Staff

Sarah Bird is a born and raised Hoosier but spent the last ten years in Memphis and Knoxville, Tennessee. She recently returned to her Indiana roots to be closer to family while also pursuing a career. During her time studying at Purdue University, she was offered the opportunity to work in events with the Alumni Relations and Development departments of the College of Liberal Arts. She put her career on hold to start a family and is currently a proud mama to two boys, Isaiah and Mason.

Sarah has a passion for events and loves the organization and details associated with the planning and execution of them. She is excited to begin her new role as the On-Campus 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.

Sara grew up in Wheaton, IL and lived there until moving to Harrisburg, PA to attend Messiah College.  She studied Psychology with a Clinical concentration and interned with various social service agencies providing support for those in the foster care system, living with Alzheimer’s disease, and exploring their identities as members of the LGBTQ+ community.  While attending Messiah, Sara got involved in the Student Activities Board and developed a love for student affairs.  After graduating, Sara enrolled at Taylor University in Upland, IN to get her Masters in Higher Education and Student Development where she worked as a Graduate Assistant in student programs working with student government, conference planning, and executing concerts and dances.

She is eager to connect with Arts + Science students to help them think through their passions, purposes, and career options.  Sara loves Indian food, supporting underrepresented students, talking and reading about movies, writing and researching, and all things Harry Potter.

Aaron comes from Indianapolis, Indiana where he spent most of his high school years closely involved with music. During his time at IU earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Aaron continued to pursue his musical interests by working as a music educator various high school marching bands in the Indianapolis area. His work with his music students inspired him to pursue a career where he could help students full-time. Now a graduate student, Aaron is working on his degree in Counseling to become a professional Career Coach. To stay close to the arts, Aaron also volunteers time with the Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development within the Jacob’s School of Music. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys playing saxophone, guitar, video games, and occasionally skateboarding.

Born and raised a Hoosier, Sarah Cady began her time at Indiana University as a student climbing the stairs in Ballantine after learning the hard way that the elevator doesn’t stop on the third floor. Helping others and building relationships has always been a passion of Sarah’s and she continues to do so in her current position as an Associate Director of Employer Relations representing The Media School. She has the pleasure of building relationships with employers and alumni of The Media School as well as planning and executing career events. In her spare time, Sarah Cady enjoys spending time with her family and friends, laughing, cooking, and sometimes laughing at her cooking.

Maria grew up 20 minutes outside of Washington, D.C. in McLean, Virginia. She transferred to James Madison University in 2009, and graduated with her B.A. in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communications in 2012. In college, she worked as a lumberjack on a chainsaw crew in Colorado, interned with The New Press in New York City, and had a part-time job at JMU’s disability services office for two years. Prior to her career in higher education, Maria worked by day as an editor at a D.C.-based company that provides IT accessibility services to people with disabilities. By night, she pursued the freelance hustle as an editor and author for gaming studios such as By Night Studios and Onyx Path Publishing.

Moving to the Midwest for graduate school at Miami University of Ohio was a big change for Maria! She completed a two-year graduate assistantship with Miami University’s Center for Career Exploration & Success and graduated with an M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education in May 2018. Now, Maria is thrilled to use her industry experience in business and creative environments to serve students in the Media School as a Career Coach. 

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.

Randi is a proud product of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate degree in music education with a concentration in trombone and subsequently taught music at various schools in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. She then shifted gears by completing her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Boston College while also working full-time in fundraising and then with the Boston College Bands. After settling in Bloomington in 2012 (and vowing never to move again), she worked in a research center in the School of Education at IU. She is extremely excited to work with students on their career development in the Walter Center for Career Achievement. In her free time, Randi likes to run, cook, and spend time with her family.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Yasmin grew up on the East Coast. She graduated from the Central Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Communication and a minor in Journalism. During her undergraduate experience, Yasmin worked with the Women’s Basketball Team as a production manager, was involved with the campus newspaper and the radio station, and was a proud member of the International Association of Business Communicators. Yasmin also earned an M.S. degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester. While pursuing her graduate degree, Yasmin worked with TRIO programs, Undergraduate and Business Graduate Admissions, Greek and Residential life, Multicultural Student Affairs, and international students. Yasmin is committed to initiatives that focus on equity, justice, diversity and inclusion throughout college and the local community. In her free time, Yasmin likes to work out, try new foods, and go on road trips.

Laura graduated from IU’s College of Arts + Sciences in 2007 with a degree in International Studies. Her education, coupled with experiences living and working overseas instilled in her a love for culture and travel. She went on to pursue an MA in Latin American Development and sought professional opportunities in grass roots international development.

After serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine, Laura returned to the US and had the opportunity to work with college campuses and students as recruiter. During this time, Laura developed a passion for empowering college students to develop goals and work towards them. It was then that she decided to shift her career to one in higher education.

In her current role, Laura works with College of Arts + Sciences alumni to provide opportunities for them to engage with and enrich the career path of liberal arts students. She enjoys variety in her work and is continually learning from students whose diverse career aspirations keep her engaged in a wide array of industries.On her time off, Laura enjoys traveling and exploring with her husband and kids, reading a good book, or watching her favorite sports team lift another trophy.

