We offer current undergraduate CBS students and CBS undergraduate alumni access to career-related support and resources. Whether you are exploring career pathways, navigating the job and internship search process, or applying for graduate or professional school, our career team can help you prepare and strategize to meet your goals.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm | z.umn.edu/careercbs
careercbs@umn.edu | 612-624-9717
Kirsten Petersen
Katherine Sylvia
Fred Williams
Senior Pre-Health Career Coach
Pronouns: she/her
Strengths (Top 5)
Learner, Input, Empathy, Strategic, Connectedness
Out of work obsessions
Spending time outside year-round, family, movies/shows/books that make me laugh, and learning new things.
Best Words of Advice for Students
Reach out for informational interviews. Talking to people in careers you’re curious about can be really helpful for imagining yourself in a career path, figuring out if something seems like a fit (or not!), and getting tips for how to find opportunities and get into a field. Informational interviews led me to career counseling/coaching!
Senior Career Coach
Pronouns
she/her/hers
Life before CBS…
Prior to a life in higher education, I worked in various roles supporting water resource regulation and management in Pennsylvania and here in Minnesota. Through my early career, I discovered my passion for mentoring and developing people and pursued my Masters with CEHD. Prior to joining CBS I was a Career Counselor at Hamline University.
Adjusting to college life…
Your undergraduate years are a great time to try new things! Joining clubs and organizations is a great way to meet new people and also learn more about yourself outside of the classroom. I joined my college’s Women’s Rugby Club in my sophomore year without ever playing before. The strong bond of the team and the thrill of the sport gave me a sense of belonging that I didn’t know I was missing. I made lifelong friends and eventually had the opportunity to learn leadership skills as a co-captain. A seemingly simple choice to try something new ended up being very transformative for me and has continued to impact my life in a positive way.
Favorite part of the job?
Helping students and alumni discover their potential. I love the moment when a client realizes that they have so much more to offer than they previously thought.
Current passions, hobbies, things that give you joy?
As a parent of an infant and a toddler, my default hobby is raising my children! I also love my pop-culture podcasts.
Be on the lookout for…
Quoting and referencing TV shows and movies. Pictures of my family.
Associate Director for Career Readiness
Pronouns: he/him
Strengths (Top 5)
Harmony, Relator, Includer, Adaptability, Maximizer
Out of Work Obsession(s)
I am usually at a hockey rink everyday in the winter! Both of my kids are hockey players, and I have coached most of their teams as they have progressed over the years. I am also a DIYer and enjoy fixing and updating pretty much anything in my home. In most cases, I will try to fix something or tackle a project first, knowing there will be mistakes or imperfections along the way. It’s all part of the learning process!
