Staff

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

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!

Akash was born and raised in India. He is a Graduate student majoring in Data Science in the Luddy School of Informatics. He has completed his undergraduate degree in computer engineering in India and has worked in a company for some years. Later, he decided to pursue graduation in the USA since it was always his dream. He is fulfilling that dream at IU which is one of the most prestigious universities in America.  He is a data enthusiast who is always looking for a way to get knowledge out of raw data to understand it. As an assessment intern, he takes care of daily duties of cleaning and uploading the loads of student data to various software platforms. He is also responsible for making visualizations of past students’ data to help the Walter Center gain powerful insights for making better decisions. Apart from academics, he is also interested in sports such as badminton, table tennis and chess. He loves travelling, photography and hiking in the woods.

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 

Erin Bruce is a proud Indiana University alumna. Her career satisfaction is found when helping others make meaningful connections and creating enriching career experiences. She is thrilled to engage employers with Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design students.

Prior to joining the Walter Center team, Erin worked as a Career Coach at the Indiana University Alumni Association helping IU alumni meet career goals through career facilitation and guidance one-on-one providing resume development, personal branding, networking, and interviewing techniques while staying up on the most recent career trends.

Erin is loving life in Bloomington with her husband, Alex, and their 3 boys. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, the show Parks and Recreation, and coffee.

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.

Born and raised a Hoosier, Andrew has always called Bloomington home. He attended Indiana University as an undergraduate, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications. After college, Andrew has spent his professional career rounding out his skills with hands-on experience at UITS, later as an Application Consultant for a software company and even spent a couple of years working in carpentry and construction. Andrew is extremely excited about being back on campus and working with students, he believes IU’s campus brings a great energy that cannot be found anywhere else.

When Andrew is not working, he is spending his time fixing up his home that he shares with his lovely wife Daniela, and their two children Santiago and Eloisa. Andrew especially loves spending quality time with family and friends, traveling domestically and internationally, woodworking and IU sports.

Amy was raised in Northeastern Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie where she spent her summers hanging out at the beach, eating Dairy Queen and working retail at the local Mall.  She completed her BS in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and an MS in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Indiana University. Soon after graduation, she sailed aboard Semester at Sea as a Resident Director which only increased her appetite for travel and understanding world cultures.

Since then, she has worked at IU in housing, advising, experiential learning, and student leadership. She lives in Bloomington with her husband, son and daughter. In her free time she loves to travel, read, write and tell stories. She has a passion for spreading the good news about the importance of the humanities and liberal arts in education. She looks forward to engaging with alumni and connecting them to current students.

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.

Sarah Daugherty is a born and raised Hoosier but spent ten years in Tennessee. She recently returned to her Indiana roots to be closer to family while also pursuing a career.

Sarah has a passion for events and loves the organization and details associated with the planning and execution of them. She enjoys her role as the Events and Recruitment Coordinator and looks forward to watching events come to fruition while also building relationships with employers, faculty, staff, and students.

Sarah loves ethnic food; her favorite is Mediterranean. She loves to read, sing, spend time outside, try new restaurants, and spend time with family and friends.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a pediatric cardiologist. I suffered from a heart condition for most of my childhood and my pediatric cardiologist touched my heart (literally and figuratively.) In reality, college science classes changed my mind and I chose to pursue education in the communications field instead and have not been disappointed with that decision.

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.

Ricardy is a freshman from Fishers, Indiana. In high school he was given the opportunity to obtain his CNA license which is what motivated him to pursue the medical route. He studies Human Biology with a concentration on human health + disease, as well as the social and cultural context that influences disease risk and healing. After completing his undergraduate studies at IU, he plans to pursue a four-year Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program. On campus, Ricardy is a Cox Legacy Scholar, Hudson & Holland Scholar, 21st Century Scholar, and works as an intern at the Walter Center for Career Achievement. In his free time Ricardy likes to hang out with his friends, engage in any sports, or relax and watch a movie. 

Erin delights in helping IU students and alumni find their path to a meaningful career. Recognizing that career journeys have plenty of bumps, she finds nothing more satisfying than celebrating the successes of those she coaches.