Early Career Aspirations

Growing up, Laura had dreams of becoming a veterinarian by day and astronaut by night. Once she accepted that she would need to pick, she focused on defining her strengths – learning about animal behavior through persistent training of her childhood dog, Mathias, and spending a week at Space Camp. These goals evolved and changed throughout her life.

Kimberly was born in Massachusetts, but moved from east to west coast multiple times in her formative years, also living in California and Virginia. She completed her Bachelor of Art degrees in Sociology and Spanish Literature at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Studying abroad in Granada, Spain and interning at the World Trade Center in Denver with the Latin American Trade Specialist were highlights of her undergraduate career. Kimberly worked in marketing before moving to Laramie, Wyoming to complete her Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Wyoming, where she also directed the summer session and became passionate about working with students in higher education. She later discovered a love of coaching at the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, assisting volunteers to raise funds for children who need life-saving organ transplants. A lifelong learner who loves adventure, Kimberly seeks new challenges and opportunities to grow. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, camping, reading, working out, volunteering and spending time with her labs.

What values have shaped your career goals?

From a young age, I always knew I wanted to “help people,” a guiding principle which has led me to be a mission-driven professional throughout my career.

Michael hails from Nashville where he never learned to like country music. He did his undergraduate work in the mountains of Southwest Virginia getting his degree in Spanish: Culture Studies. During this time, he studied abroad in Costa Rica where he spent his weekends getting sunburnt, and in Peru where he got to hang out with ocelots in the Amazon. After graduation he moved to Puerto Rico and taught English at an elementary school. After two years of eating mofongo, he returned to Music City for hot chicken and sweet tea. To pay for this good food, he worked in retail and taught English to adults.

Through one of these ESL connections, Michael had the opportunity to move to Bhutan where he was the reading instructor at a private school in Thimphu. In his downtime, he hiked to the fabled Tiger’s Nest and explored various Dzongs with newfound friends. After a year in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Michael left the Himalayas and moved to the high desert of northern Arizona to pursue an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language at Northern Arizona University. Michael spent his weekdays studying and teaching English Composition. His weekends and vacations were spent hiking through the desert and camping under the stars. After graduation, Michael moved back to Nashville where he was an adjunct English teacher at a community college and worked at the corporate office for a Fortune 500 company.

Michael’s passion is to help others achieve their dreams. His interests include trying new cuisine, exploring the outdoors, running, and reading.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
— The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Braden is a born and raised Hoosier. It all started with his IU-themed birth announcement, then a mere 22 years later, he graduated from IU with a degree in marketing. As a student, he played intramural basketball, volleyball, and ultimate Frisbee, and was involved with CRU. He also met his wife, Kylie, at IU while on a spring break mission’s trip with CRU to Panama City Beach. Braden loves spending time with his wife, playing basketball, parenting a kitten named Cisco Ramon, and watching any and all Hoosier athletics.

Rosemarie is from Los Angeles, CA. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Higher Education & Student Affairs. 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 holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge.  Her research interest is in student finance and college affordability; specifically the relationship between social-cultural-economic capital and student loan debt among undergraduate students.

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.

Joe is a proud Hoosier and alumni of the College of Arts & Sciences where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science. He now serves as the College’s Director of Career Services where he provides strategic direction and leadership of career development and employer engagement. Joe leads a team of 20 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 advisor and career course lecturer. He is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventor practitioner.

Joe received his Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs in 2007 and is currently a Ph.D Candidate in IU’s School of Education where his research focuses on understanding the job search information sources used by liberal arts students.

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

Ophelia is a born and raised Hoosier, originally from Warsaw, Indiana. She is a junior studying Nutrition Science with a minor in Chemistry. She is on a pre-med track, with hopes to become a pediatrician. Ophelia’s passion for helping others led her to join clubs like Indiana University Dance Marathon, STEM Outreach, and Christian Student Fellowship. In addition, she serves as the social media intern for the Walter Center. Reaching out to students and helping them prepare for their futures is one of Ophelia’s favorite part of the job, not to mention designing creative ways to market their events. During her free time, you can find Ophelia at the gym, spending time with friends, or binging on cookie dough ice cream at your local ice cream parlor.

Amanda is originally from Palm Springs, California. She graduated in Public Health from Brigham Young University and originally thought that she would go into Health Care Administration. While she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a student secretary in the Microbiology and Molecular Biology Department and fell in love with doing administration in higher education. Amanda is new to Indiana University but is excited to be here! Amanda loves spending time with her family and friends, going to musicals and symphonies, trying new foods, reading, and traveling with her husband.

Staci is a two-time alumna from Indiana University, earning both her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and her Master of Science in Higher Education from Indiana University. After leaving Bloomington for a few years to work in Student Activities and Orientation, Staci returned with her husband, Ron, to begin her professional career at IU in career services. After serving in Employer Relations at the School of Informatics and Computing for the past eight years, Staci joined the Employer Relations staff at Arts + Sciences Career Services in April 2016. Staci is passionate about creating partnerships with employers to help students gain career opportunities. She has significant experience helping employers create new and innovative internship opportunities.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a pilot. I loved the idea of flying all over the world having adventures. I loved the view from an airplane window and the feeling my stomach got when the wheels came off the ground!

