Drexel Magazine's 40 Under 40: Online Graduate Dave Lanza

Drexel Magazine's 40 Under 40: Online Graduate Dave Lanza

April 8, 2014

Drexel University’s Associate Director of Alumni Relations, Dave Lanza, is a 2012 graduate of the online master’s in Higher Education program. Recently featured in Drexel Magazine's 40 Under 40, Lanza cites his greatest accomplishment as creating Campus Philly’s LinkedOUT program, which connects LGBT-identified college students with like-minded students and inclusive employers in Greater Philadelphia.

The program engaged more than 100 participants from colleges and universities throughout the region and addressed the unique challenges LGBT students face while searching for jobs and internships.

“The program was successful because Greater Philadelphia is an excellent place for LGBT professionals to live and work after college,” said Lanza. “I’m proud to be an openly gay professional living and working in Philadelphia and it is immensely gratifying to meet students who were able to secure an internship, expand their professional network or gain employment as a result of LinkedOUT.”

With his master’s in Higher Education, Lanza has been able to apply what he’s learned to a range of experiences: from participating in the strategic planning process to serving on various civic initiatives to identifying and developing new ways to engage students.

“Drexel’s online higher education program seemed very innovative and entrepreneurial and that’s what really sealed the deal for me,” said Lanza. “Despite being online, I felt very connected to the Drexel community. The program also expanded my professional network.”

Where does Lanza see himself in five years?

“Running my own organization and working hard to build a better Philadelphia.”

(Article written by Sabrina Ram & Katie Clark)

For more information and the full list of Drexel University’s 2014 Forty Under Forty, please visit Drexel Magazine.