Photo via UC Merced

The University of California (UC) education system announced Friday that it will host the HireUC Alumni Career Summit on Aug. 21 at the Fresno Convention Center.

The summit’s goal is to connect UC alumni from across California with employers from a wide range of industries.

The event is supported by all 10 UC campuses across California–UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz. UC Merced is the closest to Fresno.

The event targets early- and mid-career professionals and offers direct recruitment opportunities, professional development workshops and networking sessions. Attendees will also receive complimentary professional headshot photographs.

“By hosting the HireUC Alumni Career Summit in Fresno, we’re bringing together UC alumni talent and employers who can harness the region’s potential,” said Brock Cavett, Convener of the UC Alumni Career Network, in a news release.

The news release states that the Central Valley has an underemployment rate of 15%, significantly higher than the state average of 9% and the national rate of 8%. Organizers hope the summit will help address this disparity by linking local employers with UC alumni who have diverse academic backgrounds and skill sets.

“This summit highlights our commitment to empowering California’s workforce while creating lasting opportunities for economic mobility, particularly in areas like the Central Valley, which face higher-than-average underemployment rates,” Cavett said.

The event is free for UC alumni. Employers from public, private and nonprofit sectors are can register at the event’s website.