The West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources received more than 130 clothing item donations to kickstart the creation of a career closet for students.
On July 25, Davis College Career Development Specialist Mallory Napolillo invited alumni to the Success Center to support students by donating new and gently used professional clothing.
“I wanted to launch the Davis College Career Closet with hopes of eliminating barriers that hinder professional success for our students. Through offering free professional attire, the Davis College Career Closet will help students be well-equipped to make a strong and confident first impression in their future career endeavors,” said Napolillo.
The Davis College is committed to preparing students for life after graduation, and that includes helping them make a strong first impression. The career closet will be housed in G216 in the Success Center on the ground floor of the Agricultural Sciences Building.
It will be available starting in the fall semester for students in need of free professional attire to set them up for success in the job search, interview process and other professional engagements. Too often, students are held back by financial constraints that make it difficult to access clothing that meets professional standards.
Alumni and members of the community showed up to support students by donating various professional clothing items to the closet. The clothing drive received 9 full suits, 127 additional clothing items, and a collection of shoes and accessories.
“Confidence comes from opportunities, and sometimes, that begins with having the right outfit,” said Amber McLaughlin, senior director of academic administration. “I’m beyond excited for the Success Center to be able to provide a professional clothing closet. This is one more way we can help empower students to step into their future with pride, preparation and purpose.”
If you are interested in donating professional clothing to the career closet, contact mallory.napolillo@mail.wvu.edu. If you are unable to donate clothing in person but would still like to support the Career Closet, please visit our fundraising page to learn about other ways to contribute.
The Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources envisions a world sustainably fed, clothed and sheltered. To learn more about the Davis College, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube by following @WVUDavis.
