Student career readiness is one of the core elements of our work in Career Services - but, we know we are not alone. Many others across campus, both as a direct function of their role on campus and as people who care about Huskies, are deeply committed to ensuring that students find success in their pre-professional growth. Nationwide, the movement toward a career ecosystem model is growing: when career readiness is integrated in classrooms, advising conversations, RSO leadership development, and elsewhere across the academic experience, it demonstrates a campus-wide investment in success.
The Career Champions program is intended to give faculty and staff the background knowledge to support students with a wide range of career-related topics and make appropriate referrals to Career Services when needed.
Register for Upcoming Workshops
Current Career Champions
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Anderson | Manager, Advising and Cooperative Education | Career Services |
| Kirsti Arko | Associate Director | Admissions |
| Maria Bergstrom | Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education | College of Sciences and Arts |
| Rick Berkey | Senior Research Innovation Specialist | Vice President of Research Office |
| Jaylen Body | Visit Coordinator | Admissions |
| Stephanie Carpenter | Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Literature | Humanities |
| Deb Charlesworth | Associate Dean | Graduate School |
| Marie Cleveland | Student Success and Outreach Coordinator | College of Business |
| Jeana Collins | Teaching Professor | Chemical Engineering |
| Jim Desrochers | Director, Employer Relations | Career Services |
| Beth Fitzpatrick | Senior Career Advisor | Career Services |
| Elka Frahm | General Manager | Merchandising Operations |
| Alyssa Fredin | Executive Director | Admissions |
| Liz Fujita | Assistant Director, Academic & Career Integration | Career Services |
| Claire Helakoski | Assistant Writing Center Director | Writing Center |
| Alex Hughes | Data & Technology Specialist | Career Services |
| Kristi Juntunen | Honors Program Manager | Pavlis Honors College |
| Cody Kangas | Executive Director | Career Services |
| Julia Keleher | Director | Student Support and Mentorship |
| Brianna Kratz | Assistant Director of Residence Education | Residence Education |
| Matt Laird | Academic Advisor | Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences |
| Denise Landsberg | Academic Advisor | College of Computing |
| Betsy Lehman | Visiting Assistant Professor | Psychology and Human Factors |
| Jon Leinonen | Teaching Professor | College of Business |
| Susan Liebau | Academic Advisor | Chemistry |
| Kate Marin | Academic Advisor | Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Lea Marlor | Graduate Academic Coordinator | title="Graduate School">Graduate School |
| Danielle Meirow | Director | Student Leadership and Involvement |
| Melissa Michaelson | Assistant Director, Career Development and Education | Career Services |
| Jennifer Miller | Program Chair/Professor of Practice | Construction Management |
| Alice Morgan | Associate Director | Admissions |
| Dar Morris | Assistant Dean | Pavlis Honors College |
| Jenni Nance | Assistant Teaching Professor & Faculty Advisor | Humanities |
| Jessie Neece | Marketing & Communications Manager | Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education |
| David Olson | Associate Teaching Professor | Mathematical Sciences |
| AC Overla | Residence Education Coordinator | Residence Education |
| Steve Patchin | Project Manager, Essential Education Implementation | Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education |
| Jill Patterson | Manager, Career and Employer Events | Career Services |
| Taylor Piering | Coordinator | Student Leadership and Involvement |
| Cole Pierucki | Senior Coordinator | Student Leadership and Involvement |
| Tony Pinar | Associate Teaching Professor | Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Teri Pinhero | Academic Advisor | Biological Sciences |
| Alexandra Putwen | Director of Residence Education | Residence Education |
| Cassandra Reed-VanDam | Essential Education Experience Manager | APUE |
| Stefanie Sidortsova | Manager, Strategic Communications | Career Services |
| Sarah Sohlden | Aerospace Engineering Advisor | Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Ryan Thompson | Communications Specialist | Student Affairs |
| Ali Tuovila | Administrative Aide | Career Services |
| Micah Vacco | Coordinator | Student Leadership and Involvement |
| Travis Wakeham | Associate Teaching Professor | Biological Sciences |
| Richelle Winkler | Professor of Sociology and Demography | Social Sciences |
| LaReesa Wolfenbarger | Dean, College of Sciences and Arts | College of Sciences and Arts |
| Roger Woods | Teaching Professor | College of Business |
| Sherry Wyeth | Academic Advisor and Graduate Program Assistant | College of Computing |
By completing this training, participants will be able to:
- Understand, explain, and actively participate in the career ecosystem at Michigan Tech.
- Answer student questions regarding resources, workshops, events, employers, and career exploration.
- Recognize new trends and best practices pertaining to internships/co-ops, resumes, interviewing, and negotiations.
- Identify which career competencies they can best support and develop in students.
Being a member of the Career Champions entails:
- An in-person training workshop (approx. 2.5 hours) covering topics including:
- Resume, cover letter, and interview best practices
- Walk-throughs of key platforms (Handshake, Quinncia)
- NACE career readiness competencies
- AI in the job search
- How employers recruit and engage with Huskies
- Receiving a bi-weekly digest with event updates, continuing education, articles, and other career-related content.
- Active engagement with Career Services events
- Having their name and department listed on Career Services website
Career Services supports members by providing:
- Access to continuing career readiness education through “booster pack” sessions and regular newsletter updates
- Access to data and insights regarding student outcomes (First Destination Survey results, placement forecasts, etc.)
- Access to a dedicated Canvas course with resources, links, templates, handouts, and videos.
- Direct collaboration on projects such as course content, classroom presentations and workshops, and other events specific to the student audience the Champions serve.