For Dan Black ’94 and Lisa Black ’95, the family ties to Binghamton University run deep. Binghamton is in their blood — their children now attend college on the same campus where the couple first met as undergraduate students in 1993.
Since graduating in the 90s, the Blacks have gone on to pursue successful careers in the legal and business industries — with Dan leading global talent acquisition for Ernst and Young and Lisa becoming an attorney and founding partner of her own New York-based law firm, Black Marjieh & Sanford. While Dan studied business administration in the School of Management and Lisa studied philosophy, politics and law within Harpur College, Binghamton was able to prepare them both for their paths post-graduation.
“We both learned a lot about critical thinking, building networks and relationships, and time management,” Black said. “In Lisa's case, her Binghamton PPL track was an excellent foundation for law school and legal career. For me, SOM provided a broad base for my pursuit in various business disciplines.”
While visiting their children during Family Weekend this past semester, the Blacks — who have long volunteered their time to serve as mentors to Binghamton students — decided to continue giving back to their alma mater by sharing their experiences through a Skills Lab hosted by the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development.
The session allowed attendees to learn about corporate strategy from both the perspective of a large and mid-size organization by emphasizing common core skills like collaboration and adaptability. Black stressed the need to understand the business’ cultures and values, as well as the competitive landscape outside of the workplace.
Returning to Binghamton as mentors, the Blacks understand the impact of giving back with the level of success they’ve achieved and supporting current students through their own journeys — imparting their wisdom and expertise on the future generation.
“Helping to shape the next generation of successful Bearcats is rewarding in and of itself,” Black said. “We remember how valuable it was to hear real world perspectives when we were students, and to hear from people who were passionate about their careers. We hope to inspire that kind of interest and enthusiasm in today's students, and we are grateful for the energy that we get from the interactions as well!
Students can expect an exciting lineup of Skills Labs in the spring, with more information to be shared soon! Alumni and employer partners who are interested in hosting a Skills Lab and engaging directly with Binghamton students are encouraged to reach out to the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development to get involved.
by Katelyn Pothakul