Self-Discovery

Understand your strengths, interests and values, and how they align with a variety of career fields.

Self-Discovery

Understand your strengths, interests and values, and how they align with a variety of career fields.

Reflection

Connect the dots between your learning, experiences and plans for the future.

Action

Take steps to move toward your professional goals and aspirations.

Director for Career Development | Career Coach

With over 15 years of experience in higher education, I have focused on advancing student learning, career development, and equitable access to opportunity. At Whitman's Career and Community Engagement Center, I lead Career Development efforts and supervise a team of five professionals. Together, we design and deliver impactful coaching and programming to prepare students and alumni for meaningful post-graduate paths. I oversee a broad portfolio, including career coaching, employer engagement, career education, and student-alumni mentoring, while providing strategic direction and leading cross-functional initiatives. I'm especially proud of the collaborative environment we've built, where we co-create workshops, integrate career education into academics, and use data to drive alignment with institutional goals. Building relationships across campus and in the community is central to my leadership approach.

Originally from Berlin, Germany, I earned my B.A. in English, History, and Education from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and later completed an M.Ed. focused on English and History. Fun fact: I first came to Whitman in 2010-11 as a visiting instructor in the German Studies program and lived in Das Deutsche Haus.

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Career Development Specialist | Career Coach

Just like many college students, I was uncertain how my professional journey would progress after graduating with my B.A. in Sociology. Ultimately, my path developed as I tried out new opportunities. Exploring different options helped uncover my passion for working with students as they evaluate their emerging interests and assess possible careers. My experiences as a Resident Advisor in college, working for a local bank, attaining my M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration, and filling a few different roles at Whitman College have all taught me the importance and benefit of building connections, trying new activities, and regular reflection on one's interests (and disinterests!), values, and skill sets. As a Career Development Specialist and Career Coach, I am excited to team up with Whitties as they continue on their own unique journeys. I provide all students with career-focused support and specialize in assisting students pursuing a social science degree. I am the Career Coach for all Garrett-Sherwood Scholars and I lead the Student Career Advisor (SCA) program.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband Cory, my son Leland, our two shelties, Theo and Isla, and our two cats, Andi and Jasper. I grew up in Olympia, Washington, and have a fondness for rainy days and coffee! My favorite season is autumn (beautiful colors, sweater weather, and college football - Go Cougs, Go Beavs, Go Blue!). Over the summer, my home away from home is Northport, Michigan, on the shore of Lake Michigan. I look forward to getting to know you!

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Career Development Specialist in STEM | Career Coach

I was brought into the Career and Community Engagement Center in 2021 as a point person for students exploring STEM careers. My background is in the geosciences, and I have taught at a number of institutions of higher learning, including Whitman.

I always enjoy interacting with students and helping them think about what comes after college. In my current work, I develop a variety of interactive programs and work directly with students, both STEM and non-STEM, to help make the transition to life after Whitman easier.

While I grew up in Oregon, I left for college and spent 20+ years outside the PNW in Maine, Alaska, Texas, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. My dogs and I are excited to be back so they can get more treats and visits from their grandparents. When not at work or obeying three bossy dogs, I like to spend time outside, collect rocks, collect fabric, and sew things. So if you are curious about what you could do in STEM or just want to talk about rocks, feel free to contact me!

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Career Development and Fellowships Specialist | Career Coach

As a Career Development and Fellowships Specialist, I coach students through the career exploration and planning process as well as helping students and alumni think through graduate school plans and produce compelling materials for admissions and funding applications alike. I'm a graduate of the Classics program at the University of Kansas (M.A. '08) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (B.A. '05), and also spent some years in the Classics Ph.D. program at the University of British Columbia, leaving ABD (all but dissertation).

I came to Whitman from the University of Colorado Boulder, where I worked with graduate students to help them realize their academic and professional goals. In my free time I read (mostly fantasy and science fiction), watch documentaries (mostly cold case/true crime), write, and paint, accompanied (and sometimes hindered) by my dachshund, Mulder and my cat, Pram.

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Director for Community Engagement | Career Coach

As Director for Community Engagement, I build strong, sustainable relationships with community partners, creating opportunities for students to come alongside members of the Walla Walla community to support projects and initiatives identified by them as positively contributing to the community and their organizations' purposes. Additionally, I oversee the Community Fellow Program and I mentor and advise students who serve as Community Engagement Leaders.

It is my intention that community engagement experiences are mutually beneficial for the Whitman and Walla Walla communities. Through these opportunities, students learn about both the Walla Walla Valley and themselves; they participate as members of the community, reflecting on who they are while contributing to our partners' capacity to meet the needs of the community.

I joined the Career and Community Engagement Center in 2012, and have found this work to be a great blend of my experiences stemming from two decades of work in community engagement and education. I have a B.A. in Education and an M.A. in Educational Psychology, yet my most significant learning - and the experiences I draw upon most - come from relationships and community engagement experiences.

I had the opportunity as a college student, myself, to serve in a role similar to the student leader positions here in the Center. Now as Whitman's Director for Community Engagement, I hope to offer this current generation of students similarly important opportunities to learn and engage in community. Milenko Matanovič, a Slovenian-born artist and community activator, said, "When it comes to community, together we always know more." Many students have shared with me over the years that by engaging in the Walla Walla community they both meet people and have experiences that make them feel more connected.

There are many of forms of knowledge, or ways of knowing, and by learning and engaging in the community students can add powerful and transformative depth to their knowledge. I invite you to reach out to me to discuss and explore community engagement opportunities!

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Programs and Budget Coordinator | Career Coach

As the Programs and Budget Coordinator for the Career and Community Engagement Center, I enjoy talking to students, parents, and visitors. I am your first point of contact at the Center!  I provide administrative assistance and clerical support, handle reimbursements and accounts payable, supervise the office's student administrative assistants, and oversee student payroll for the Center. My work also includes assistance with the implementation of all the Center's programs and events, alongside management of program budgets and internship endowments.

Outside of the Center, my expertise is in the realm of entrepreneurship. I grew up in the Walla Walla Valley and joined Whitman College in 2012. I love to get involved in the community as much as possible! One fun fact about me is that I love amusement parks, especially roller coasters - the higher and faster, the better!

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Associate Director for Employer Engagement and Internship Programs | Career Coach

I joined the Career and Community Engagement Center in 2022, bringing with me nearly a decade of public‑sector experience in supporting student growth, both inside and outside the classroom. I'm a strong advocate for immersive learning, and am inspired by students who pursue internships, community engagement, and other types of hands‑on opportunities that can expand their perspectives. My own undergraduate internships shaped my understanding of what I loved and what wasn’t quite the right fit, insights can now share with the students I coach.

I'm originally from Los Angeles, having moved to Walla Walla in 2018.  I enjoy volunteering, reading in the sunshine with boba tea, and spending time with my energetic dog, Lou!

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Co-Director of the Career and Community Engagement Center | Career Coach

As Co-Director of the Career and Community Engagement Center, I oversee operations, staff and resources to ensure that students can connect to the people and experiences that will help to shape their futures. We are a mighty team with a diverse set of experiences and identities, working together to open relevant and exciting opportunities for student learning outside of the classroom.

I joined the Center in 2013 after spending 20-ish years in a variety of sales, marketing, and management roles in the apparel industry. Having the opportunity to now utilize what I learned over the course of my career as the Center creates a holistic and relevant set of programs and tools to connect students to our community and their life beyond Whitman has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

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