that can last well beyond their time at YCP.
For employers like Batista, early interactions matter. “[The student’s] ability to communicate is what sticks out to me. Their desire to want to communicate,” she said. “I know it can be scary as a student, coming up to a random stranger and talking to them, but being able to shake hands, make eye contact, and articulate who you are and what you want to do is important.”
She also encourages students to stay open-minded. “Be ready for anything. Don’t box yourself in. Your resume can say one thing. Your background can say another. Be ready for anything. Be resilient.”
That same message resonates with employers across industries, including York College alumnus Anthony Jordan ‘04, a senior recruiting consultant with WellSpan Health. Jordan’s main focus on Wednesday was connecting with as many students as possible during the Expo.
“Getting your foot in the door is often the biggest hurdle,” Jordan said. “Once that happens, you really open yourself up to other opportunities.”
Jordan noted that the transferable skills students develop, like communication, marketing, networking, and media awareness, are valuable across a wide range of fields, and organizations like WellSpan are eager to retain that talent.
The strong presence of employers at the Expo reflects more than just hiring needs. It also highlights deep, ongoing partnerships with the College. In fact, 23% of participating employers are corporate donors to York College. That level of engagement underscores how much these organizations value York students, not only as future employees, but as emerging professionals worth investing in.
As for Lally, York College gave her hands-on opportunities that helped sharpen her skills and clarify her goals. “The Student Managed Funds Club isn’t something I saw at other colleges,” she said. “It’s great for my major because it gives hands-on investing experience.”
That experience proved especially valuable as she prepared for graduate school. “When I was in my interviews, the Student Managed Fund Club stuck out the most in terms of experience, even more so than my international work,” she said. “That’s where I learned my technical skills and how finance impacts the global outlook.”
Now, as she looks ahead to her next chapter, Lally is focused on building connections that could shape her future.
Her advice to younger Spartans echoes the spirit of the Expo itself: start early and stay curious. “Try to get externships your first few years at York College. Try to build a network,” she said. “Those externships can lead to internships and maybe even full-time jobs. It also helps you focus and figure out what you really want to do in your field.”
As she prepares to take her next step, the connections made at events like the Career Expo, just like they did for Batista, may prove to be the start of something much bigger.
