Get to Know Our Career Coaches

Allison hails from Northeast Ohio. She holds a Masters degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Iowa State University and has a background in Residence Life and Campus Activities. She really enjoys the content area of career services and the resources and opportunities that the Walter Center provides to students. Helping students find their way and determine their career path is the most fulfilling part of her role and she’s so excited that she gets to be part of the team that makes this happen at IU. In her free time she enjoys cooking new recipes, trying new restaurants, exploring new hiking trails, and finding fun and interesting ways to build community.

She is the primary Career Coach for students studying Biochemistry, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Computer Science (B.A.), Neuroscience, Speech and Hearing Sciences however she is also available to help students outside of these majors with general inquiries.

Pronouns: she/her

Brandon is a Hoosier through and through, growing up in the small town of Shirley, Indiana, located about 45 minutes outside of Indianapolis. As a student at Indiana University, he studies International Law and Institutions as well as Cybersecurity and Global Policy. Brandon is heavily involved with Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM), where he serves on the Public Relations Committee, and is very passionate about serving others. In addition to being a Peer Coach at the Walter Center for Career Achievement, Brandon is also a Student Ambassador for the Office of Admissions. He loves the outdoors, listening to pop music, geeking out over Star Wars, exploring local cafés and restaurants, traveling, and catching up on the latest social media trends.

Brandon meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

Elexis was born in Evansville, Indiana and attended high school in Westfield, Indiana when it had just become a city and was still full of corn! She is currently a Junior studying Media Advertising with Marketing and African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) minors.

Aside from being a Peer Coach in the Career Studio at the Walter Center, she is a competitive Ballroom Dancer for the Indiana University Ballroom Dance Club, and holds office on the official council. During her free time she enjoys trying new foods around town, roller skating, and working on her Spanish in hopes of one day being fluent! Prior to this, she was a Teaching Intern for the EDUC-X156 course where she met with students on a weekly basis for academic coaching. She is very excited to meet with students!

Rachel Nefertari Boveja is a Career Coach with a whole being approach. An advocate for bringing the community together through education, authentic understanding and diplomacy; she is grateful to have opportunities to promote meaningful connections across our global community. 

Rachel takes pride in her roles at IU and is thrilled to work with students from the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. Her well-rounded experiences at IU as a College of Arts & Sciences student, OVPDEMA advisor, career coordinator and Public Health adjunct professor; provide a unique perspective for guiding student career exploration. She recently completed her doctorate in the IU School of Public Health with a concentration in Global Studies from Hamilton Lugar. Her continued research regarding Middle Eastern and North African refugee health has given her opportunities to work in wellness, diplomacy, foreign policy, and multicultural education.

Rachel is proud about her incredibly diverse heritage and is happy to call both Southern California and Bloomington, Indiana home. She loves traveling, cooking, playing tennis, reading historical fiction and teaching Kemetic Yoga (Sema Tawi). 

Pronouns: She/Her/هي

Languages: English, Egyptian Arabic, Italian 

Luke is originally from the small town of Ireland, Indiana. He serves as a Career Coach after spending 16 years as a middle school teacher. Luke graduated from Indiana University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and a Certificate in Journalism. After attending Indiana State University to complete a Transition to Teaching program, he returned to Bloomington to begin his career. He has taught business, technology, career, and STEM courses throughout his time in education.

Outside of his career he enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Cardinals, and IU sporting events, and playing board and word games. He was even a contestant on the game show Wheel of Fortune! Luke has completed a full marathon and usually participates in at least one half marathon each year. As an active board member of the Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana, he enjoys volunteering in the community.

Luke believes strongly in the value of both liberal arts and career education and is honored to be a part of the team at the Walter Center for Career Achievement. He is excited to help students with all aspects of their career journey.

