The OU Esports Advisory Board is a key participant within the progress of OU Esports Co-Curricular and Improvement.
It’s a group of OU alumni that seeks alternatives to develop OU Esports via neighborhood outreach, networking, and assist for members throughout the group.
“The Advisory Board was created to offer alternatives for Esports members with skilled improvement, mentorship, and retention for the alumni,” stated Elise Siler, an Advisory Board member.
Siler was the Media Lead in 2022 and wished to present again to the neighborhood, so that they utilized to the board and have become a member of the committee. They wished to assist and help new college students and members who come via OU Esports.
Lorenzo Rocchi, one other member of the alumni Advisory Board, joined to make up for misplaced time he wasn’t capable of spend in the neighborhood throughout his undergraduate research.
“Certainly one of my fees is that I am going out and attempt to contact folks in my community,” Rocchi stated. “I strive to determine how we will safe issues like sponsorships, or in some circumstances, have sponsored occasions and provides out prizes.”
Justin Lombardo is one other member of the Advisory Committee who has been affiliated with OU Esports since 2016. He helped create the Valorant group and even labored as a coach for a number of years. Now, he helps push the skilled improvement initiative.
“It’s good to have some alumni which have some expertise within the workforce after which are available and assist with skilled improvement,” Lombardo stated. “The objective of school and the place everyone seems to be at is normally to get a job.”
The members of the Advisory Board have been pushing a brand new skilled improvement initiative as of the Fall 2024 semester to assist college students perceive how you can create a superb resume and get a job.
“Every semester, we attempt to do knowledgeable improvement boot camp for people who wish to take part,” Lombardo stated. “[We’re] serving to those who have like minded hobbies on their highway to moving into the workforce after they graduate.”
The skilled improvement initiative and boot camps have been a spotlight of the Advisory Board, so OU college students can have higher alternatives to search out careers. Networking, resume constructing, and time administration are only a few of the various expertise which have been targeted on.
The Advisory Board can be establishing connections for future OU Esports alumni to present again to their neighborhood.
“I really feel that because the division grows, our college students will proceed to shine,” Siler stated. “I hope that [the Advisory Board] continues to make an influence on the scholars, and that they keep round after they grow to be alumni and grow to be assist for future generations of players.”
The board has plans and objectives for the longer term, too. Not one of the members are happy with leaving the system the identical. They’re continuously pondering of recent concepts and initiatives that might be pushed sooner or later.
“I’d wish to proceed to assist the preventing video games group,” Rocchi stated. “One thing that’s been my pet undertaking is discovering methods to have the ability to higher assist them, whether or not it’s in search of alternatives for funding and even simply exhibiting as much as occasions.”
Whereas board members like Rocchi wish to focus efforts on supporting different pillars of OU Esports, others, resembling Siler, want to strengthen particular person relationships.
“I want to proceed to strengthen mentorship inside [OU Esports], resulting in extra one-on-one interactions with members,” Siler stated. “That might be a actually good alternative for college students to have an perception into life after faculty and be there for them.”
The members of the Advisory Board work onerous to deliver OU Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation alternatives for skilled improvement, networking, and sponsorships. With out folks like Siler, Lombardo, and Rocchi, the group wouldn’t be as giant or profitable as it’s at present.
The Advisory Board plans on internet hosting extra skilled improvement bootcamps, with the following one deliberate for April. For those who attend one, take note the hardworking individuals who have made this initiative doable.
