Staff

Richelle is an educator, counselor, and artist who values diversity.  When Richelle started her college career, she was ‘one of those students’ who knew that she wanted to help people and make a difference in the world, but did not know how she wanted to do it.  Through her work as a school counselor, and then as a higher education administrator, her general desire evolved into wanting to help students become more aware of who they are, what they can be, and how they can be whatever they want to be.  She loves helping students realize that they can achieve their dreams and assisting them in setting their goals in order to make those dreams come true.  When she is not working, Richelle enjoys traveling, creating art, being active, trying new things, and spending time with her husband and their dog.

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 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.

Rhian is originally from England and moved to Bloomington to attend Indiana University. Due to her passion for the performing arts she pursued a degree in Arts Management and immersed herself in the field post-graduation. She received a position at the Jacobs School of Music Ballet Department and although she thoroughly enjoyed the work she realized something was missing. That something was a love for working with and helping students. She decided to follow a path in career services as it would be an excellent way to utilize the skills she had gained through her education and previous work experience. Rhian is now thrilled to a part of the Arts + Sciences Career Services team and has found a career she is truly passionate about. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband Derek, and their three cats Sadie, Mildred, and Wesley Stripes, as well as assisting a local non-profit dance studio as a board member, spending time outdoors and traveling.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An actor! I was involved in theatre and dance companies from a young age and just loved being on stage. I love that I am still able to incorporate my passion for the performing arts into my everyday life.

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.

Kaitlynn is currently a sophomore majoring in French and Spanish.  She is also pursuing a certificate in Nonprofit Management and a minor in Global and Comparative Education.  She graduated from Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana, where she was the first student to simultaneously take two languages for four years.  Her passion for these languages and the cultures of those who speak continued to grow throughout high school and is fostered through her studies.  She discovered her passion for global education as a high school student; through her involvement in an IU chapter of a nonprofit organization, she has helped to combat the global education crisis in Uganda through fundraising, advocacy, and awareness.  Kaitlynn is hoping to combine her interest in nonprofit management, global education, and languages by working with nonprofits that deliver education to children in West Africa and Latin America.  When she’s not busy trying to save the world, Kaitlynn enjoys spending time with dogs, friends, and family, and doing service projects in Bloomington.

Suzanne is a proud Indiana University alum and has spent the last 20 years in Chicago working as a teacher, advisor, and professional actor nationally and internationally. She is passionate about using improvisation and theater in education to encourage self-discovery, communication, and artistry. She spent time working with such companies as Second City, Cleveland Play House, Writers’ Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and The Goodman Theatre. She utilized improv principles to train future actors and directors; as well as to provide team building and communications consulting to corporate and nonprofit companies such as Altria, Gap, Inc., and The Brain Arts Center of Chicago. She credits her Liberal Arts education for enabling her to have a career in media, the arts, and higher education. Suzanne is thrilled and grateful to partner with students in creating their career and life path. You can find her rooting around Bloomington on her scooter Sugar or editing a play at Hopscotch. Never hesitate to reach out and build your network: You will grow as a person, bring community everywhere you go, and might walk into that next chapter of your life.

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 members of the Employer Relations team to create common language and opportunities for students to engage with employers and alumni that are invested in their career success. She enjoys variety in her work and is continually learning from liberal arts 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.

Joy is a born Cutter, originally from Bloomington, IN, but spent a large portion of her youth growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO. She excitedly returned to Bloomington for her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies and actively engaged and enjoyed singing and performing with The Singing Hoosiers at The Jacob’s School of Music. After graduation she gained professional experience in the field of local non-profit organizations rooted in social services. This inspired Joy to return to graduate school to explore her passion for advocating and volunteering for consumers receiving services within non-profit, community-based organizations, and governmental agencies.  Upon numerous years of working in social services and serving the non-profit community of Bloomington, Joy decided to take a leap of faith to change the trajectory of her professional career and begin utilizing her skills in project management, planning, and organization. This resulted in a position in the field of student housing and leasing in Bloomington, IN where she enjoyed meeting and interacting with students to welcome them to the city she loves! However, with much introspection, and with a passion for higher education, she went on to pursue employment to combine both her skills for structure and planning in conjunction with an environment which challenges and encourages professional growth. Joy is excited to return to Indiana University, now as a professional, to be a part of the Arts + Sciences Career Services team!  When Joy isn’t planning or organizing she loves being active outdoors, singing at any given moment that inspires her, exploring the community she loves, gardening, practicing yoga, and spending time with her long term partner Tim and three cats Mira, Cleo, and Misha.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A Prima Donna, aka female opera star. My musical background and first love for singing and the glamorous costumes on stage (and sparkles) had me day dreaming of performing Queen of the Night’s infamous aria in Mozart’s, The Magic Flute.

Elaine came to IU in 2000 as an undergraduate never expecting to stay and create a life in Bloomington. While all of her friends were going to graduate school, Elaine wasn’t sure exactly what to do with her life after graduating with a BA in Psychology. Elaine worked professionally for a year before returning to IU to pursue her Master’s Degree. During this time, Elaine discovered her passion for teaching and working with students in the university setting. Over the years she has been in various professional positions on campus, but has found her home as a Lecturer for Arts and Sciences Career Services. Elaine loves being with her family and two dogs in addition to never sitting still outside of teaching.

