The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) hosted a successful DevCon regional event, presented by Medtronic, from June 19-22 in Atlanta.
Organized and hosted by TMCF and TMCF Ventures, DevCon is a four-day regional conference centered on professional development for college freshmen and sophomores from public and private historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). DevCon equips students with fundamental business skills and professional competencies through leadership development, career readiness and targeted tech upskilling.
“This event allows us to deepen institutional partnerships through cooperative regional marketing efforts to grow enrollments and student outcomes,” DeShawn S. Spellman, vice president of TMCF Ventures, said.
DevCon features prominent business leaders who guide students through sessions on problem solving, financial education, resume and interview best practices, dining etiquette, mental health and cultivating a personal brand.
“To be in a room full of young, Black professionals and the future of leadership is so inspiring,” Xavier Burrell, a rising junior at Claflin University, said. “Networking with industry professionals puts me in a position to learn about things like how to cultivate my career, how to present myself in corporate America and how to navigate opportunities I may not have had before.”
Students also heard from an HBCU alumni panel, learned about the power and importance of voting, and had the opportunity to take professional headshots.
“This is an important event, as it helps provide a pipeline of diverse talent to corporate hiring managers,” Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, said.
TMCF member-schools represented by DevCon participants include Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Albany State University, Florida A&M University, Fort Valley State University, Savannah State University, South Carolina State University, Tuskegee University and University of the Virgin Islands – St. Thomas.
The conference’s presidential partners, including Adobe, Citi and TEKsystems, played a pivotal role. Signature sponsors, such as Fund II Foundation | Intern XL, Wells Fargo and Equitable | Alliance Bernstein contributed to the event’s success. Associate sponsors Toyota, Coca Cola, Vanguard and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and pioneer sponsors Cargill, Capital One, PwC, TIAA, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, MUFG, RJ Reynolds, Rose International, Xerox and RTX were also instrumental to the program’s success.
“Our experience at DevCon and being able to network, train and connect with HBCU students across these universities is something that TEKsystems is passionate about,” Alice Zients, manager of corporate social responsibility at TEKsystems, said. “With this partnership, we are making sure we are opening doors to opportunities, ensuring students have access to professional development and are sharpening the skills they need for their future careers.”
