Elsie Hillman Alumni Network

Collage of Elsie Hillman Forum alumni

Vision

To cultivate a lifelong community of engaged, empowered leaders dedicated to advancing the legacy of Elsie Hillman through collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful impact across diverse fields and industries.

Mentorship 

  • Alumni can provide mentorship and guidance to current students through potential internship opportunities, career workshops, and one-on-one advising.

Community building

  • Alumni can foster a sense of belonging and shared identity among graduates, creating a supportive community beyond graduation. Key alumni can serve as ambassadors, Elsie Advisory council helping to recruit other EHCF alumni.

Access to expertise

  • Alumni with specialized knowledge can contribute to the EHCF by sharing their expertise through guest lectures, workshops, or advisory boards.

Networking opportunities

  • Alumni can connect with each other to share career advice, job opportunities, and professional insights, benefiting both recent graduates and established professionals.
  • These opportunities will benefit both recent graduates entering the workforce and seasoned professionals seeking to expand their networks or mentor others.

Stay Connected

We're building out the Elsie Alumni Network and want to hear from you! Please fill out the following survey to tell us about which program(s) you participated in, what you are currently doing, and how you'd like to get involved.

Elsie Hillman Civic Forum Alumni Feedback Survey

Let's keep Elsie's legacy growing!

Archive

Browse the alumni archives of our past programs and student engagement opportunites below:

All Angles

Ambassadors for Civic Engagement 

“This program is a unique opportunity at the University of Pittsburgh for graduate students to participate in a community engaged fellowship. I enjoyed the opportunity to team up with another graduate student and the IOP to explore what we could do/create to assist the community organization with their goals. Overall, I learned about how policy and politics intersect with child development and family services.” 
-Maggie, ACE Fellow 25-26

Elsie Hillman Honors Scholars

"The Elsie Hillman Honors Scholars Program has been one of the most valuable parts of my undergraduate experience. As someone with interests in psychiatry, this program connected me with CONNECT, an organization involved in public health work that aligned with my passions. I was given an opportunity to create a project that supported a law enforcement assisted diversion initiative that aims to address addiction and mental health challenges by offering alternatives to incarceration, reframing these issues as public health concerns rather than criminal matters. This program taught me how to bring my ideas to life, from crafting an initial proposal, navigating challenges in implementation, and delivering a final presentation on my experiences and findings. Additionally, it surrounded me with a cohort of peers and mentors who are all similarly committed to creating positive change for the community. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of this program that both challenged and inspired me to grow as a leader and advocate.” 
- Varun, Elsie Hillman Honors Scholars 24-25

Legislator for a Day

“Participating in Legislator for a Day was a transformative experience for me. Meeting with Abigail Salisbury helped me understand that policy work is not always black and white, and that change often takes time, persistence, and creativity. Seeing firsthand how she supports her constituents beyond legislation—by providing resources, advocating for their needs, and staying engaged in the community—showed me the real impact of this role.

As a social work student who plans to become a therapist and eventually enter the policy space, this experience allowed me to see how I can combine both paths to create change.”
-LaShesia, Legislator for a Day 2026

Marc Cherna Fellowship

“During my internship, I got to fully immerse myself in so many systems and see how they really work and operate firsthand. From sitting in court-mandated support groups, BIP classes, to being in high-risk meetings, looking at data/policy, and then court, I really got to understand the CJS in a way that just reading about it does not do. In the future, I am really interested in working with survivors, and having an understanding of how the legal systems involvement and policy really provides me with a holistic lens. I also really appreciated the freedom to focus on my own research project and do something that really spoke to my interest.”
-Mackenzie, Cherna 25-26

Never a Specator Engagement Forum

“It was edifying to hear the voices and perspectives of local and civic leaders. I feel more inspired to engage in leadership related to my interests in science, society, and public policy.”
-Fox, NAS 2025

“I had the opportunity to learn from the mentors the importance of dedication and working collaboratively with the community.”
-Catherine, NAS 2025