Alumni Conversations

On September 13, the Bard Graduate Center held “Conversations with Alumni: Life After BGC,” a special program designed specifically for current students and alumni to learn more about the kinds of jobs that our graduates find.
In addition to gaining first hand tips and advice from individuals working in a particular field, these programs are an important way for students and alumni to connect with their colleagues. The focus of this event was auction houses, galleries, and appraisal firms. Professor Kenneth L. Ames moderated the panel, which featured five alumni.
Patrick Sheehan (MA 2003), currently an appraiser at Gurr Johns, shared his experiences as a specialist at auction houses and how he successfully transitioned into becoming a professional appraiser. Csongor Kis (MA 2006) and Adrienne Bateson (MA 2011), who now work at Sotheby’s as a specialist and administrator respectively, explained the differences between these two areas in an auction house. They helped the audience to better understand the benefits and challenges of each career path.
Meaghan Cain (MA 2011) contributed by relaying her experiences as a sales coordinator at Christie’s. To provide insight into careers in galleries, Emily Klug (MA 2006) talked about working directly with collectors and in galleries, most recently at the Pace Gallery. The BGC will organize future “Conversations with Alumni.”