Chris is originally from Osceola, Indiana, and became known as a world traveler in high school, when he completed a home-stay exchange program in Hagen, Germany. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in German at Indiana University South Bend (August 2011) and fell into student affairs after working several part-time jobs all over campus. Unbeknownst to him, those experiences, coupled with three studies abroad in four countries (England, France, Germany, and Costa Rica), fueled his desire to work in student affairs. After an academic year internship in the University of Notre Dame’s Multicultural Student Programs and Services office, Chris attended Bowling Green State University for his Master of Arts in College Student Personnel (May 2014), completing graduate assistantships in residence life, career development, and multicultural affairs. Late in his grad school career, Chris discovered his passion for helping students connect their passions to their future careers. In his free time, Chris enjoys playing video/board/card games, swimming, going to the movies, and hanging out with friends and family as often as possible.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I was easily attracted to lots of jobs as a kid, so my interests constantly changed: doctor, artist, violist, business professional, and accountant to name a few.

Rachel is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana and originally thought she wanted a career in the medical field since she worked as a physical therapist tech. Throughout her undergrad she worked in Student Life on campus. She has experience dissecting cadavers and working in various healthcare settings, but the opportunity for grad school in the medical field kept closing. She decided instead to pursue a career as a school counselor; still directly helping people but in a different context. She was first inspired to work in higher education (not knowing what exactly that was) during her first semester of grad school when she received a graduate internship in Career Services at IPFW (Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne) and also did some academic advising for the Doermer School of Business. Rachel stayed in the Career Services office for almost three years, where she developed skills serving undergraduate, graduate, international, returning adult, and military students of all majors. Rachel is an active member of Career Development Professionals of Indiana. She is passionate about helping individuals realize their potential and that career is a central role in the human experience. Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband Thomas, son Owen, dog Cleo, and cat Mango, as well as spending time outside, remodeling homes with her husband, attempting Pinterest ideas, watching documentaries, and experimenting with cooking. Rachel loves to travel and has been to India twice, Ireland, Wales, London, Mexico, and Canada.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A grocery bagger. I loved watching our groceries being bagged in an organized, systematic way. It made so much sense!

Emily is from Madison, Indiana. She is currently a junior in the Cox scholars program and is studying Biology with hopes of becoming a pediatrician or dermatologist. Her favorite summer job is working at Girls Inc. in her hometown. During her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her dog, Luna, and catching up on TV shows. She is a roller coaster enthusiast who goes to multiple theme parks each year. Emily is involved in IUSF on campus and loves helping put on Little 500!

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.

Angela is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; that’s right, across the Mackinac Bridge and into the great white north.  Angela attended Michigan State University and began her teaching career at Lakeland High School in Lagrange, Indiana.  She has been teaching something to somebody ever since.  Her special love is the middle school level, and she spent years developing young readers, writers and speakers.  After a stint teaching Middle School in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Angela began her graduate studies in Curriculum and Instruction at IU.  She called upon her days as a Resident Advisor at Michigan State to guide her transition into college level teaching.  She has taught education courses, supervised student teachers, and guided many students through the trauma of developing their public speaking skills.  Angela has concluded that college students are a fun population with which to spend some time.

Lauren is originally from Dayton, OH and thought she wanted to be a Middle School English teacher when she enrolled at Wright State University.  Throughout Lauren’s undergrad experience she was an active member in the Greek Life community holding various leadership roles such as the Academic Achievement Coordinator for her sorority.   After completing her student teaching at a local middle school during her junior year she found that her passion wasn’t in K-12 education but working with college students.  She decided to pursue a career in Higher Education.  Her experience with changing careers inspired Lauren to focus her studies further on career development.  Before joining the Arts and Sciences Career Services team Lauren worked at Indiana University East where she was an Academic Advisor for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Career Development instructor for undecided students.  Lauren is an active member of the Career Development Professionals of Indiana–currently the President-Elect and the National Career Development Association–serving on the Awards Committee.  She spends her free time with her dog Paden and family.  Lauren loves traveling, experiencing new cuisines, and has a passion for the Olympics.  Her goal is to travel and attend a summer Olympic Games.

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.

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!

Brianna is Junior from Indianapolis, Indiana majoring in Biology with an area of concentration in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and a minor in Public Health. While she is currently exploring post graduate options to pursue, Brianna looks forward to using her studies to help others in the medical field and the expansion of genetic knowledge. Brianna enjoys her free time participating in the IU Student Foundation, her Cox Scholars Program, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jessica Nevitt is a Human Resources professional focused on career development, training and organizational development, and employee engagement.  After working in benefits and compensation, she found that her interests lie in the “human” side of HR, and she enjoys working with students and others to help them identify their values, interests, personality, and skills and apply that knowledge to a satisfying career.  Jessica has taught at Indiana University since 2007, and also coaches and advises in career development, career transition, and employee health and wellness.  She holds certifications in MBTI, SII, CHES, and SHRM-CP.

