Best uConnect Podcasts (2025)

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How Career Services Can Partner with Enrollment to Drive Student Success (feat. Jonathan Wehner) 48:57

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10d ago48:57

48:57

In this episode, host Meredith Metsker is joined by Jonathan Wehner, AVP of Enrollment Strategy at Carnegie and a seasoned higher ed leader with more than 20 years of experience leading enrollment at institutions like Cleveland State University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Case Western Reserve University. Jonathan brings a rare insider’s pe…

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How to Build a Data Culture in Your Career Center (feat. Julia Vollrath and Marissa Altenburg) 55:08

24d ago55:08

55:08

In this episode, host Meredith Metsker sits down with Julia Vollrath (Director of Career Data, Technologies, and Engagement) and Marissa Altenburg (Integrative Career Solutions Manager) from the University of Florida. Julia and Marissa share how UF’s career center has woven data into the fabric of its operations—transforming data from a scary, four…

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Integrating Career Exploration and Skill Development into Curriculum (feat. Krysta Foster and Shahnaz Masani) 59:02

1M ago59:02

59:02

How can career services and faculty partner to embed career exploration directly into the classroom—so every student has access, no matter their background or schedule? In this episode, host Meredith Metsker chats with Krysta Foster, Associate Director of Career Services at Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College, and Dr. Shahnaz Masani, A…

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The New Career Services Value Proposition: Balancing Human Connection and Scale in the ROI Era (feat. Christine Cruzvergara) 47:55

2M ago47:55

47:55

With public trust in higher ed at an all-time low, and ROI under the microscope, career services is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s central to proving the value of a college degree. In this episode, Christine Cruzvergara of Handshake joins host Meredith Metsker to discuss how career services leaders can meet this moment with clarity, courage, and st…

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5 Ways to Measure Career Center Effectiveness (feat. Rebekah Paré) 1:05:27

2M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

Rebekah Paré shares five ways career services leaders can measure career center effectiveness—beyond the standard metrics. -- In this episode of the Career Everywhere Podcast, host Meredith Metsker is joined by higher ed career services veteran and Paré Consulting founder, Rebekah Paré, to explore how career centers can measure (and improve) their …

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How Stanford Supports Alumni Career Development with the PlusFive Program (feat. James Tarbox and Theanne Thomson) 45:34

3M ago45:34

45:34

In this episode, James Tarbox and Theanne Thomson share how Stanford’s career education and alumni teams collaborate to support graduates for up to five years post-graduation through the innovative Stanford PlusFive program. From 1:1 career coaching to alumni-led networking groups, this program offers recent grads a meaningful bridge from college t…

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How WashU Centralized Career Services Without Losing a Single Position (feat. Danny Pape) 50:46

3M ago50:46

50:46

Danny Pape, Executive Director of the Center for Career Engagement at Washington University in St. Louis, shares the story of how WashU shifted from a long-standing decentralized career services model to a unified, centralized structure—without losing a single position. With decades of experience across multiple institutions and roles—from career c…

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From Silos to Synergy: How Career Services and Enrollment Management Can Partner (feat. Rebekah Paré and Michael Griffin) 51:33

4M ago51:33

51:33

As prospective students and their families become increasingly focused on ROI, post-grad outcomes, and career readiness, collaboration between career services and enrollment management has never been more important. When these two functions work in tandem, institutions are better positioned to not only recruit and retain students, but to tell a mor…

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How Career Services and Admissions Collaborate at Binghamton University (feat. Lexie Avery and Melissa Lawson) 52:33

4M ago52:33

52:33

Lexie Avery and Melissa Lawson of Binghamton University share how career services and admissions collaborate to recruit, retain, and support students with career development—before they even step foot on campus. Lexie, the Senior Associate Director of Student Engagement and Career Readiness, and Melissa, the Director of Admissions Communications, h…

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Harnessing the Untapped Power of Career Services Leaders (feat. Dylan Houle) 58:25

5M ago58:25

58:25

In this episode of the Career Everywhere podcast, host Meredith Metsker welcomes Dylan Houle, Executive Director of the Career Center at Santa Clara University, to discuss the misalignment between the importance of career outcomes for students and the positioning of career services in higher ed. In short: If career outcomes are a major reason most …