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 relocating to 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 enjoys the outdoors, traveling, anything related to Harry Potter, and spending time with her dog, Gracie, and husband, Josh.

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 coaching 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 with their career development and discovering their passions.

He has been married to Theresa for 10 years and has a little girl, Ellie. He enjoys the outdoors, reading, and IU sports.

Derrick is a true Hoosier originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Indiana State University for his degrees (B.S., M.S.) in Information Technology and Student Affairs and Higher Education where he found a passion to help mentor students and everyday people to achieve their goals. Derrick is an emerging Student Affairs professional with extensive experience in program development, conflict resolution, residential life, and admissions. Highly effective in working with students across difference and advocating for equitable resources for marginalized populations. A proven leader and established blogger for issues and topics that impact the Student Affairs global community. Derrick would like to pursue a PhD in the future. During his time out of the office, Derrick enjoys practicing self-care by running, spending time with family and friends, and making coffee as a Barista at Starbucks. His favorite beverage is the Pink Drink.

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.

Rachel likes to say that she’s done a Midwest tour throughout her life having lived in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and now Indiana. Rachel is an alumni of Miami University having graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing in May 2015 and is now a proud Hoosier Alumni having graduated from IU with a Master of Science degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs in May 2017.

During her time in undergrad Rachel discovered the realm of student affairs immediately while working in Orientation and First Year Experience Programs and ultimately decided to pursue a career in the field. While in graduate school at IU, Rachel completed an assistantship in residence life as well as a practicum and internship with the Office of First Year Experience Programs. Throughout undergrad and graduate school Rachel loved learning about the passions and career dreams of her students which inspired her to pursue job opportunities in career services. When Rachel is not working with students she enjoys spending time with her dog, attempting crafting projects from Pinterest and trying to relive her old dance days by taking Jazzercise classes.

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 currently pursuing his doctorate part-time 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 Lucy. Tanner also enjoys running, playing music, vintage video games, being outdoors, and all things geology.

Dana Vanderburgh is currently a PhD student in Anthropology. In 2018, she graduated from IU with a dual BA/MA degree in International Studies from the School of Global and International Studies. She also completed an undergraduate degree in French and a minor in Folklore and Ethnomusicology. Formerly a pre-professional ballet dancer, Dana has a love of dance and other forms of art that inspires her to look at the world and its people in a creative way.

Once injuries forced Dana to stop her ballet training, she found that she was able to combine her love of dance and the world by working with the non-profit organization, Movement Exchange. Through her work with Movement Exchange, Dana has learned the value in using dance as a means of empowerment and social change and has spent time in both Panama and the US engaging in dance outreach. Dana has also spent four summers in Ghana studying and working at a music center in order to expand her artistic and cultural knowledge.

At the Walter Center, Dana currently serves as the Graduate Assistant for Strategic Alumni Engagement where she helps to engage alumni to provide opportunities for students to network and learn from professionals in many fields.

In her free time, Dana enjoys being outdoors, traveling, dancing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Early Career Aspirations

Ever since she was 3 years old, Dana knew she wanted to be a dancer. Consequently, the next 17 years were spent in dance studios and theatres around the country in order to achieve this goal. Her training eventually led her to IU where she began her path towards a professional ballet career until she had to re-assess her career goals when she became injured. Though she will not be the professional ballerina she once desired to be, she has realized that ballet was only a stepping-stone to an even more rewarding career in using dance to make a positive difference around the world!

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!

Justin is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, and fell in love with the state of Indiana during his years as an undergraduate student at IU. Prior to working in career services, Justin was a professional modern dancer and received his M.A. in Arts Administration through the School of Public and Environment Affairs. While pursuing a career in the arts, Justin worked at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Indianapolis School of Ballet, the Bloomington Area Arts Council, and as an adjunct lecturer for Indiana University’s Contemporary Dance Program.

Before moving into his role as Senior Associate Director of Career Education at the Walter Center for Career Achievement, Justin served as the Associate Director of Student Services for the Career Development Center, where he also held various positions in career advising, teaching, marketing and university relations. He is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory practitioner and has completed National Association of Colleges and Employers intensives on Career Coaching, Coaching the Coach, and Assessments for Coaching. He previously served on the board of the Career Development Professionals of Indiana.

Julia is a sophomore from Vincennes, Indiana, majoring in Media with a concentration in Cinema and Media Arts – Studies and Production, along with specializations in Creative Industry Management and Editing and Post Production. She is also minoring through the Jacobs School of Music in Music Scoring for Visual Media. At IU, Julia is involved with Kappa Kappa Gamma and its Little 500 bike team, Panhellenic Mental Health Committee, Cox Legacy Scholar Program, and Indiana University Dance Marathon. In her free time, Julia enjoys playing the piano, reading, photography, and spending time with her friends.