Alumni Spotlight: Emily Bendorf
CCPA alum Emily Bendorf (B.A. '12) made strong connections with her classmates and mentors while in the program, which – along with the skills she learned – helped pave the way for her current career.
Emily Bendorf (B.A. ’12) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.
The tight-knit community at Meadows not only provides a safe space for students while they’re at SMU, it can also benefit students as they embark on their professional journeys following graduation. CCPA alum Emily (Langille) Bendorf built strong connections to her fellow classmates and mentors while in the program, which ended up having a significant influence on her career path. These relationships, along with the skills she learned, helped pave the way for her current role as the Senior Manager of Technology at Southwest Airlines.
“The standards for good writing, attention to detail, and professionalism within the CCPA program are high,” explains Bendorf, who polished these skills during her time at Meadows prior to entering the workforce. “This level of consistency helped shape my reputation as a strong communicator, especially early on in my career.”
In her role at Southwest, Bendorf manages communications, onboarding, leadership development, and employee engagement for the Technology department. Her team also plans and executes events, builds campaigns to promote new business capabilities, and manages executive communications.
Even before her professional success, Bendorf had established herself as leader on campus as a member of SMU’s prestigious Hunt Leadership Scholars Program. This program allows students to combine learning and leadership during their time at the school and apply these skills in a variety of ways. In addition to being a Hunt Scholar, she was also the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award in CCPA when she graduated in 2012.
With her CCPA degree and these impressive accolades under her belt, Bendorf acknowledges that it’s easy to feel invincible when you’re just starting your career, but she encourages current students to never get complacent.
“When you graduate ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»úand feel on top of the world, it can be humbling to start a job where you are an assistant or work behind the scenes,” says Bendorf, who began her own career as a Development Coordinator at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “What you learn in those roles and your level of effort and commitment will determine how fast you grow and the personal brand you shape for yourself.”