York College Chemistry Department Hosts Fall 2025 CIAC Meeting

From forensics to biotech to the US Navy, York College of Pennsylvania chemistry students got a glimpse into their future careers. On October 22nd, students were invited to the Yorkview Hall in the Willman Business Administration Building for the Fall 2025 Chemistry Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) meeting. There, they spent the evening speaking with different company and industry representatives.

“The Chemistry Department Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) was established to develop partnerships with local industries that work generally in the field of Chemistry,” shared Chemistry Professor Dr. Gregory Foy about the biannual meeting. 

“Through the CIAC partnerships, area industry representatives are able to take advantage of engaging with our excellent students, accomplished faculty, and other industry professionals,” said Dr. Gregory Foy.

The event was open to Chemistry students of all grades, providing them the opportunity to learn what it is like to work within the chemistry industry, network, and secure connections that could lead to potential internships and employment after graduation.

This year, nine companies and over 60 Chemistry majors were in attendance. 

The companies that were in attendance at the Fall 2025 CIAC Meeting included:

• US Navy, NAVSUP
• Delaware Division of Forensic Science
• Adhesives Research
• MRG Laboratories
• Organic Remedies
• Shimadzu Scientific Instruments
• Biotechnique
• Eurofins
• Envision Biomedical

Students were split into groups of six and sat at tables where industry representatives explained what they did and allowed students to ask questions. The groups would then rotate to a new table and meet with a different company every 12 minutes.

Some professors and faculty from the Chemistry Department also sat with various student groups and observed as they interacted with different industry representatives. Dr. William Steel, Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry, and Mary Ritchey, Instructor of Chemistry, were very happy with the turnout and engagement the students had throughout the evening, especially with the connections that were formed on both sides.

“We have held this event for more than 20 years in the fall in a few different formats,” Dr. Steel said. “This most recent format, where we have these groups of about eight or 10 students, is in response to the industry representatives’ desire to have more time with the students to really get a better conversation about what they do and how they move from college into their careers. So, in response to that collaboration with our industry partners, we’re constantly growing the event to try to make it as best as possible for both sides, our students and our industry partners.”

“The CIAC is such an invaluable experience for our students; helping them to be successful in their future job searches and careers,” Ritchey said.

Some company representatives were also York College alumni who had participated in the same meetings and had even found jobs as a result of networking or by picking up materials that the representatives provided for the student attendees. 

Analytical chemist Rachel O’Regan and Technical Service Chemist Danielle Muller, both York College alumni, represented Adhesives Research at the event and shared their own personal experiences with networking while in college.

“I got my job because of a business card that I got from this event,” O’Regan said. “And I came in for an interview, I got hired, and I just really like to press on the students, don’t be afraid to ask for business cards, ask for contact information, because you just never know when an opportunity is going to come up and you always want to be able to take any chance that you can get when it comes your way.”

“It’s a great opportunity for us in the industry as well as for the students, just being able to offer internships and give that experience to the students,” Muller said. “It’s a great thing for us to be able to offer.”

Chemistry majors were even able to visit a table with members of York College’s staff who were responsible for creating networking opportunities for students and helping them determine the support they would need to succeed and reach their goals. One of the representatives for that group was Jerry Alberts, who is the Director of Corporate Engagement and Foundation Relations within the College.

“This is a great opportunity for me to get to know the students in what we do because we try to engage the companies with the students,” Alberts said. “Also, the students with the companies, and the more we can get to know the students, their abilities, what their interests are, the more it helps me connect those companies with the students to help them get jobs, help us raise scholarships and equipment, and program support. And so, I always welcome these types of opportunities where I can sit in and participate with a student engaging with the companies.”

Students of all grade levels left the event with new connections and ideas for what they want to pursue as they continue their studies. While first-year students began to get acquainted with what the job market will look like for them and asked questions about potential career paths, seniors and other upper-class students used the evening to better understand how to approach applying and presenting themselves as desirable candidates.

Rachel Nzeni, a first-year Biochemistry major, and Dustin Rubincan, a senior Chemistry major, shared that attending the event was a great experience for them, allowing them to gain valuable insights into the chemistry job market.

“I was anxious coming,” Rachel said. “It was my first time, [and] I didn’t know what to expect, but everybody’s friendly, it all went smoothly, [and] [the company representatives] answered all of my [...] questions, which was pretty good, so I had fun.”

“I feel like events like this in the Chemistry program are very insightful,” Dustin said. “They give a lot of positive insight into what is expected by employers. [...] I feel like they taught me a lot of what current employers are looking for, and what they’re looking for right now is just being open to learning new things, and employees just keeping an eye out for opportunities is what the general consensus has been.”

By the end of the night, countless students walked away with new goals and connections. Not only did they get to engage in real conversations with industry professionals about what the future may hold for them, but they also saw through the returning alumni that if they put in the work, achieving their dream jobs is possible.

“It is so wonderful that many of our Chemistry alumni attend these events as industry professionals, and they can quite literally tell our students that they were in exactly the same position as the students not too long ago,” Dr. Foy said. “I feel like the message coming from these young professionals is so relatable to our students, and the Chemistry faculty really appreciate the support from our alumni.”