Meredith is a junior at IU from Westfield, Indiana. She is on the pre-med track, majoring in both neuroscience and art history. After her schooling, she hopes to go on to work as a pediatrician or an ER doctor. As well as being a peer coach, she is a member of IU’s Crimson CORPS through the counseling center (CAPS). When she isn’t busy with classes or in a lab, Meredith can be found drinking iced coffee, baking, or listening to true crime podcasts.

Meredith meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

Marcia grew up in Georgia, where she enjoyed peaches, pecans, fishing and lots of sports. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Immediately after graduation, she moved to Bloomington where she completed a master’s degree in journalism at IU in 1983. Marcia planned to spend her career as a newspaper reporter, but loved all that IU offered and has worked as a proposal writer, orientation coordinator, career services director and now, a career coach.  She loves coaching students, and working with staff, faculty and alumni. She also likes naps, spending time with family and friends, traveling and trying new cuisines.

Katherine is a sophomore from Indianapolis, Indiana, double majoring in philosophy and classical studies. She is involved in IU Student Government’s academic affairs executive committee and the Hutton Honors College. In the future, Katherine hopes to earn her PhD in philosophy, gain Latin fluency, and become a college professor. As a student with a unique major, Katherine enjoys meeting with students in the career studio and encouraging them to pursue their passions. When she is not working or studying, Katherine can be found video chatting with one of her four younger siblings, browsing local bookstores, or drinking Diet Coke.   

Katherine meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

Demrie is a sophomore from Indianapolis who studies Anthropology, Animal Behavior, and Art History at IU. In addition to peer coaching at the Walter Center for Career Achievement, he serves fellow students as part of The Mentor Collective and as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the Anthropology department. Demrie’s major experience includes work in the Primate Environmental Endocrinology Lab on campus, and he hopes to participate in project-based study abroad as well as a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) before graduation. During evenings and weekends, you’ll find Demrie rock climbing at Hoosier Heights, visiting local museums, and grabbing meals with his friends.

Demrie meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

All the way from Denver, Colorado, Emmy is a second generation Hoosier studying Psychology and French. On campus, Emmy is very involved with cycling and is a part of a Little 500 team as well as working in a neuroscience laboratory. After graduation, Emmy plans to attend Osteopathic college in hopes to bring mental and physical health together by creating her own general medical practice. In her free time, Emmy likes to hike, bike, ski and explore IU’s beautiful campus! 

Emmy meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

Jenna grew up on a cattle ranch in a small town in the great state of Idaho. She received her undergraduate degree from Boise State University in Social Sciences emphasizing in Psychology and Communication. This led to her getting her master’s degree in Counseling while working part time as an academic advisor for the psychology department. After graduation, Jenna worked in a nonprofit organization in Connecticut as a mental health counselor. Before living in Indiana, she was very fortunate to work with the military in Southern California as a Military and Family Life Counselor. Jenna is thrilled to be a part of the Walter Center for Career Achievement and working with students along their exciting career journey. She now lives in Washington, DC and works remotely. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, anything related to Harry Potter, and spending time with her dog and husband.

For Angela, being a Career Educator holds a special double meaning.  She has both spent her entire career as an educator of some variety… and she is currently educating about careers!  Angela is amused that her teaching career began with her hometown Tot-Lot program helping preschoolers learn how to cut (and walk) with scissors, and now she finds herself helping college students explore and get cut out for their careers.  Along the way, Angela worked with many students of many ages on their communication skills: writing, listening, and public speaking in particular.  She has also taught education courses, supervised student teachers, and maintains a keen interest in PK-12 education issues.  These days you can find Angela working with students at IU’s Walter Center, helping them recognize and articulate the fabulousness of their Liberal Arts degrees.  Employers want them, and Angela knows how to help students connect the dots.  Angela teaches classes, coaches students, and enjoys being present with students when they contemplate and explore possibilities for their futures.

