KINGSTON, R.I. — Sept. 29, 2025 — The University of Rhode Island’s Center for Military and Veteran Education and the URI Marine Affairs Department are hosting their third annual Ocean Workforce Career Pathways event (formerly known as the Sea Service Symposium) on Friday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Quad. The event will give students the opportunity to speak with people connected to a wide variety of marine and coastal related fields.

Bob Flynn, director of the Center for Military and Veteran Education, and Elizabeth Mendenhall from Marine Affairs said the program was started because the two departments already shared a deep relationship, particularly with the Navy and Coast Guard members going through their programs. “I find that every year attendees make the same kinds of comments: ‘I didn’t know there was a NOAA officer corps!’ or ‘I never understood the difference between marine affairs and marine biology until today,’ Mendenhall said

There are obvious connections between various departments, but Pathways has garnered participation from other paths as well. “We even had the business school come, and then because of this, we had environmental groups like Trout Unlimited, Save the Bay, and the Surf Rider Foundation,” Flynn said. “You realize that once you put a stake in the ground, everyone’s related. We’re all cousins in this effort. We decided it would be expansive, and so we’ve had between 25 and 35 tables every year of eclectic and more directly related efforts. It’s been a big success with the students.”

Flynn says any student in high school or at URI, even potential graduate students that are considering a program at URI or a career post-graduation are welcome. This year, organizers have received 150 RSVPs from high schoolers planning to attend, and there will be a lot to see.

“If you’re interested in the ocean, in the maritimes, or the inland waterways, you might be interested in working for DEM. There are ways you can figure out whether this is something a person would like to do,” said Flynn.

“The Blue Economy includes non-governmental outfits offering internships that relate to our maritime environment, environmental groups, non-governmental groups, and industry. We’ve had some real success with staffed displays focusing on everything from robotics companies to engineering companies, industrial, as well as environmental,” he added.

There are many reasons students should consider attending, but Flynn says the most valuable would be the opportunity to speak to multiple different programs, employers, and groups about their mission face to face. “There’s so much information in a short time. You can walk through for an hour and have a handful of conversations that will be so much more informative than just reading about it,” he said.

“We’re talking about the people who represent and run these groups, whether that’s a URI program or an environmental group or a company. These are the recruiters, and they can tell you from the horse’s mouth what they’re looking for, what the requirements are, or what experiences other students have had.  Plus, some will be just plain fun.,” Flynn said. “You might see URI professor Brad Wetherbee talking about shark camp.”

Flynn recalls a student who came through one of the previous events. “She was a star student who came here with this dream of working for NOAA. Now she is so far down the career road, of realizing that dream. She even added a minor in marine affairs to her schooling to make her more competitive. She did that after talking with actual officers here from NOAA. She asked what she needed to do to get in, and they just showed her the yellow brick road.”

Flynn’s elevator pitch to potential attendees is simple: “Come and find your future!”

In the event of rain, the Ocean Workforce Career Pathways event will be relocated to the Memorial Union.

This story was written by Hugh Markey.