What are some of your favorite memories from your time at the DuBois Area School District?
The community of caring teachers and friends I developed along the way, participating in the Ben Friedl Memorial Basketball games, sports, school dances, and attending class. I loved school and truly looked forward to going everyday.
Were there any teachers, coaches, or classes that had a lasting impact on you?
Absolutely! There were many teachers, coaches, and classes but the ones that I remember most were Mr. Barron in third and fifth grade -- he cemented my love for school and sports; Mr. Pruitt and Mr. Bojalad - cemented love for sports and basketball through Middle School; and as for High School, these teachers had the most impactful short and long-term impact on my education, Mr. Wolfe (Honors Calculus - my favorite class), Mr. McClelland (Science), and Lauren McLaughlin (Ms. A, English). Each of these people compassionately challenged you while creating safe, relatable, and fun educational environment (not sure I'd say running so many laps with Mr. Bojalad was fun but rewarding!).
What activities, clubs, or sports were you involved in as a student?
Student Government, NHS, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball
Tell us about your current career or professional role. What does a typical day look like for you?
I serve as the Executive Director of the Career Center for PennWest University. In this role, I manage a team of ten professionals across our three geographically separated campuses. We help students set and achieve career goals. This means students selected a major/degree that fits their skills and interest, they can articulate their skills and experiences on a resume and in an interview, and have developed the appropriate experiences that employers expect of them - all in an effort to help the student successfully transition from college to career.
My days are spent supporting our team of professionals, reviewing and analyzing impact data, and attending leadership meetings to advocate that career development continues to be the center of a student's college experience.
What led you to pursue this career path?
Happenstance. Out of high school I joined the PA Air National Guard to help pay for college, but as a first generation student, I really wasn't certain on a career path. While I balanced the military and schooling, I became heavily involved at Clarion where I fell in love with student leadership and involvement. That led me to selecting a degree in HR, becoming extremely involved in student organizations and jobs on campus such as an Orientation Leader and Mock Interview Peer Coach in the Career Center, then being offered a Graduate Assistant role to lead the Orientation Leaders while I pursued my MBA. At the conclusion of my MBA, a former colleague shared that a position was opening up in the Career Center that sounded right up my alley. I declined a training and coordinating role in Pittsburgh and decided to stay at Clarion to create a student to alumni mentoring program for the University. The rest is history. Over a decade later, I now manage the Career Center and love the work more than ever.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
Knowing the students we serve come from all walks of life. I see me in many of them, working hard, financially strapped, but a fire to be successful. Helping students prepare for the opportunities they may or may not have realized were possible and then seeing them achieve their goals is why I do what I do.
Have you received any recognitions, awards, or achieved milestones you're especially proud of?
When I left high school I set a goal to graduate college debt free. That was accomplished in December 2021 when I graduated with my Doctorate degree.
How did your experiences at the DuBois Area School District help prepare you for your career or further education?
I firmly believe that each teacher helped strengthen my love for learning, which has never stopped.
If you could go back to high school, what goal-setting advice do you wish someone had given you?
Focus on life after school, while in school.
Start thinking about what you want to do after high school as soon as you can. Explore different jobs and occupations, job shadow, visit technical schools and colleges, etc. These small activities will help you form a direction worth pursuing.
How do you define success, and how has that definition evolved over time?
Success is about living each day to the fullest and laying your head down at night knowing you did the best you could.
I've learned that in order to achieve this goal, it requires a focus on preparing yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially; knowing your priorities and learning how to say no.
What skills or habits do you believe are most important for students to develop while they're in school?
Written and verbal communication, critical thinking, empathy.