GLOBALIZATION ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

The Dubai International Practical Experience Program

SANJAY PAREKH ’96/MBA ’99

you can’t avoid it. That is why we’re taking this opportunity to have a curriculum that provides a basic education to students about risk management.”

After diligently evaluating categories such as ratio of students-to-faculty, diversity of courses offered, size of the student population, and sporting facilities offered, Sanjay Parekh ’96 chose to attend York College in 1992 upon graduation from his high school in India.

“I chose YCP after careful consideration and I am extremely glad to have chosen YCP,” he says. “Along with great learning in the classrooms, I enjoyed my experience in the dorm and made some fantastic friendships over the years at the College.”

Parekh has forged a highly successful career and says, “Currently I am working with a multinational oil and gas company based out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I have been with the group since 2004.

While the minor is a natural fit for business majors, students studying other areas would also benefit from learning about risk management. “The program is designed to get students to think about the exposures to loss we all have, and how we should manage risk in a way that allows us to achieve our goals in life,” Campisi said. “If we don’t manage it well, it’s going to impact our ability to achieve our desired goals and enjoy life.” Colleges the size of York do not typically offer a risk management program as part of their curriculum. “I see this as a way for YCP to step into an opportunity that other colleges of comparable size are just not pursuing,” Campisi said. “This is a very mature industry according to its workforce demographics. We are going to be seeing 50 percent or more of the current workforce retiring in the next decade. Schools are not turning out enough risk management professionals to meet the current and future needs of the insurance industry.”

I started my role as an HR manager, and over the years I was given various opportunities in different roles from government liaising to client relations and vendor management.” The organization operates in the Middle East and North Africa building infrastructure projects for major government oil and gas companies.

At one point, Parekh states, “We had 25,000 employees on one of our projects, and this was a challenging but rewarding experience for me.”

Parekh wants other international students to experience the benefits of a YCP educational experience, and to that end has established The Sanjay Parekh International Scholarship Fund to financially support international students attending YCP.

“The main objective,” he explains, “is to allow these students to gain access to a world-class American college education.” As a proud alumnus of YCP he believes that it is a moral duty rather than a choice for him to give back to the institution that has played an influential role in shaping his career.

The time is ripe for York College to offer a risk management minor, and Campisi recognized that as he contemplated how to support his alma mater during its EVOLVE Campaign. He and his wife, Stef, previously established the Campisi Family Scholarship Fund at the College, but he wanted to do more. “I recognized the need for talent in the area of risk management and insurance. There really is nobody in our area that is doing this. Larger colleges that have these curriculums are most often preparing students for an actuarial science career. The industry as a whole, and specifically our South Central Pennsylvania Region, needs a broader and more comprehensive course of study. This minor is a great addition to the curriculum at York College, and a wonderful opportunity for students to be better prepared to manage risk and potentially pursue a very challenging and rewarding career in the world of risk management and insurance.”

Along with financial support, “My intention for the recipient of this scholarship is to gain an all-around education experience, fully engaging with the staff and students from other cultures,” he says. “This is an important aspect for them to build character and leadership in their future goals.”

According to the College’s Vice President for Enrollment Management Brian Hazlett, “The generous support of Mr. Parekh has helped us form the foundation of York College’s international recruitment plan.”

YCP played a critical role in Parekh’s career, providing him with the foundation and tools that have helped him in his career path. “The faculty-to-student ratio allowed students to engage in meaningful discussions,” he says, “allowing one to absorb different ideas and implement the same outside the classroom.”

He considers YCP his family and asserts, “It is important to stay in touch with family. I feel proud to know about the great developments in the College over the years. My support will continue in every way.”

Parekh has also recently organized a for-credit experiential learning experience in Dubai for a limited number of qualified students, starting in January 2023. Students will work with on-site supervisors for four weeks in restaurants and hospitality operations owned by Parekh. Many of the costs, including roundtrip airfare to and from Dubai, will be paid by him, although students will be responsible for items such as Study Abroad fees and international health insurance. Before arriving in Dubai, participants will learn about working and living in a Middle Eastern country. At the conclusion of their program, they will receive a grade for their work experience. For more information, go to www.ycp.edu/about-us/ offices-and-departments/ student-success/studyabroad/find-a-program.

TAJAH McCRAY ’20

Tajah McCray ’20 credits York College as the foundation of her current success. “York College provided me with the confidence, resources, skills, and knowledge that I needed to begin my career,” she says.

McCray, who graduated from York College with a B.A. in International Relations, began her journey in July when she was hired as a Government Relations Assistant for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) in Washington, D.C. The USGLC is a bipartisan national coalition that brings together multiple communities to strengthen America’s civilian-led tools and programs.

At the USGLC, McCray performs a wide variety of tasks, including writing summary reports on hearings from the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, tracking Congressional delegations and voting records on foreign policy legislation, and tracking the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs process.

The strong international relations experience McCray gained during her time at York College has prepared her with increased knowledge and overall understanding of her current job responsibilities.

“My course schedule, which included Government Relations of Africa and the Middle East as well as studying abroad in Cuba and India, gave me a broader view of world knowledge and certainly set me up for success,” she says. “Going into the field of international relations, you have to understand the history of countries abroad and the history of the U.S. York College provided me with this valuable information.”

McCray is most proud of her continued success in the field of International Relations. After graduating from York, McCray attended Seton Hall University where she graduated with a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations.

McCray highlights the study abroad program at York College and encourages others to complete a service-learning trip. “Being able to serve others,

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Throughout the year, York College graduates share milestones and successes from around the world. From wedding, engagement, and birth announcements to job promotions, creative projects, travel, and fun, Class building friendships, and creating memories that last a lifetime has been one of the greatest experiences that I have had,” says McCray.

McCray encourages everyone to embrace new experiences. “Go into new experiences with an open mind and willingness to learn. Share your ideas, ask questions, and most importantly, always bring the best version of you,” she says.”

Notes show what’s happening in the professional and personal lives of alumni.

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