When the student leaders of the Management Information Systems (MIS) Club set out to strengthen alumni connections, they envisioned an event that felt less like a formal networking reception and more like a University of Dayton School of Business Administration community gathering. With financial support from the School of Business Administration, the student-run organization planned and hosted the MIS Club Mixer at a UD women's basketball game, creating an opportunity that ultimately helped launch one graduate's career.
A Connection That Opened a Door
For Logan Manes '25, an MIS Club leader, the mixer was more than an opportunity to meet alumni and industry professionals. It became the catalyst for a full-time position as an IT analyst with ITW Food Equipment Group, where he now supports cybersecurity and infrastructure operations.
Manes first connected with ITW through a cybersecurity analyst internship in summer 2024 after meeting alumni and industry professionals through the MIS Club. At the 2025 MIS Club Mixer, he reconnected with ITW leadership while discussing his job search. Months later, when a full-time position became available, a recommendation from those connections helped secure the role.
Supported through philanthropic giving in 2025 and 2026, the MIS Club Mixer was designed to connect current students with alumni in a relaxed, relationship-focused setting. For Manes, it reinforced the value of building connections long before they are needed.
"You never know what's going to open the door for you later in the future," he said. "Just talking with alumni, whether they graduated three years ago or 25 years ago—gave me insight and helped me make connections."
From Student to Alumni Mentor
Today, Manes has returned to the mixer as an alumnus, offering career advice and mentoring current students. He regularly connects with students through LinkedIn, reviews résumés and shares internship and career guidance.
"I just tell students to keep making those connections," he said. "You're not going to hit every basket you shoot, but one might go through."
Connections That Keep Giving
For Manes, giving back is a natural extension of the support he received throughout his time at UD.
"If you just keep showing up and supporting students, it makes a meaningful impact," he said. "Without alumni support and donations, we wouldn't be able to do what we were able to do. Every alumnus I talked to had some sort of impact on my college career."
The impact extends far beyond one student's success. Events like the MIS Club Mixer create meaningful connections between current students and alumni while strengthening the School of Business Administration's community of mentorship and support.
"That's what the University of Dayton community is," Manes said. "I truly think the community at UD is something special. It changed my life."
Gifts to the School of Business Administration help fund student-led experiences like the MIS Club Mixer, empowering students to create meaningful opportunities that connect their peers with alumni, mentors and career pathways that continue long after graduation.
