In a forward-thinking step to strengthen New Hampshire’s talent pipeline, Stay Work Play New Hampshire has launched a new partnership with Saint Anselm College that brings a wrap-around approach to student engagement and workforce development directly onto campus.

Beginning this spring, Stay Work Play will host a weekly on-campus presence every Thursday in Alumni Hall from April through September, establishing a “pop-up office” designed to connect students with community resources, career pathways, internship support, and connection to long-term opportunities across the Granite State.

This innovative partnership, developed in collaboration with Saint Anselm’s Career Development Center and Office of Partnerships, creates a direct bridge between Saint Anselm students and the opportunities and advantages of building a life and career in New Hampshire. Through this initiative, students will gain access to resources, networks, and insights that support not just career placement, but long-term community connection and belonging in New Hampshire.

“This partnership is about meeting students where they are and reimagining how we build pathways into New Hampshire’s workforce and communities,” said Corinne Breton-Benfield, Executive Director of Stay Work Play. “We know that the decision to stay in New Hampshire after graduation is about more than only job placement; it’s about being able to envision a vibrant and satisfying life. By embedding directly on campus, we’re creating earlier and more meaningful touchpoints for students to see what’s possible here, and to feel connected to it.”

This new initiative is designed to support students from their first semester through post-graduation, offering a more holistic and sustained approach to workforce  development. In addition to one-on-one engagement, Stay Work Play will collaborate with campus partners to activate programming at key points throughout the academic year, including the start of the fall semester, to deepen student engagement and visibility.

“We are excited to partner with Stay Work Play to bring expanded opportunities and connections directly to our students,” said Lauren Borrows, Director of the Career Development Center at Saint Anselm College. “This collaboration enhances our ability to support students. This is accomplished through making connections with employers across a variety of sectors, as well as aiding in career exploration as students consider their future in New Hampshire. By integrating career readiness with real-world connections across the state, we are helping students build meaningful pathways to success in the Granite State that extend well beyond graduation.”

Stay Work Play and Saint Anselm have a history of partnership originating in the Quality of Life Index initiative that, since 2023, has captured the changing perceptions and attitudes of young people in NH through a rigorous and unique data set. 

“This partnership reflects our commitment to creating meaningful, transformative opportunities for our students and our partners,” said Dr. Max Latona, Director of the Office of Partnerships at Saint Anselm College. “By continuing to work alongside Stay Work Play, we are strengthening the connection between higher education and the communities we serve, ensuring that students have direct access to opportunities that enable them to envision their futures right here in New Hampshire.”

A key component of the partnership is ensuring student voices are not only heard but actively integrated into Stay Work Play’s broader work, from programming and partnerships to policy priorities and statewide branding efforts. By embedding within the campus community, Stay Work Play aims to better understand the evolving needs, perceptions, and aspirations of young people in New Hampshire.

This partnership represents an expansive model for workforce development in the state, one that takes a collaborative, wraparound approach to supporting young people in building careers and communities in New Hampshire. By aligning institutional resources with statewide efforts, the partnership creates a more seamless and supportive ecosystem for students navigating their next chapter.

As New Hampshire continues to compete nationally for talent, initiatives like this signal a proactive, locally-driven approach to retaining the next generation of workers, leaders, and community members.

About Saint Anselm

Founded in 1889, Saint Anselm College is a nationally-ranked four-year liberal arts college providing a 21st century education in the Catholic, Benedictine tradition. Located in the greater Boston region in southern New Hampshire, Saint Anselm is well known for its strong liberal arts curriculum, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, commitment to inclusiveness, a highly successful nursing program, and a legacy of community service.

The College is committed to fostering partnerships that create meaningful and transformative opportunities for our partners, our communities, and the College.