Societate Crescit Lumen—“Light is increased through human relationships”—has shaped how I approach my work since my days at the Wisconsin Union. That motto has always grounded me: relationships fuel learning, growth, and the kind of collaboration that makes our work in career services meaningful. It’s also what ultimately pulled me toward the Hire Big 10+ Career Consortium.
For years, I was a quiet lurker with the Consortium—showing up to Knowledge Communities, listening in, absorbing ideas, and feeling that spark every time I heard someone at another institution describe a challenge or solution that mirrored our own. I was craving connection beyond campus, wanting to learn from peers who understood the scale and complexity of our work. I’ve always been a learner and a builder by nature, and with my background in ACUI and in a past role within OHR’s professional development office, I knew how energizing it can be to plug into a larger professional community.
Eventually, I realized I wanted to do more than listen. I wanted to stretch myself, try something a little scary, and step into a leadership role where I could help shape the strategic direction of an organization I deeply valued. And yes—volunteering also opened new doors for professional development support, which was an added bonus. But at its core, joining Hire Big 10+ leadership was about connection, contribution, and growth.
If you want to learn more about the consortium, get involved, or talk about what participation looks like, please reach out to me. The past year and a half of serving in Hire Big 10+ leadership has been the most meaningful professional development experience I’ve had in career services, and I’m always happy to share more.
Nancy Kujak-Ford
Hire Big10+ Career Consortium Chair
nancy.kujakford@wisc.edu
🌐 Hire Big 10+ Overview
The Hire Big 10+ Career Consortium is one of the most valuable free professional communities available to UW–Madison career services staff. Now in its 46th year, the consortium connects career services professionals across the Big Ten plus DePaul, the University of Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame. It’s built for large, complex institutions like ours—where sharing ideas, comparing approaches, and learning from peers can make an immediate difference in our work.
Membership is free for UW–Madison career services professionals and unlocks access to events, working groups, KCs, and leadership opportunities. Request a Big Ten+ Career Consortium membership here!
The Hire Big Ten+ Career Consortium provides:
- A trusted peer network: Connect with colleagues who understand the scale, challenges, and opportunities of serving large student populations. The conversations are relevant because the institutions are comparable.
- Benchmarking and shared problem‑solving: Members openly exchange strategies on employer engagement, advising models, technology transitions, assessment, and student outreach. It’s a fast, supportive way to gather insights or test ideas with peers who’ve tried similar approaches.
- Professional development and shared programming: The consortium coordinates multi‑institution virtual career fairs, employer‑facing events, and collaborative initiatives that expand opportunities for students and strengthen institutional partnerships. Check out their full event list here!
⭐ Leadership & Engagement Opportunities
Participation is flexible and free. Career services staff can:
- Join committees or working groups
- Lead collaborative projects
- Contribute to shared resources
- Run for elected leadership roles
These opportunities build visibility across the Big Ten and offer a meaningful way to influence regional career services strategy.
🧭 Knowledge Communities & Committees
The consortium offers Knowledge Communities (KCs) and committees that allow staff to dive deeper into specific areas of practice. These groups create space for collaboration, resource‑sharing, and professional growth around topics such as:
- Employer relations
- Career advising
- Assessment and data
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Technology and operations
Joining a KC or committee is an easy way to build relationships, contribute expertise, and stay current on trends across peer institutions. Learn more about Knowledge Communities!
🏛️ Allerton 2026: The Hire Big 10+ Annual Conference
Allerton is the consortium’s signature professional development conference and it’s one of the most energizing gatherings in the career services field. Allerton is designed to help you step away from the day‑to‑day, recharge, and return with fresh ideas, new connections, and renewed energy for the year ahead. The 2026 conference will run Monday, July 27 through Wednesday, July 29 and includes:
- A Monday evening social to connect with colleagues across the Big Ten
- Tuesday programming with sessions, presentations, a campus tour, meals, and the annual awards ceremony
- Wednesday sessions and a closing breakfast
- Dedicated spaces for feedback, KC updates, and planning future consortium programming
- Scholarships will be awarded, so please look out for details this spring!
Find more conference details and the registration form here!
🧭Take Advantage of Hire Big Ten+
The Hire Big Ten+ Career Consortium offers a powerful network of tools, connections, and opportunities! We hope this insight and information has been helpful and we encourage you to sign up for a free membership today! Request a Big Ten+ Career Consortium membership.