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Leading Career Services in a Decentralized Model (feat. Erica Kryst) 1:00:49

5M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

In this episode of the Career Everywhere podcast, host Meredith Metsker welcomes Dr. Erica Kryst, Executive Director of Career Services at Cornell University, to discuss how she leads a decentralized but highly collaborative career services function. Erica, a first-generation college student with degrees in musical theater and communications, bring…

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How BGSU’s Investment in Career Readiness Drives Record Enrollment (feat. Rodney Rogers and Steve Russell) 52:08

5M ago52:08

52:08

BSGU President Rodney Rogers and Steve Russell, AVP of Corporate Partnerships and Executive Director of the Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections, share how Bowling Green State University continues to shatter records when it comes to enrollment and retention. In fact, the 2024-2025 academic year marked the second consecutive year that BGSU h…

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How the University of Oklahoma Is Building a Career Ecosystem (feat. Justin Morris and Robin Huston) 49:30

6M ago49:30

49:30

Justin Morris and Robin Huston, both of the University of Oklahoma, share how their team is implementing Career Everywhere and building a career ecosystem across campus and beyond. In the episode, they discuss: How they built a three-year strategic plan for the career center to implement Career Everywhere How they secured high-level buy-in from uni…

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What Professionalism Looks Like in 2025 (feat. Allie Danziger) 37:16

6M ago37:16

37:16

Allie Danziger, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AscentUP, shares what professionalism looks like in 2025 and how career services teams can stay on top of new trends. AscentUP is a student success platform that bridges the gap and offers support for learners of all ages about professionalism, career readiness, academics, finance essenti…

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Building a Professional Development Program for Career Center Staff (feat. Andrea Franklin and Tracy Austin) 44:18

7M ago44:18

44:18

Andrea Franklin and Tracy Austin, both of Clemson University, share how they’ve built a scalable, free, and effective professional development program for their career center staff. The program, called Spark Exchange, includes monthly presentations led by career center staff or external partners like faculty and employers about topics that matter t…

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How to Scale Career Services as a Team of One (feat. Nick Edwards) 43:45

7M ago43:45

43:45

Nick Edwards, Guided Career Advisor at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, shares how he has scaled career services for Hardin-Simmons’ 1,100 students as a team of one. Nick’s strategy relies heavily on the use of technology—in particular, uConnect’s virtual career center platform—to offer more resources to students and make them available…

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How Career Services Can Support LGBTQIA+ Students (feat. Amanda Zielinski Slenski and Suede Graham) 48:42

8M ago48:42

48:42

Amanda Zielinski Slenski and Suede Graham of Out for Undergrad, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping high-achieving LGBTQ2+ undergraduates reach their full potential, discuss how career centers can support LGBTQIA+ students. In this episode, Amanda and Suede cover: Some of the unique challenges that LGBTQIA+ students often encounter as pa…

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Scaling Engagement with Career Services in a Business School Environment (feat. Toni Rhorer and Gene Rhee) 51:39

8M ago51:39

51:39

When it comes to student engagement with career services and resources, business schools are a different beast. First, most students enrolled in business schools (especially those in graduate programs) have specific goals and expectations around post-graduation outcomes. As a result, they often require more frequent and specialized engagement with …

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How to Improve Career Equity for All Students (feat. Dave Merry) 49:28

9M ago49:28

49:28

Dave Merry, Associate Provost and Executive Director of the Center for Career Equity, Development, and Success at Suffolk University, shares how his team is working to improve career equity, address systemic bias, and provide equitable support for all students. “It [career equity] means not everyone has the same, but everyone has what they need. We…

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5 Elements of Effective Change Management in Career Services (feat. Gerald Tang) 57:04

10M ago57:04

57:04

Gerald Tang, Executive Director of the Career Services and Internships Office at Bridgewater State University, shares his top five elements for effective change management in career services. The five elements include: People: Understand the strengths, management styles, and buy-in of the individuals involved in the change process. Culture and envi…

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Best Practices for Supporting International Students (feat. Nitin Agrawal) 47:54