After a brief stop as an occupational therapy major, Erin found her educational home at Indiana University, majoring in sociology. She loved gaining a broader understanding of humankind and how structures shape life experiences. After completing her undergraduate degree, she continued her education, receiving Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs from IU. She has spent her career supporting college students and alumni on their career development journeys. She loves to chat about how strengths and values shape our experiences in the world of work.

Erin loves to read and listen about how to make the working world a better place. A few of her favorite resources include, Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown, Radical Candor, by Kim Scott, and the WorkLife podcast, by Adam Grant.

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.

Linda has a comprehensive background in both the public and private sectors. She has extensive knowledge in higher education, strategic planning, system development, supervision and analytics.

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.

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.

Casey was born and raised in Leesburg, Florida. He graduated in 2018
from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as a double major in African
American Studies and Political Science. After graduating from VCU Casey
worked for a brief time as a curatorial intern for the Virginia Museum of
History and Culture in Richmond, Virginia, as well as the membership
coordinator for the Organization of American Historians here in Bloomington.

Casey first joined Indiana University as a graduate student in the African
American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) Masters program. During his
time at Indiana University Casey has primarily worked as an associate
instructor. This summer Casey completed his Master of Arts degree in African
American and African Diaspora Studies and is currently a doctoral student in
the AAADS department. As a first-generation college student Casey enjoys
mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds on finding diverse ways
to apply their skills to career pathways.

In his free time Casey enjoys traveling the Midwest and East coast with his
partner (Dr. Tennisha Riley, IU’s School of Education), visiting
microbreweries. He has tasted nearly 2,000 different beers since 2014. If he
is not tasting beers, you can find him riding his bike on the B-Line and
Clear Creek Trail.

Rosemarie is from Los Angeles, CA. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Political Science. She is a former higher education administrator with eight years of experience in grant program management; fellowship advising and coordination; graduate recruitment; and institutional research and assessment.

Rosemarie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies from UCLA. She also holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge.

Karla fell in love with Bloomington as a student at IU, moved away for 20 years, and now is back in Bloomington where she has always felt at home! She earned a B.A. in Psychology which nurtured her passion for helping people, particularly students. Karla has been a caterer and personal chef and is an avid gardener and foodie.

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

Joe is an alum of the College of Arts & Sciences where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science. He Directs the College’s Walter Center for Career Achievement, providing strategic direction and leadership of career education and employer engagement. Joe leads a team of 25 full-time career services professionals who serve 10,000+ undergraduate and graduate students across the College’s three schools and three academic divisions.

Before joining the College of Arts & Sciences, Joe served as Associate Director for Strategic Planning for the Career Development Center on the IU Bloomington campus. Joe has also worked as a career coach and career course lecturer. He is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory practitioner.

Joe earned a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration degree in 2007 and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University Bloomington’s School of Education in 2020.

Joe is a champion of liberal arts education and loves helping IU College of Arts & Sciences students connect their academic pursuits to rewarding careers.

Pronouns: He/him/his

Hillary works at the Walter Center helping employers recruit students.

Growing up in rural Michigan, she spent her childhood growing corn, boiling maple syrup, and watching a lot of PBS, the only TV station that came in clearly. That fostered her love for learning, and when she went to college she decided to study the liberal arts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Michigan State University. After college, she eventually earned a position working in Student Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, Hillary discovered that she loved advocating for students, and she decided to take this love back to the Midwest. Hillary is excited to be with Indiana University. Hillary also enjoys country music, water sports, and her dog, Wilma.

Pronouns: She/her

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

Jaylee Pease is from Evansville, Indiana. She is currently a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington. She is working towards her bachelor degree in a major in psychology and a minor in business. She is also a second-year Cox Legacy Scholar. As a Cox Scholar she plans to grow as a student and a learner to truly understand the education and life aspects that the Cox Scholars Program offers. In addition to being a Cox Scholar, Jaylee is also the marketing intern at the Walter Center. As an intern she helps in the marketing aspect of the Walter Center, which includes running and uploading social media pages, and setting up appointments with students to capture their portraits. She loves to travel, listen to music, and is a social butterfly when it comes to meeting new people. Jaylee also loves serving others and enjoys being a responsible person for others to rely on.

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.

