When Harvard students want to explore paths for their careers after college, Mignone is the name to know.
Passionate about helping students achieve their aspirations both inside and outside of the classroom, Allison Hughes Mignone AB ’94, MBA ’99 and Roberto A. Mignone AB ’92, MBA ’96 have given generously to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to strengthen Harvard’s advising and career services. In recognition of the couple’s support, the former Office of Career Services is now known as the Mignone Center for Career Success.
A gift from the Mignones in honor of Allison’s 25th Reunion bolstered the center’s mission to provide comprehensive career development services to all undergraduates at Harvard College, master’s and PhD students at the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and undergraduate and master’s students at Harvard Extension School. The gift also allowed the center to make significant improvements to its office space on campus—as well as its website, communications channels, and other online resources—to better serve students throughout their time at Harvard.
“The generous gift from the Mignones has enabled a much-needed refresh of our office and upgrade of our resources,” says Deb Carroll EdM ’11, interim director of the Mignone Center. “Our events and advising generate meaningful conversations and connections, empowering students to explore and achieve their professional goals, wherever they may lead.”
The design of the first-floor renovation has facilitated a variety of impactful programs, including open houses, panels, workshops, daily drop-in advising, and employer networking.
“This space represents the idea of openness, of being welcoming, of thinking about the world and engagement,” says Manny Contomanolis, associate dean for academic engagement in the Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Education, which oversees the Mignone Center.
“The programs and the interactions will make this building come alive and turn it into a place with history, meaning, and a sense of purpose,” adds Danoff Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana PhD ’98.
Programmatic enhancements made possible by the Mignones’ gift include resources for students who are undecided about their career paths. A comprehensive self-assessment tool allows students to explore their skills, interests, and values, while meetings with advisors provide support as students identify and refine their short- and long-term goals.
Long-standing supporters of the College and Business School, the Mignones have built a philanthropic legacy at Harvard that includes underwriting fellowships for graduate students pursuing stem cell research, seeding initiatives such as Harvard Online to extend access to online education for learners around the world, and expanding undergraduate research and travel opportunities.
Allison and Roberto—who was a four-year member and officer of the men’s Harvard Rugby Football Club as an undergraduate—also provided funding for the renovation of Roberto A. Mignone Field, which opened in 2016 as the new home of Harvard’s rugby teams.
A significant focus of their support has been improving the College’s advisory services for first-generation students so that they are better resourced to succeed both at Harvard and after graduation. Their giving enables the career services team to better serve students as they search for internships, jobs, and other opportunities during their transition into postgraduate life.
“If we’re going to address the systemic problems in America, we have to open up the opportunities after Harvard,” says Roberto. “And that starts with what happens at this center.”
“The generous gift from the Mignones has enabled a much-needed refresh of our office and upgrade of our resources. Our events and advising generate meaningful conversations and connections, empowering students to explore and achieve their professional goals, wherever they may lead.”