Meet YPAL’s 20th President

Meet Aimee Jewell, our 20th President!

What is your day job?
You mean, YPAL? 🙂 Oh, right. My real job. I’m the Employer Engagement Coordinator in the University of Louisville’s Career Development Center. So, long title short, I help students get from college to career through mock interviews, job search assistance, resume and cover letter reviews…the list goes on. I also work with employers to recruit our students, plan all of the Career Center events (lots of career fairs!), and manage our on-campus marketing efforts.

Why did you join YPAL?
When I first heard of YPAL, I was writing a commercial for an old YPAL event at the radio station I used to work at and thought it sounded amazing. A group that connects young people and gets them engaged in the community? I seriously couldn’t wait to join. My first event was an 80s-themed murder mystery party, and once I realized that not all YPAL events included side-ponytails and scrunchies, I was in. I became an Ambassador, joined the Emerging Leaders Program, received the YPAL Scholarship to Bellarmine University, where I got my masters, and the rest is history! I’ve been on the board now for five years and truly don’t know what I’ll do with my time when YPAL and I break up. We’ve been in a pretty serious relationship for a while now, so when the time comes, it will be rough. There will need to be lots of ice cream.

Favorite YPAL event to date?
Oh my gosh, there have been so many good ones over the years! YPAL used to do a “S#it I wish I Knew” Series, and I LOVED hearing from all of the awesome community members about what they wish they knew when they were young professionals. Those were probably my favorite to date, but we’re always trying to come up with new, fresh programming, so I’m excited to see what the new Board of Directors has up their sleeves!

You are YPAL’s 20th President! How cool is that! What are some of your goals for the year?
Our goals revolve around community, diversity, and inclusion this year. Making sure that we’ve got a seat at the table for anyone who wants to join is going to be really important, this year and beyond. Building a diverse pipeline and creating a culture of intentionality and inclusion is vital. YPAL’s mission is to be the voice for young professionals in this city, but it’s important that all young professionals are included in that collective voice, and that’s what we’ll be working to do, not only this year, but for years to come.

Why did you choose Louisville?
Well, I didn’t really choose Louisville as much as Louisville chose me. I was born and raised here in the 502 and haven’t ever left! I have friends who ask why I’ve stayed so long, and then they come back home and realize how much of a renaissance Louisville has been through. I love the Southern charm with the Northern mentality, and I especially enjoy the fact that you can really make change in this city. Someone once described Louisville to me as a town that’s big enough to feel like a larger city, but small enough to notice one person is missing when you’re around the table, and that’s my absolute favorite thing about this town. It’s easy to make an impact.

What is the best career advice you have received?
One of my favorite mentors recently reassured me that you don’t always have to have life figured out 10 years down the road. Take the next cool job, learn a few things, create sustainable change, and move on to the next challenge. I tell my students that all the time, but hearing it from someone who’s really killing it is always helpful! 🙂

Favorite thing to do in Louisville on an ideal Friday night?
The evening would have to begin at Feast (because bourbon slushies, obviously). Then, I’d hit up a concert at the Palace (my absolute favorite concert venue), and wrap up the night with a Honey Lavender Lemonade at Garage Bar. Don’t get me wrong, this definitely isn’t my average Friday night, but a girl can dream, right?

Favorite restaurant in Louisville?
Wild Eggs. If you haven’t tried the breakfast nachos, you haven’t really brunched.

Coolest place you have ever traveled?
Probably Hawaii. The culture is absolutely amazing there, and I love their music, lifestyle, and the gorgeous terrain. Plus, I went scuba diving there, and that was really awesome. Ask to see the picture my sister took of me at YPAL’s next networking event. It’s suuuuuper cute. (It’s actually really embarrassing and makes me want to die a little bit, but it’s definitely a conversation starter!)

If you had a dinner party, who are three guests you would invite?
Let’s see…if I’m allowed to invite anyone, I would have to invite Malala Yousafzai, Emma Watson, and Emma Stone. Talk about a table full of fun, fantastic conversation with some authentic, hilarious ladies!