Career & Professional Development Center

Allison has been with the Career and Professional Development Center since May 2017. As a transfer student (she went to 3 colleges before finally landing at Cal State Fullerton!), who majored in what her family told her to, she knows what it’s like not to know who you are, or what you want to do with your life. Thankfully, she discovered her passion for supporting and coaching college students during her time as a New Student Orientation Leader, which she attributes to being one of the most pivotal moments in her career trajectory. Allison’s journey has allowed her to work with students in both small and large, public and private institutions including Academic Advising at the University of Southern California, and most recently Experiential Learning at Pomona College. In her spare time, you can find Allison playing softball, line dancing, cuddling with her rescue dog, or working on her first fixer-upper home.

Hometown: Chino Hills, CA | Hashtag: #californiagirlinautahworld | Education: MS in College Counseling & Student Development, Azusa Pacific University | BA in Business Administration; Marketing concentration, California State University, Fullerton | First Job: Cashier and Fry Maker (fake title, true description; I smelled like grease all summer) at Chronis Famous Sandwich Shop in East Los Angeles. If you’re ever in LA, you must make time for chili cheese fries and pastrami at “Chronis”!

Coaching Focuses: Chemical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Construction Engineering, Games/Entertainment Arts & Engineering, Undecided

Campus Partnerships: LGBT Resource Center, Pride Week, Bennion Center, University Scholarship Office

College Liaisons: College of Engineering

Amanda was born and raised in Portland, OR before moving across the country to attend Bryn Mawr College, a small private liberal arts and women’s college, for her undergraduate degree. During her time at Bryn Mawr College, she was highly involved working with the Civic Engagement Office, the Office of Residential Life, the Admissions office, the Teaching and Learning Institute, the Communications Office, and the Wyndham Alumnae House. Additionally, she was on the executive board for the Art Club and managed a student-run art studio and coordinated an art education program at a local elementary school. She also had the opportunity to receive funding to do internships with the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, PA and to travel to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to study the Indonesian language and collaborate on a research project with Indonesian university students. Her leadership and involvement inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI to advocate for student access and success and to pay forward the opportunities and mentorship she received as a student.

Amanda has been with the Career and Professional Development Center since March 2019. Prior, she worked as a Financial Aid Advisor and Specialist at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, OR. She has also worked as the Peer Advising Manager for the University of Oregon Career Center in Eugene, OR, an Assistant Community Director for Michigan State University Residence Education and Housing Services, and has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Philadelphia, PA. She has lived and worked across the U.S, including Oregon, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and now Utah. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys playing video games, engaging in activism, making art, listening to podcasts, cosplaying, spending time with her rescue dog Rusty, traveling, playing tabletop roleplaying games, and cooking.

Hometown: Portland, OR | Hashtag: #SAGamer | Education: MA in Student Affairs Administration, Michigan State University | AB in Psychology, Bryn Mawr College | First Job: Teacher’s Aide at Belmont Academy in Portland, OR. I supervised children from infants to 12 year-olds while I was in high school at the same school my mom taught at.

Coaching Focuses: Counseling & Social Services, Nonprofit, Philanthropy & Fundraising, Sustainability, Education (K-12, Special Ed, Higher Ed), Undecided

Campus Partnerships: TRIO, The Dream Center, University Marketing and Communications

College Liaisons: College of Social Work, College of Education

Anna was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, however for the past 13 years she was living and working in Seattle, WA. There, Anna attended Western Washington University, where she grappled with choosing a direction for her own career. Through the many ups and downs of college, Anna discovered her passion and drive to support students through their own individual career journeys. Since getting her master's degree in Student Development Administration, she has been supporting a diverse range of students, including undergraduates, first-generation college students, and graduate students. Prior to her work in higher education, she worked in the non-profit sector and spent some time supporting adults with disabilities at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

Anna considers herself a lifelong learner who enjoys collaborating with and learning from others. It is her goal to motivate and empower students to see their innate strengths and abilities, and to follow a career path that is most fulfilling to them. In her down time, Anna enjoys hiking with her dog Boots, staying balanced through yoga, and seeing a play or live music.

Hometown: Holladay, UT | Hashtag: #livinginthemoment | Education: MEd in Student Development Administration, Seattle University | BH in Communication Studies, Western Washington University | First Job: Making smoothies at Jamba Juice!

