ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University’s partnership with Bank of America continues to support the expansion of career development initiatives within ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine, a new two-year associate’s degree program offering professional preparation and enhanced academic support to lower income and first-generation students in Bridgeport and surrounding Connecticut communities.
Bank of America awarded a $1 million grant to support the new ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine academic division in the fall of 2023. Additionally, as lead philanthropic partner, Bank of America’s commitment to the program continues through a series of innovative programs aimed at equipping students with essential skills and experiences necessary for career readiness. These initiatives include mock interviews, career fairs, and immersive visits to Bank of America and Merrill Wealth Management financial centers and offices, where students engage with industry professionals and ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ alumni to gain insights into a range of career paths and personal finance resources.
"We are immensely grateful to Bank of America for their generous support of our ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine program," said Mark R. Nemec, PhD, President of ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University. "This partnership exemplifies our shared commitment to empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship needed to excel in their professional endeavors."
Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine students participated in mock interviews conducted by Bank of America executives, including Bill Tommins, president, Bank of America Southern Connecticut, and Daniel Lopez '17, VP of Middle Market Banking. These sessions provided invaluable opportunities for students to receive constructive feedback and refine their interview skills.
“Over the past academic year, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine’s inaugural class has built crucial career and lifelong skills that will support their long-term success and help our local workforce and communities thrive,” said Bill Tommins, president, Bank of America Southern Connecticut. “Career training and creating workforce pathways is imperative for empowering the next generation of leaders and talent. We look forward to our continued partnership with ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine and welcoming a new cohort of students.”
Bellarmine also hosted a successful career fair attended by representatives from Bank of America, BDO, Avangrid, Gault, Apple, Travelers, the City of Bridgeport, and ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University’s Center for Social Impact. This event facilitated networking and exploration of career opportunities across diverse industries.
Further enhancing their learning experience, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ Bellarmine students visited a Bank of America financial center and a Merrill Wealth Management private office in downtown ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. During these visits, students engaged in dynamic discussions with executives and ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ alumni, including Adam Stevko '08, and Rob Tuzza '09, both financial advisors at Merrill who began their careers through internships secured as undergraduates at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ.
Bellarmine students took summer session classes during July and August, and many worked in paid internships this summer. Fall classes begin on September 3 at Bellarmine Campus, and Bank of America plans to continue efforts in workforce development during the upcoming semester.
For more information on ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University's Bellarmine program, please visit fairfield.edu/bellarmine.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,800 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).
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