10M ago47:54

47:54

Nitin Agrawal, Co-founder and CEO of Interstride, shares best practices for supporting international students. Interstride is a plug-and-play platform to support international students across the full lifecycle, from admissions through graduation. In the episode, Nitin (who was an international student himself) covers: The unique experiences of int…

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How to Advance Shared Goals with Cross-Campus Collaboration (feat. Claire Klieger) 45:58

11M ago45:58

45:58

Claire Klieger, Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of Career Services at Swarthmore College, discusses how she advances shared goals by building cross-campus partnerships and collaborations. “I don’t think you need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to strengthen the spokes,” Claire says. In the episode, Claire shares: What cross-cam…

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Best Practices for Supporting Neurodivergent Students (feat. Jhillika Kumar and Conner Reinhardt) 50:18

11M ago50:18

50:18

Jhillika Kumar and Conner Reinhardt, co-founders of Mentra, share best practices for supporting neurodivergent students. Mentra is an employment network for 1 billion neurodivergent professionals (with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.) worldwide. Mentra is an AI-powered, reimagined hiring process that captures more nuanced skills-based and humanistic f…

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Producing a Podcast for Your Career Center (feat. Paul Maniaci) 1:10:14

12M ago1:10:14

1:10:14

Paul Maniaci, an Assistant Director in the Career Design Lab at the Columbia University School of Profesional Studies, shares how he’s hosting and producing a podcast for his career center. Paul’s podcast, called Rising to the Top, covers a variety of topics related to career development and features interviews with leaders and individuals who have…

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How to Leverage Video to Engage Gen Z with Career Services (feat. Willie Wittezehler) 54:57

12M ago54:57

54:57

Willie Wittezehler, Creative Director at Roadtrip Nation, shares best practices for how career centers can use video to engage Gen Z with their services. Willie has produced and directed Roadtrip Nation’s award-winning documentaries for over 16 years and been behind the lens for over 200 interviews. Roadtrip Nation is a nonprofit organization that …

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Developing an Early Career Exploration Program for Sophomores (feat. Michele Doran and Melanie Murphy) 48:27

1y ago48:27

48:27

Michele Doran and Melanie Murphy of Denison University share how their team built the Journey Program, a popular two-day workshop that helps sophomores with early career exploration. The Journey Program includes four 90-minute sessions designed to help students explore careers, think critically about what they want out of work and life, and come up…

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Developing an Improv for Interviewing Workshop (feat. Michael DeAngelis) 46:24

1y ago46:24

46:24

Michael DeAngelis, the Senior Associate Director of Communications and Technology at the University of Pennsylvania, shares how he created a popular Improv for Interviewing workshop for Penn students. A former theater major, published playwright, and accomplished podcaster, Michael uses games and techniques from the theater world to help students t…

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Demystifying the Recruiter Experience with an ATS Simulation (feat. Cheryl Rotyliano) 45:04

1y ago45:04

45:04

Cheryl Rotyliano, Senior Associate Director of Market Readiness and Employment at the Wake Forest University School of Business, discusses the ATS simulation program she developed to demystify the recruiter experience for students. The program involves a one-hour simulation where students review resumes, cover letters, and video interviews to make …

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Leader Talk - Episode 84. Clint Hewish. Managing Director of Concept Electrical Estimating. 59:07

1y ago59:07

59:07

Clint is the Founder and Managing Director of Concept Electrical Estimating. Since founding the company in 2017, Clint has expanded it to include Concept Plumbing Estimating and Concept Mechanical Estimating, as well as electrical design. The Concept Group partners with tier 1 to tier 4 contractors across the commercial and residential sectors. The…

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Leader Talk - Episode 83. Ivan Tandyo. CEO & Founder of Navanti Holdings. 1:02:59

1y ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Ivan Tandyo is the CEO and founder of Navanti Holdings, an investment company for diversified businesses. Starting with a small food and beverage venture in 2003, Navanti Holdings expanded to multiple restaurants in Melbourne’s city centre. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to diversify into the property business, establishing Xynergy Investment G…

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How to Make Career Everywhere a Reality on Campus (feat. Nancy Bilmes, Christian Garcia, and Mike Summers) 52:37

