NETWORKWarrington connects alumni and students

With more than 500,000 University of Florida alumni around the world, The Gator Nation is represented in every state and more than 150 countries. While the depth and size of the alumni base is a strength, it can also make it challenging for students to meet specific alumni in their industry.

The Warrington College of Business recently launched NETWORKWarrington to alleviate that problem. As the exclusive online community for Business Gators, it is already supporting career journeys from student days through alumni success.

“We saw a chance to give students direct access to the Warrington network and the alumni who want to help support their career success,” said Michelle Helmer, Director of Alumni Engagement. “By bridging that gap, we’re empowering students to build connections on their own. With such a vast Warrington network, the potential is limitless. It’s Business Gators supporting Business Gators.”

For alumni, NETWORKWarrington provides a way to give back to their alma mater from outside Gainesville without an overwhelming time commitment.

As a mentor, alumni create a profile that includes their location, career and industry information. When they indicate they are willing to mentor, students can filter and reach out to alumni with those parameters, and connect to create pathways for their future. If the student has an upcoming internship or job interview, they can utilize NETWORKWarrington to reach out to Warrington alumni at the company to learn more about the culture or gather advice.

Alumni can also connect with fellow graduates through NETWORKWarrington, using filters such as industry, location, job function, company and more to strengthen their professional networks. If the alumnus is exploring a company while preparing job applications, they can gain valuable insights directly from a Warrington graduate who already works there. If the alumnus wants to reconnect with former classmates or organize a gathering in their area, they can use the search features to bring Business Gators together.

There are more than 700 registered users in NETWORKWarrington, and that number will rapidly increase as the platform is rolled out to students and alumni throughout the fall 2025 semester. Students will be encouraged to use it as part of their career readiness courses and even have assignments to connect with alumni through the platform.

Students will stay in the system after they graduate and roll over to alumni status, allowing them to serve as valuable mentors for those who come after them.