Dalia, from Northwest Indiana, joined the IU Groups Scholars Program the summer of 2015, and graduated in 2019 with degrees in Speech and Hearing Sciences and Spanish Linguistics. Being a first-generation graduate, she found a passion in creating safe spaces for other students navigating similar obstacles here at IU. Her time at IU consisted of undergraduate research for the  Department of Political Science which she found a love and passion for. So much so that she came back to the Walter Center to continue as an active researcher.

Aside from keeping her nose on a transcription screen, she really enjoy spending time outdoors with her boyfriend and Corgi-beagle pup, Charlie. Her dog is a cutie pie who keeps her motivated to work for his treat and toy money.

Will is a Bloomington, IN native and graduate of IU in 2007. He has lived internationally in Africa for 5 years working in developing countries including Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda. After returning from Africa in April 2017 he found career services to be a great fit for his interests and experiences. Will is excited to continue to have an impact on the world around him by helping students get connected to great opportunities with great organizations.

He and his wife Theresa have two little girls, Ellie & Audrey. He enjoys the outdoors, reading, and IU sports.

Maria grew up in Round Lake, IL. In May of 2021, Maria double-majored from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences. During her undergraduate career, she co-founded an organization, the Latin American Literary Society, through the Casa Latina Cultural Center on campus. She was also a resident assistant and assisted in campus-wide programming for students. Apart from LALS and being an RA, she spent a lot of time attending/volunteering in events that supported and/or advocated for marginalized groups. Currently, she is a first-year graduate student in the School Psychology Program within the School of Education. She hopes to work in the education system (preferably middle school or high school grade levels) as a School Psychologist for a couple of years. Eventually, hopefully in 15-20 years, she would like to move to Ecuador.

Additionally, she is dedicated to working with and advocating for marginalized communities to bring about change, equity, and justice. During her free time she enjoys sleeping, binge-watching a show, finding excuses to dance, hiking, kayaking, and trying to concoct a new favorite morning drink. She is almost always cold and you’ll find her wearing multiple layers even in the 80 degrees Indiana weather.

Vicki graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and a master’s degree in Speech/Language Pathology.  Immediately after graduation she moved to North Carolina to escape Northeast Ohio winters and worked as a Speech/Language Pathologist and researcher for Wake Forest Medical Center.

After hosting/mentoring international high school students, Vicki developed a strong interest in doing work in another country.  She was honored to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania where she worked as an English teacher.  Vicki also taught high school dance classes and assisted with care of disabled infants and toddlers at an orphanage.  Upon returning to the U.S., the desire to help people from other countries persisted and led to a position with Vermont Refugee Resettlement. In her role as Peace Corps Strategic Recruiter, Vicki is excited to share her passion for cultural exchange with IU students and the Bloomington community.

Returning to her Midwest roots in 2015, Vicki happily settled in Bloomington where she found the ideal mix of cultural, educational, and volunteer opportunities. She enjoys attending cultural events and visiting her daughter, Morgan (an IU alum) in Philadelphia.

Sophie is from Marlboro, New Jersey and is the first of her family to be a Hoosier!  She is a freshman studying Political Science within the School of Arts and Sciences. Sophie is involved with Hillel at IU as well as the Student Athletic Board. You will always find her cheering on the Hoosiers at all of the football and basketball games! She plans on using her degree in Political Science to work in Washington D.C. in order to work in politics between American and Israeli government officials. In Sophie’s free time she loves to hang out with her friends, watching Netflix, and go to the beach!

Tanner hails from Salem, Indiana. He attended Indiana University as an undergraduate, where he found a passion for helping college students meet their personal and professional goals. Tanner decided to pursue a master’s degree to better develop the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to support students. He has specific interests in supporting students with marginalized identities. Tanner is a doctoral candidate in Higher Education and looks forward to integrating theory from that program into his practical work of assessing the Walter Center’s programs and services. He loves spending time with his wife Selena and children Theo and Luci. Tanner also enjoys running, playing music, vintage video games, being outdoors, and all things geology.

Natalie is a native Texan, but has lived and traveled all over the world. She came to Bloomington as a graduate student and completed her MA in Hispanic Literature in 2015. After six years working as an academic advisor for students in language and area studies departments at IU, she pivoted to career services (thanks to the many transferrable skills provided by her liberal arts education, no less). She now works to engage employers on behalf of the Media School and open doorways for employers and students to connect.