1y ago52:37

52:37

In this episode, Nancy Bilmes of UConn, Christian Garcia of the University of Miami, and Mike Summers of Lafayette College each share how they’re making Career Everywhere a reality on their campuses. The University of Connecticut has built one of the most robust and successful Career Champion programs in the country, with over 1,000 faculty, staff,…

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Building an On-Campus Internship Program (feat. Sarah Coburn) 45:02

1y ago45:02

45:02

Sarah Coburn, Senior Associate Director for Experiential Learning and Employer Engagement at St. Lawrence University, shares how she built a successful on-campus internship program. The on-campus internship program (OCIP) provides paid internships for students to work in various departments on campus, gaining valuable skills and experience. The int…

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How to Advance Your Career as a Higher Ed Career Services Leader (feat. Audra Verrier) 57:17

1y ago57:17

57:17

Dr. Audra Verrier, Associate Vice Provost of Career and Professional Development at Loyola Marymount University, shares her best advice, tips, and tricks for advancing a career in higher education career services leadership. In the episode, Audra discusses her career journey from career services coordinator to associate vice provost, and how she ma…

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Strategic Planning for the Career Center (feat. Josh Domitrovich, Kelli Smith, and Mike Summers) 53:46

1+ y ago53:46

53:46

In this episode, Josh Domitrovich of PennWest, Kelli Smith of Binghamton University, and Mike Summers of Lafayette College each share their approach to strategic planning for their career centers. In the episode, the panelists discuss: What their strategic plans look like (and what their processes entailed) How they involve their teams in the proce…

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3 Ways to Improve Engagement with Gen Z Students (feat. Josh Taylor and Hayley Hollenberg) 1:02:00

1+ y ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Josh Taylor and Hayley Hollenberg of the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics share three specific strategies their team is using to better engage Gen Z students with career services. Those three strategies include: A popular career-focused study abroad program in Paris A career development course A revamped web and socia…

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Leader Talk - Episode 82. Charlotte Lloyd. CEO & Founder of Charlotte Lloyd Sales Consulting. 1:01:36

1+ y ago1:01:36

1:01:36

Charlotte Lloyd is the CEO and founder of Charlotte Lloyd Sales Consulting, specialising in LinkedIn and sales coaching for solopreneurs, founders, and B2B companies. Charlotte has coached hundreds of sales representatives and entrepreneurs. With over 20 years as a top sales performer, she now helps business owners increase sales pipelines and clie…

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Career Readiness Efforts with Identity-Based Populations (feat. Larry Jackson) 50:55

1+ y ago50:55

50:55

Larry Jackson, the Senior Associate Director for Career Education and Engagement at UC Berkeley, discusses the strategies and initiatives his team has implemented to improve career readiness among identity-based populations on campus. In the episode, he highlights the importance of building partnerships with equity and inclusion student-facing grou…

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Leader Talk - Episode 81. David Abdelmessih. Managing Director of UConnect (International). 59:31

1+ y ago59:31

59:31

David Abdelmessih is a dynamic leader in the business world. David is the Managing Director of UConnect (International), which includes several well-known companies under its umbrella, including Buzz Cleaning. David shares his knowledge as a mentor with UConnect, helping new entrepreneurs find their footing. He has also authored “Lead Generation Ma…

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Leader Talk - Episode 80. Trena Blair. CEO of FD Global Connections. 59:35

1+ y ago59:35

59:35

Trena Blair is an expert in helping Australian businesses expand into the U.S. She founded FD Global Connections, which advises Australian and U.S. companies on entering each other's markets. Trena’s first book, "Decoding Global Growth: How Successful Companies Scale Internationally," made her a #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author in Australia and USA. T…

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Leader Talk - Episode 79. Steve Loe. Founder of Australian Small Business Champion Awards. 1:00:08

1+ y ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Steve Loe, Managing Director of the event management company Precedent Productions, has been helping small businesses shine for over 30 years. Using his experience in strategy, marketing, and event production, Steve founded the Australian Small Business Champion Awards in 1999 to celebrate the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit. This initiative now sp…