Coaching Focuses: International, Languages & Culture, Museums & Libraries, Advertising, Event Planning, Journalism, Marketing, Media, Public Relations, Publishing, Writing, Undecided

Campus Partnerships: Learning Abroad, Housing and Residential Education (HRE), Major and Career Exploration Living Learning Community (LLC)

College Liaisons: College of Humanities, Academic Advising Center

Megan became a member of the Career & Professional Development team in June 2017. Prior to that, Megan served as a Learning Abroad Coordinator at the University of Utah for a year and a half. Before coming to the U, Megan was an on-site intern for a study abroad program in Nicaragua and also taught English to international students in Boston and Tanzania. Since moving to Utah in 2016, Megan has enjoyed getting outside and taking advantage of the Beehive State’s many beautiful hiking trails! She is passionate about travel, language, and culture and enjoys working with and getting to know students from different backgrounds.

Hometown: Starksboro, VT | Hashtag: #reallifeleslieknope | Education: MA in International Education, School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute | BA in Sociology, Minors in Anthropology and Women Studies, Skidmore College | First Job: Dishwasher and Catering Setter-Upper at Mary’s Restaurant.

Coaching Focuses: Alternative Healthcare, Healthcare & Medicine, Hospitality & Tourism, Nursing, Pre-Med, Sports Management & Recreation, Undecided

Campus Partnerships: Athletics, Campus Recreation, Student Health/Wellness Committee, Women of Tomorrow, Marriott Library

College Liaisons: College of Health, College of Nursing

Mary has been a member of the Career & Professional Development team since June 2016. Prior to coming to the U, she was attending graduate school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she had Graduate Assistant Positions in Career Services, Study Abroad and New Student and Family Programs. Mary also did a year of service in Madagascar following her undergraduate experience.

Hometown: Virginia, MN | Hashtag: #adventureisoutthere | Education: MEd Educational Policy and Leadership; Marquette University | BA General Studies (Focuses: Business, Psychology and Professional Writing); University of Northern Iowa | First Job: Housekeeper for a hotel – they had cockroaches, but I wasn’t supposed to say anything.

Coaching Focuses: Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, International Students, Entrepreneurship, Social Media Branding, Undecided

Campus Partnerships: Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, International Student Scholars & Services, Utah Asia Campus (UAC), School of Business, The Refugee Education Initiative Program

College Liaisons: College of Engineering

Olga has been with the Career & Professional Development Center since August 2018. Prior to this, she taught English as a Second Language in a private ESL school in Salt Lake City where she also served as a college admissions advisor helping international students apply for college and pursue higher education in the United States. Olga moved to the United States from Russia where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics. She is bilingual and is passionate about assisting students on their way to academic and professional fulfillment.

Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia (born) /Chelyabinsk, Russia (raised) | Hashtag: #macropatiencemicrospeed | Education: MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages); West Virginia University | BA in Linguistics; Chelyabinsk State University (Russia) | First job: Interpreter at an international taekwondo championship. I had to translate famous athletes in front of dozens of cameras. It was cool but extremely nerve-racking – those interviews were broadcast worldwide.

Colleges: Graduate students in College of Engineering & College of Science, School of Medicine Research Groups

Campus Partnerships: The Graduate School

Francine's professional experience has been largely in industry, consulting in technical and business communication, and her academic background is in languages and linguistics. She taught Persian at the University of Utah, then transitioned to the business world (with trepidation, initially) and ended up working with hundreds of engineers and research scientists across a range of industries. She appreciates their practical focus, their willingness to engage and learn, and their sense of humor.

Hometown: Paris, France | Hashtag: #serenefrancine | Education: PhD in Middle East Studies/Persian | MS in Linguistics | BS in Russian | First Job: Pier 1 Cashier, Cambridge, MA. I also did inventory, which was a big challenge back when Pier 1 sold myriad varieties of small brass figurines from exotic countries.

Colleges: Graduate students in College of Education, College of Health, College of Nursing, College of Social and Behavioral Science, College of Social Work

Campus Partnerships: Center for Disability & Access

Bio coming soon...

Industries: Energy, Natural Resources and Defense

Industries: Education, Government, Non-Profit, Arts, Health, Advertising & Marketing and Social & Human Services

Industries: Business, Hospitality & Tourism, Transportation & Logistics, Retail, Health and Sports & Recreation

Industries: Engineering, Technology, Science, Manufacturing, and Architecture & Planning

Interviews, Career Fairs, Expos