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Immersing Yourself in Silicon Valley: Menlo College Students Gain Exposure in New Course

Academics News

Capitalizing on its unique location and connections in Silicon Valley, Menlo College recently launched a new Silicon Valley Immersion (SVI) course, taught by Chief Academic Officer, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dean of the School of Business Mouwafac Sidaoui.

In this course, which ran in the Fall 2022 semester, students visited various companies in Silicon Valley, including Google, Zoom, Colliers, Crowdz, and more. In addition, the course featured business practitioners as guest speakers to chat with students, share their experiences, and provide professional advice for those looking to enter the tech world.

“The Silicon Valley Immersion course challenges me and takes me out of my comfort zone,” Mary Antonette Reyes ‘25 (pictured above), a student enrolled in the inaugural SVI course, wrote on LinkedIn. “It teaches me how to pivot and thrive in a territory I am initially not familiar with or comfortable in.” 

Keeping Pace with Student Demands and Employer Needs

Menlo College has the mission of educating students for the 21st century and the innovation economy. The College is constantly updating the academic curriculum to stay on the leading edge. This allows students to readily adapt in the workplace and feel confident in their areas of expertise once they graduate.

Did you know that 93% of 2021 graduates are employed or in graduate school, six months after graduation?

“The world needs people of good intent, intelligence, and energy to create, curate, and apply resources to solve intractable problems, such as poverty, war, religious persecution, environmental degradation, and social injustice,” Dean Sidaoui said.

“Whether your interests lie in commerce, public policy, or business, at home or around the world, the Menlo College School of Business provides the opportunity to work with others of the same mind and purpose to create value for today and tomorrow.”

To learn more about new minor degree offerings available to students to meet their interests, click here.

Plug into Silicon Valley!

Get an out-and-out feeling of the high-tech atmosphere in Silicon Valley. Have the chance to take a tour of your dream company. Meet face-to-face with the elites in the industry, and listen to the stories and work experience of diverse talents from various companies.

[SVI group with Dr. Mouwafac Sidaoui; Chris Garrett ‘94, Trustee and Owner, Devil’s Canyon Brewery; and Kenzie Carpenter ‘19, Director of Marketing at Devil’s Canyon Brewery]

Originally published on November 9, 2022

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About Menlo College

Menlo College was established in 1927. It is a small, private, non-profit, four-year, accredited, residential college located in Atherton, California. Menlo College’s location in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative geographical areas, has enabled the college to create a valuable market niche for its students locally — as well as globally. Menlo College cultivates in its students the skills, integrity, and passion to make meaningful contributions in an innovation economy.