Carlson Business Career Center

Pronouns: She/Her

Strengths (Top 5)
Developer, Harmony, Empathy, Positivity, Consistency

How did you become a career development professional?
My graduate degree is in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Initially I was planning on working with individuals struggling with addictions and eating disorders. As I got into my coursework, it just didn’t feel right. We had a Career Counseling concentration so I switched over to that (I was the only one in my cohort of 12), and I fell in love and have been doing it ever since. I’ve worked at the University of Nebraska Lincoln-College of Business as a career coach/assistant director, University of Wisconsin-Stout Career Services as an employer relations manager, and now here at the University of Minnesota as a career coach, assistant director, and now director of undergraduate career development.

Best Words of Advice for Students
Trust yourselves! All you can do is make the best decision with the information you have. Identify what information you need and how to find it (we can help with that!) and use that to make decisions. The decisions you make now are not permanent, so don’t put too much pressure on yourselves.

Out of Work Obsessions
Whatever I’m doing I try to do it outside: camping, biking, motorcycling, being on the lake, reading, playing volleyball. I also do advocacy work for the Alzheimer’s Association that I’m very passionate about.

Pronouns: She/Her

Strengths (top 5)
Relator | Adaptability | Individualization | Harmony | Connectedness

How did you gain experience when you were a student?
During my time as a student, I developed many transferable skills through a variety of roles both on and off campus. My first job in college was a work-study appointment with the Undergraduate Office of Admissions, where I honed my communication and organizational skills by answering phone calls, scheduling campus tours, and coordinating appointments with Admissions Representatives. The following year, I worked in the Academic Affairs Office, performing clerical duties that involved handling sensitive records, which sharpened my attention to detail and reinforced the importance of confidentiality. In my Senior year, I also served as a Teaching Assistant for two different classes and volunteered for a youth after-school program at the YMCA for course credits.

In addition to these positions, I worked in various customer service and sales roles off-campus. These included positions in fast food, a buffet, a cafe, as a sales associate, and at a car dealership. These roles helped me develop strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and a customer-focused mindset. As students, when you speak with potential employers, it’s essential to highlight transferable skills and provide concrete examples from your experiences to demonstrate your capabilities.

Out of Work Obsessions
Outside of work I enjoy comfy activities. A blanket, fuzzy socks, and a good movie. I also love going to the movie theater. For fun, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, traveling, and going to brunches.

Pronouns: she/her

Strengths (top 5)
WOO | Developer | Empathy | Positivity | Strategic

How did you become a career development professional?
I have always been excited by the opportunity to help other people achieve their goals! As a student, I had a lot of mentorship roles that then led to me finding a path into Higher Education. When working a front desk role with the University I realized that everyone I looked up to had similar roles in student support roles, so I followed that lead. Which made me realize that a great place to start with exploration is with the people you look up to! After working in Student Engagement support I realized that I was most excited about one on one developmental opportunities with students. I went to grad school, where a lot of my class interests fell into career development, which was my second exploration lesson – sometimes the things you love learning may be the things you love doing. Career services was an area where I could combine my passion for supporting the dreams of others with my drive to work towards systems of work that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Words of Advice for Students
The universe loves to mess with plans! Even if you feel you have the most linear path to your future you never know what opportunity might help you get further down that path or find a new one you love even more!

Out of Work Obsessions:
Reality TV fantasy leagues (I regularly compete in Survivor and Bachelor Franchise Leagues with my friends), exploring the lakes around the city, cold brew coffee, baking for my friends

Pronouns: she/her

How did you become a career development professional?
I always tell people I stumbled into this work. When I was a college student, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I met with a career coach and it still didn’t occur to me that I’d maybe like that person’s job. I worked three on-campus jobs in college, and knew I liked those, so I pursued a master’s degree in Educational Leadership after graduating because it kept me in the same kind of work. I learned a lot about myself — my skills, interests, and the values I hold around work and what I want my life to look like — during graduate school and my first full time job as an academic advisor. I knew I’d like career coaching because it involves helping in a one-on-one setting, has a creative element, and gives me the opportunity to normalize the stress and uncertainty I felt as a college student trying to figure out what to do after graduation.

Best Words of Advice for Students
Take a deep breath and trust your gut; you’re going to be ok.

Out of work obsessions
Taylor Swift, reading, red curry, and my family.

What’s one thing you would do, if you were able to do it?
I would become a professional hobbyist. In my ideal life I would spend my time learning something new, becoming great at it, and then repeating the cycle. I would love to master new skills (especially creative ones) or try new careers in 6 month intervals so I can follow as many interests as possible.

Primary career coach for working professional MBAs.