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Destinations & Degrees: ESF's Fall 2026 Career, Internship and Graduate School Fair took place in the JMA Wireless Dome Sept. 29.
ESF's Destinations & Degrees Draws Record Crowd of Students, Employers and Graduate Schools
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sept. 30, 2026 — Hundreds of students, alumni, employers and graduate school representatives gathered at the JMA Wireless Dome Sept. 29 for Destinations & Degrees: ESF's Fall 2026 Career, Internship and Graduate School Fair, one of the largest career networking events in the College's history.
Hosted by ESF Career Services, the annual event combines the College's two largest fall recruitment programs into a single fair, connecting ESF students and recent graduates with employers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and graduate schools from across the country.
Nearly 70 employers and 30 graduate schools participated in the event, providing students with opportunities to explore internships, seasonal and full-time employment, as well as graduate, law, medical and other advanced degree programs.
“Our goal is to create meaningful connections that help students move from the classroom to successful careers and graduate study,” said Dr. John Turbeville, director of career services and corporate engagement. “Destinations & Degrees gives students the opportunity to engage directly with organizations that are looking for the skills, knowledge and passion ESF students bring to the workforce.”
The fair highlighted the strong role ESF alumni play in supporting student success. Approximately 40% of participating employers were represented by ESF graduates who returned to campus to recruit future colleagues and professionals. Prior to the fair, ESF Career Services and the Office of Alumni Relations hosted a special breakfast in Club 44 to recognize alumni representatives and celebrate their continued engagement with the College.
“ESF students are driven by a commitment to solving some of the world's most pressing environmental and societal challenges,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Seeing so many employers, graduate schools and alumni come together to support our students demonstrates the strength of the ESF network and the value of an ESF education. These connections help launch meaningful careers and prepare the next generation of environmental leaders.”
The event underscores the real-world impact of career networking opportunities at ESF. Preliminary data from the Class of 2026 show that 13 recent graduates secured full-time positions through connections made at Career & Internship Fairs. Those graduates reported an average starting salary of more than $64,000.
Graduate and professional schools also met with students from all majors and class years. Approximately one in four ESF graduates pursues graduate education, making Destinations & Degrees an important opportunity for students considering advanced study.
More than 35 student and staff volunteers supported the event, helping ensure a welcoming and professional experience for attendees throughout the day.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future. ESF's mission is to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of natural and designed environments, and act both locally and globally to improve our world. ESF's students, faculty, staff and alumni make a global impact on improving and sustaining the environment. ESF offers a world-class education among a close-knit community of more than 2,000 scholars with common values and a shared sense of purpose. ESF's tight-knit community is centered alongside Syracuse University in the heart of Central New York and includes a system of properties spanning 25,000 acres that broadly represent New York state's rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction. To learn more, visit esf.edu.