Swans Flock Together, Wherever We Are
A Q&A With Helene Combes MELP'16 and
Natasha Dickrell MELP'15
With a growing alumni community, there are now more of us across the U.S. and around the world. This offers even greater opportunities for connection. Whether it's on holiday, a business trip, or in your everyday life, VLGS alumni may be closer than you think.
Helene Combes and Natasha Dickrell—both members of the Master’s Only Committee—recently had a chance to meet in person for the first time in Edinburgh, Scotland. Continue reading to learn more about their time together and how this connection came to fruition in Helene’s current hometown.
Helene (H): What made you think of seeking out/looking for other VLGS alums to meet during your travels?
Natasha (N): The idea occurred to me during a virtual Master's Only Committee meeting. Members were discussing their travels, international career locations, and offering recommendations to each other based on recent visits or current residence in a location where others might be traveling.
H: Was this your first time meeting with a fellow alum in person?
N: I had previously met with fellow alumni during local networking events hosted in Florida. These were casual events attended by VLGS alumni and staff, demonstrating the school's support of its graduates. Regional events are a great opportunity to connect and learn about how legal education is being applied both locally and internationally!
H: Where else do you hope to try and meet other alums?
N: There are so many avenues of communication these days to connect! Personally, I have been able to engage with and meet other alumni through webinars, newsletters, and volunteering for committees that meet virtually. I'm hoping to get more involved with planning local, in-person opportunities in the future.
H: What has been the most beneficial part of the experience?
N: The local recommendations and insight into the area were a highlight of our visit to Edinburgh. Meeting with you, Helene, as a local alum, allowed for a real perspective on shared interests in law, policy, environmental governance, and food, among other topics.
H: What advice would you give to others who are trying to meet fellow alums?
N: Get active with the virtual tools and resources to see where you can get involved! The VLGS staff are dedicated to hearing ideas and supporting graduates.
H: I had a great time meeting Natasha and showing her my hometown. From my own experience, having a wide network of Swans has been amazing. I celebrated Thanksgiving in Paris, stayed with friends all over the U.S., connected professionally with alums in South America, and went on adventures with my fellow Swans in Europe.
Here are some resources and ideas to connect with other alumni—both near and far:
- Reach out to classmates. It’s always fun to catch up with a friend, so check and see where your peers have landed.
- Find people on the alumni website, which hosts a password-protected alumni directory.
- Connect via LinkedIn and join the Vermont Law and Graduate School Alumni group.
- Get in touch with the Alumni Office and the Career Services Office—both of which are happy to serve as a resource.
- Attend events, whether virtually or in person. VLGS and the Alumni Association host a variety of gatherings throughout the year. View the full calendar by clicking here.
- Join the VLGSAA Master's Only Committee. Have a bit more time and want to help the commitee? Let us know!
