On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Oakland University, in collaboration with the Career and Life Design Center, opened the 2025 Winter Career Fair with a ceremony launching OU’s newest initiative and commitment to students: the OU Pledge.
The CLDC-led initiative pledges that every student at OU who wants an internship, cooperative learning experience, research opportunities and other career-relevant involvement will receive it.
Wayne Thibodeau, Senior Director of OU’s Career and Life Design Center, spoke first at the ceremony and welcomed the five other speakers to the podium, including Michelle Richard from Governor Whitmer’s office.
“We need students that are ready to excel in today’s economy,” Michelle Richard, Deputy Director for Higher Education and Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential said. “That means focusing on rigor and relevance in their education. It means creating more opportunities to see our economy in action, so they can learn how to solve today’s tough problems and hopefully find interesting careers right here in Michigan.”
The common theme that was mentioned again and again during the launch was competitiveness and the instinct to explore. This resonated in OU administrator and audience member Glenn McIntosh, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs.
“Part of our role as community members and stewards of place is being good partners in the community, and our students are always going into the job market highly prepared. So, when you talk about talent for the state of Michigan, we provide that,” McIntosh said. “I’m looking forward to many students taking advantage of this opportunity from their freshman year to their senior year.”
Another one of the speakers was recent OU graduate, Aadeesh Dhiman, who was heavily involved with the CLDC during his time at Oakland.
“I think that is really crucial for all the universities to have since that is what prepares them for the actual industry,” Dhiman said. “The internship experience and the commitment that Oakland has to that is really good.”
Dhiman, who graduated in December 2024, is now employed at General Motors. Dhiman is just one of many success stories that the CLDC has. This key initiative is first and foremost about students’ progress and future careers — no one understands that more than Thibodeau.
“What I love about this initiative, it’s a university-wide, presidential initiative that is helping our students develop transferable skills through internships and experiential learning for future success,” Wayne Thibodeau, Senior Director OU’s Career and Life Design Center, said.
Other speakers that took the stage included Kevin Corcoran, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Trina Scott, Vice President, Civic and Community Affairs at Rocket Companies and Oakland University Board of Trustee. In addition to that, Mark Guthrie, Chief Information Officer, AM General Former Chair-OUAA and active board member in OU’s School of Business Administration, was in attendance.
Wayne Thibodeau stayed after the launch for questions and pictures with the speakers, OU board members and students.
“There’s a new homepage for OU Pledge, students can also work with the Career and Life Design Center to get themselves prepared for internships,” Thibodeau said. “That’s the beauty about our foundational elements of life-design, it’s helping students really prepare for their futures, explore and navigate the unknowns.”
For any student who is wondering how to find out more about this commitment from OU and the CLDC, visit oakland.edu/pledge/. For more info on the CLDC you can visit oakland.edu/cldc/ or find them in North Foundation Hall room 103.