In her free time, Natalie can be found looking for typos, making a mess in the kitchen, or consuming unhealthy amounts of tv/movies/podcasts/books/news. She enjoys punishing her friends with her latest kitchen experiments, singing like no one is listening, and spending quality time with her husband, son, and dog.

Will Thompson comes from Ellettsville, Indiana (very close to Bloomington). He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Sport Marketing & Management which merged his passions of sport and marketing. Will enjoys seeing marketing plans come to fruition and hopes to use his skills to engage students in the Walter Center’s career services. Will has used his degree to gain marketing experience with the City of Bloomington Twin Lakes Recreation Center and Simon Property Group (College Mall) before taking this role.

Having graduated with the degree that he did, you would rightly guess that Will loves sports (Go IU) and other competitive avenues such as video games and chess. He played Baseball in high school but enjoys all the major sports. He likes spending time outdoors and hanging out with family and friends. Additionally, Will is a pet lover having owned multiple pets throughout his life but currently has two cats.

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.

Emily (she/her/hers) was born in Iceland to Active Duty military parents and has been fortunate to live all over the country. Adapting to new communities and experiences, Emily developed a strong rooted belief: “Bloom where you’re planted.”

While studying Recreation, Park and Leisure Service Management at the University of Minnesota, Emily was accepted into the Walt Disney World College Program. During her time at Disney she served as a Head Lifeguard at Typhoon Lagoon. Emily credits Disney with her appreciation for the value of radical hospitality and exceptional customer service.

Upon graduating, Emily accepted a U.S. Government civilian internship with the Department of the Navy supporting the corporate health and wellness of deployed U.S. and British military members. During this time Emily traveled extensively through the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The experience led to an extremely rewarding career in civilian service. Emily was the innovator and program manager of Operation Uplift, a program focused on improving the lives of young, single sailors stationed on an isolated island north of Seattle. Emily later transitioned in her path to serve as a career coach and transition specialist for military spouses and sailors departing Active Duty.

Emily has worked at IU for 5 years, first at the Kelly School supporting student activity events and later as a Program Manager. Emily is  honored and excited to engage alumni to support the dynamic opportunities for College of Arts & Sciences students to weave their passions into careers. Emily loves to adventure and learn about the unique qualities of humans and communities.

Favorite Quote — “For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Amanda Gorman

Andrea is a Midwestern girl at heart, having grown up in Ohio. Performing in theatre her entire life, she thought her dream job was to become a Broadway star. Upon completion of high school, Andrea decided to forego the unstable life of an aspiring actress and graduated with a degree in sociology. She attended graduate school, pursuing school counseling, to specifically concentrate on college and career preparation for young adults. While at the University of Dayton, Andrea worked in various roles in career services. It was through this wide array of experiences that Andrea’s passion for career services and assisting others with their personal career development was solidified. She takes a holistic approach to career coaching, assisting others in aligning their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs with their career goals. Andrea enjoys educating, coaching and mentoring others, all primary aspects of her current position. Andrea’s interests include visiting friends and family, musical theatre, pop culture, viral YouTube videos, and Cleveland sports. Andrea is thrilled to be a part of Indiana University!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
First a cheerleader – I loved their energy and the joy they brought to the crowd. Then, an actress – I’m still passionate about the arts. Finally, a teacher – it’s amazing how life comes full circle sometimes!

Before devoting her work to the Walter Career Center, she worked in the Office of Admissions as an Admission Representative. She is a native of Hattiesburg Mississippi, loves sharing her southern hospitality to everyone she meets. Meko is thrilled to maximize her school experience by serving the student population at the Walter Center. Most importantly, she appreciates the opportunity to support students by coming alongside them to help them reach their goal. 

Aside from being an Operations Coordinator at the Walter Center, she is also a full-time recovery coach for Centerstone where she derives satisfaction with helping Bloomington’s at-risk population. She holds a degree in Human Services. After finalizing her Bachelor of Social Work at IU, she plans on pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work. In her free time, she also loves spoken word, writing poetry and working out.  

Meko’s life motto is: The more of life you conquer, the less of life you fear!