Pronouns: She/her
Languages: English

Kathie is originally from northeast Ohio but has lived in Bloomington for over half of her life. She was inspired to pursue a career in higher education during her college years, serving in leadership positions in residence life and on the student union board. She is proud of her liberal arts education from Wheaton College in Illinois where she earned a BA in Interpersonal Communications with a minor in Theology. Kathie also earned her Master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University. She has worked with college students for most of her career as adjunct faculty at two universities, an academic advisor, an assistant director for the Career Development Center, and as a career coach and senior career coach for the College of Arts + Sciences. Kathie is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory practitioner and is currently in training to be a Board Certified Coach and a Gallup-Strengths Coach.

Kathie loves teaching and coaching at the college level, and is passionate about helping students realize their potential and to discover what makes them “come alive.” Kathie enjoys watching sports & movies, reading & listening to books, traveling, and taking long walks. But her favorite thing to do is spend time with Matt, her husband of 30 years, with her four children, Gretchen, Mark, Allison, and David, and with her Bernadoodle, Schatzi.

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.  ~Howard Thurman

Claire is from a teeny rural Indiana town named Plymouth and is currently a Senior studying Journalism at the Media School. In addition to the Walter Center, she also serves as a peer coach for the LGBTQ+ Culture Center. She is currently applying to Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate programs and wants to do research in identity development and eventually get her doctoral degree. She loves to learn new things and is currently learning skating and crocheting. She is an avid reader, NPR enjoy-er and is always looking for new recipes to cook for her friends.   

Lia is a sophomore from Valparaiso, Indiana. She studies both Political Science and French; choosing to focus on foreign policy and international relations with hopes that this interest combined with her language skills will lead into a job abroad after graduation. She plans to study abroad in France during her undergraduate time at IU. On campus, Lia is heavily involved in her sorority and works as an intern for one of her political science professors, along with working at the Walter Center. When Lia isn’t working or studying, you can find her watching true crime shows on Netflix, spending time with friends, and drinking coffee.

Lia meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

Sophie was born and raised in Indianapolis. She is a Sophomore double-majoring in Spanish in the College of Arts & Sciences and in Law & Public Policy in the O’Neill School. She is hoping to study abroad in South America during her undergraduate career in order to improve her Spanish. Besides working as a Peer Coach, Sophie is involved in Indiana University Dance Marathon and is the Sustainability Chair for her sorority, Theta Phi Alpha. After graduation, Sophie hopes to use her majors to work in advocacy and public policy. In her free time, you can find Sophie studying around campus, hammocking or road-tripping with her friends, eating at a 4th Street restaurant, or binging a TV show on Netflix.

Sophie meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.

Trevor was born and raised in southeast Michigan, where he also attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After graduating with concentrations in Art History and German, he continued with graduate school at Yale University, where he studied Medieval Art and Architecture.

Prior to joining the Walter Center in the fall of 2018, Trevor worked as an instructor at several institutions where he enjoyed connecting students with courses, study abroad programs, scholarships, and internship opportunities. He had the pleasure of meeting students from varied backgrounds and enjoyed helping them discern their goals and interests. As a Career Coach, Trevor draws on these experiences to unite students with the phenomenal resources at the Walter Center and to enthusiastically champion the extraordinary career possibilities in the liberal arts at IU.

An avid home cook, Trevor enjoys making all varieties of cuisine (though French is a favorite). He is also a running enthusiast and connoisseur of vintage computers and video games.

Jalynn was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is currently a junior studying Biology on the pre-med track and minoring in Nutrition and Chemistry. In addition to being a Peer Coach at the Walter Center, she is involved in the Minority Association for Pre-med Students (MAPS), Director of Community Outreach for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and she is also a Hoosier Scholar Ambassador for the Office of Scholarships. After graduation, she plans on pursuing medical school where she hopes to become a OBGYN or an Oncologist. During her free time, you can find Jalynn watching Netflix, shopping with her friends, eating at new restaurants around Bloomington or at the gym.

Jalynn meets with undergraduate students for drop-in questions in our Career Studio.