Providing business attire to our students
Patty Hernandez, Quinlan's student services program manager, arranging the clothing in the Quinlan Closet on the opening day in September 2023.
The Quinlan School of Business is enabling its students to participate in career fairs, internships, and interviews with confidence in professional attire found at the Quinlan Closet.
The new initiative allows Quinlan students to browse donated professional and casual business clothing and either keep the clothing or return it for another student to wear after the clothing is dry cleaned.
A new resource for Quinlan students
Within the first week of opening, the Quinlan Closet helped 20 students find suits, pants, blazers, and more. Ensuring students have an opportunity at business clothing is a project Allison Davis, Quinlan's associate director of student services, has been proud to be a part of.
"From personal experience, professional clothing is really expensive and if you're not prepared for that expense, it can be really hard to feel confident," Davis said.
"The interview process specifically is already so stressful for students, so if this is one less thing students need to worry about, then this is a ten-out-of-ten win for me."
Preparing for opening day
The Quinlan Closet has been in development for more than a year. A coordinated effort between Quinlan student services and school leadership helped establish a budget, benchmark similar programs at other schools, collect the initial clothing inventory, and build a permanent custom home for the closet on the second floor of the Schreiber Center.
Patty Hernandez, Quinlan's student services program manager, says she's excited for the future of the closet.
"I had a student come in to use the closet who said he also had clothes to donate," Hernandez said. "I think it's so exciting. I think it's going to be a snowball effect."
Getting involved
Quinlan students who are interested in exploring the closet can book a time for a private viewing.
The Quinlan School of Business is also looking to expand the closet. Anyone can donate lightly used business professional and business casual items. Clothing donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Schreiber Center. In the future, Quinlan also hopes to be able to accept monetary donations for the closet.
"I want Quinlan to be a home where students know we are here to support them in any way we can," Hernandez said.
Learn more
- Quinlan Closet