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Best Practices for Supporting First-Generation Students (feat. Yasi Mahallaty) 51:37

1+ y ago51:37

51:37

Yasi Mahallaty, the Senior Manager of Strategic Innovation at CareerSpring, talks about how career services can support first-generation students. CareerSpring is a free networking and job placement platform for first-generation/low-income students. CareerSpring is also a headline partner for uConnect’s Curation Kit focused on first-generation/low-…

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Amplifying Your Impact Through Campus Partnerships (feat. Rebekah Paré) 50:34

1+ y ago50:34

50:34

Rebekah Paré, the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Paré Consulting and a former longtime career services leader, shares how career leaders can amplify their impact through campus partnerships. After 20 years in career services and higher ed, Rebekah began her consulting business in 2023 to help career centers all around the world develop strat…

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How Career Services Can Create More Equity and Inclusivity (feat. Jenn Tardy) 47:26

1+ y ago47:26

47:26

Jenn Tardy, founder and CEO of Jennifer Tardy Consulting, shares several best practices for how career services teams can create more equity and inclusivity. Jennifer Tardy Consulting is a training and consulting firm that specializes in diversity recruiting and retention. Jenn often speaks to employers, recruiters, jobseekers, and career services …

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How to Use Video to Engage More Students with Career (feat. Matt Phillips and Rebecca Davis) 45:00

1+ y ago45:00

45:00

Matt Phillips and Rebecca Davis, both of the University of Arizona Global Campus, share how their team uses video to engage more students with career. They discuss the diverse student population at UAGC and the importance of making career development opportunities accessible to all students. They also highlight the various ways they are using video…

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Leader Talk - Episode 78. Brad Kasell. Principal Technology Strategist at Domo APAC. 1:02:07

1+ y ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Brad Kasell, Principal Technology Strategist at Domo APAC, boasts over 27 years in software engineering, management consulting, sales, digital strategy, and data protection. With a career spanning roles at global giants like McKinsey, Deloitte Digital, PwC, Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, and Salesforce in both Australia and the US, Brad is a vanguard in d…

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Leader Talk - Episode 77. Matthew Lakajev. Founder and CEO of UnlockAI. 59:45

1+ y ago59:45

59:45

Matthew Lakajev, founder and CEO of UnlockAI, is the number one fastest-growing LinkedIn creator in Australia. UnlockAI empowers businesses to automate their LinkedIn lead generation with AI. His approach, which combines organic content and strategic messaging, has proven successful, generating over $247,000 in 100 days on LinkedIn. He also hosts “…

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Leader Talk - Episode 76. Hakim Halim. Founder of Ripe Cheese. 1:02:26

1+ y ago1:02:26

1:02:26

Hakim Halim is the founder of Ripe Cheese, the world’s first all-Australian artisanal cheese shop. Hakim moved to Australia from Singapore in 2011. In 2017, he pivoted from digital marketing to cheesemongering at the iconic Queen Victoria Market. Noticing a gap in the market for local cheeses, he founded Ripe Cheese, showcasing over 50 varieties fr…

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Career Everywhere in a Decentralized Model (feat. Adam Capozzi) 44:00

1+ y ago44:00

44:00

Adam Capozzi, Director of Career Services, Assessment, and Student Success at Syracuse University, shares how his team implements Career Everywhere in a distributed, decentralized career services model. In the episode, Adam talks about: What Syracuse’s decentralized career services model looks like (and why it’s set up that way) How all the career …

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How Career Services Can Support Student Veterans (feat. Eric Stetson) 51:34

1+ y ago51:34

51:34

Eric Stetson, Director of Engagement and Enrollment at FourBlock and a retired Army officer, shares best practices for how career services teams can support student veterans. In the episode, Eric highlights: The unique challenges student veterans commonly face as part of the career exploration process What career leaders should know about best supp…

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How Career Services Can Support Retention (feat. Chris Entringer) 46:44

1+ y ago46:44

46:44

Chris Entringer, Career Services Coordinator and Enrollment Advisor at Northeast Iowa Community College, shares how he and his team work to support retention. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships, collaborating with other departments, and being proactive in reaching out to at-risk students. In this episode, Chris also shares: At a…

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