Once her mother predicted she would become a teacher, Shelly spent several years working to prove her wrong.  Eventually, she realized her mother was right (and she hopes her own children will realize that one day, too).  Originally from Kentucky, Shelly did a tour of Midwestern universities before landing at the best one: IU.  She has a passion for both academic advising and teaching and finds that teaching career development courses is a great way to combine those interests; she wishes she had taken such courses as an undergrad herself.  In her down-time, Shelly reads, hikes, and attempts to keep up with her two sons, Aidan and Cam, husband Jeremy, and two dogs.

Carrye Simmons comes from a small town by the name of Lowell in northwest Indiana. Carrye comes from a family of Purdue fans but she decided to go against the norm and attend college elsewhere. She came to Indiana University with intentions of joining the Kelley School of Business but after her first semester she decided that particular path wasn’t for her. Carrye grew up with a love for history and has always been intrigued by cultural connections and interactions, both passions she wishes to continue with into her career future. After exploring a few classes and getting involved through university events, Carrye has decided on double majoring in Arts History and Folklore, and minoring in Arts Management, with the hopes of pursuing a career in Museum Curating or Art Consulting out of Chicago.

Amanda is from San Diego, California. She is a Sophomore majoring in Psychology and minoring in Creative Writing with a certificate in Clinical Science. She is member of the IU Psychology Club as well as a First Year Ambassador through the Office of the First Year Experience. She is also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. After graduating, Amanda hopes to attend graduate school in the Midwest to pursue a license in Marriage and Family Therapy with a focus in Adolescent Psychology and wants to live in Chicago.

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 ASCS’s programs and services. He loves spending time with his wife Selena and son Theo. Tanner also enjoys running, playing music, vintage video games, being outdoors, and all things geology.

Dana Vanderburgh is currently a 4th year student in the School of Global and International Studies where she is pursuing a dual BA/MA degree in International Studies. She is also working towards 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 two 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 one of the Employer Relations Interns and helps to engage potential employers and 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!

Hailing from California, by way of Colorado, Jordan found his way to Bloomington in 2009. His work on the Employer Relations team revolves around fostering relationships with employers and alumni to facilitate opportunities for Arts + Sciences students. With a diverse career path of his own, Jordan has previously founded and led a creative consultancy design firm and a non-profit organization.

With an undergrad background in Communication, Jordan completed a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Spring Arbor University. He has has been married to Holly for 10 years, and loves being a dad to his two adorable girls, Makenna and Brooklyn, and son Noah.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Taking cues from Roberto Alomar, I wanted to be the second-basemen for the Toronto Blue Jays, and live at a hotel inside the stadium. My dreams were dashed when I realized I couldn’t hit a ball out of the infield.

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 counseling, assisting others in aligning their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs with their career goals. 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!

Mary grew up just outside of Bloomington in the little town of Bloomfield, Indiana. She decided to major in Agriculture and Natural Resources as an undergraduate at Berea College because she loves the outdoors and is passionate about the environment. Though she liked working with her hands and the meditative nature of gardening and farming, she ultimately felt that a career directly serving the public was more in line with her skills and values. After holding various administrative positions in higher education, Mary returned to school and received a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management at The Ohio State University. She enjoys talking with students about their life experiences and helping them chart a course to fulfilling careers. Mary spends most of her time with her husband Adam and daughter Guinevere, thinking of new house projects, hiking, cooking, attempting different dance/Zumba classes, listening to local music, and seeing comedy shows.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I was 100% sure I’d be a writer.  I’ve never actually had a job with that title,  but I’ve leaned heavily on my writing skills professionally.  I still secretly hope to one day write a book, or articles for nature magazines!

Jack is currently a sophomore majoring in Cognitive Science, Philosophy and Political Science. The first half of his life was divided evenly between Fujian, China and New York City. That was a huge formative period in which he learned so much about the complexities of this world. That was when he first was enamored with large communities. The second half was in the much quieter town of Greenwood, IN. Through the combination of those three, he has arrived at IU, a pretty perfect community for him. He discovered Cognitive Science early in his undergraduate career; the study of the mind and its nature was absolutely fascinating in all of its facets. He liked it so much that he is also majoring in the related field of Philosophy (as well Political Science: he is also involved in student government!). Right now, he is happily situated within a psychological research lab, doing perceptually interesting research of his own, or at least attempting to. Even when not found doing stuff he’s supposed to, Jack continues to absorb information, whether that’s through an online medium, a book, or his friends.

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 while serving as a faculty member in IU’s Contemporary Dance Program.

Before moving into his role as Senior Associate Director of Student Services, Justin served as a career advisor, career course lecturer, Senior Assistant Director of Marketing & Communication, and Associate Director of Student Services. He is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory practitioner and has completed the National Association of Colleges and Employers Career Coaching Intensive. He currently serves on the board of the Career Development Professionals of Indiana.