Connecting Virginia Talent: A Recap of the 2026 Virginia Universities Career Fair
Last month, numerous students and alumni gathered at the UVA Northern Virginia Campus in Fairfax, VA to bring together Virginia talent, regional employers, and career professionals for the second annual Virginia Universities Career Fair. This event fostered an evening of meaningful connections, networking with alumni, and career exploration. 8 Virginia universities, George Mason University, James Madison University, Marymount University, Norfolk State University, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary came together to connect attendees with employers and build relationships with students and alumni.
Throughout the evening, attendees of the fair were able to connect with 47 employers coming from various industries and career paths. Participating organizations included Appian Corporation, Clark Construction Group, Inova Health System, Booz Allen Hamilton, Fairfax County Government, Central Intelligence Agency, Hilton, Virginia Department of Transportation, and more.
Beyond meeting with the employers, attendees were also able to receive individualized coaching from representatives of the participating universities. Participants were able to ask personalized questions, strengthen career search-strategies, and receive guidance from career professionals.
The Virginia Universities Career Fair also featured a presentation from the American Society of Association Executives. Vice President of membership and volunteer engagement, Toni Lewis, discussed the importance of long term career development and associations being able to support job searches and potential future employees. Throughout the evening, participants were also able to connect and have meaningful conversations with fellow students, alumni, representatives, and professionals while also exploring the UVA Northern Virginia Fairfax Campus.
The Virginia Universities Career Fair was an excellent example of what can be accomplished when regional partners and universities come together. From building new professional connections to discovering new career paths, participants of the fair were able to leave with new insights to support the next steps in their career.
UVA Northern Virginia extends its appreciation to all the participating Virginia Universities, career coaches, employers, presenters, and our attendees who helped make this event a success! We also thank our lead sponsor, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, and the Virginia Department of Energy for their support in this event. We look forward to continuing this partnership and bringing the Virginia Universities Career Fair in the future.