Mission Statement
The mission of the Career Services Center is to provide professional guidance and resources to undergraduate and graduate students and alumni for their lifelong career development. Programs and services are designed to educate, counsel, and involve students and alumni in career planning and decision-making, experiential learning, continuing education, and/or employment search activities. To provide these programs and services, the Career Services Center establishes mutually beneficial relationships with students, alumni, employers, faculty, staff, and the community.

Meet Our Staff

Donna Seckar, Director

Donna has been in Career Services at UNCG for over 15 years, including 10 years as Director of the office.  Previously she was director of the career services office at Cabrini College in Radnor, PA.  She earned a B.A. from Gettysburg College and an M.Ed. from the University of Cincinnati.  At UNCG she appreciates the opportunity to interact with students, employers, faculty and staff.  Away from UNCG she enjoys travel, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.
 

Sheryl Williamson, Administrative Assistant to Director/Manager of Office Data Systems

Sheryl is responsible for the day-to-day business functions of Career Services. She is a native of Charleston, SC, graduated from Trident Community College and has worked at UNCG for the past 8 years.  Before coming to UNCG she was Co-Director for Communications Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a local nonprofit agency, and is a licensed sign language interpreter. Sheryl brings the UNCG parent perspective to Career Services as both her daughters graduated from UNCG, one from the School of Education and one from the School of Nursing. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her grandsons.

Lisa Tandan, Assistant Director for Employer Relations

Lisa, a native of North Carolina, is very familiar with the Piedmont Triad, having completed her undergraduate work at Wake Forest University. She received her M.Ed. in Community Counseling at The College of William & Mary. Prior to earning her master's degree, Lisa lived in New York City, where she worked for a non-profit dedicated to culinary career development for underprivileged teenagers. Lisa is extremely passionate about career development and loves connecting employers with students.

Jessica Beamon, Front Office Manager/On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator

An alumnus of UNCG, Jessica received dual BA degrees in Dance and Communication Studies in December 2004. Prior to returning to UNCG as a staff member, Jessica worked in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. From January 2008-June 2009 she was the Program Coordinator for the on-campus entrepreneurship program, BELL.
Jessica now joins the Career Services Center as the Recruiting Coordinator / Front Office Manager. Her responsibilities include assisting employers, students and alumni with applying SpartanCareers to their employment needs; coordination of Career Services Center on-campus recruiting; and day-to-day office management. Jessica enjoys telling (and hearing) cheesy jokes, singing in the shower, and reading anything she can get her hands on.

Jodi Barber, Web Developer/Technology Administrator

Jodi is an alumnus of UNCG, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1996.  She has been with the Career Services Center for over 10 years during which time she worked in several different areas before settling in her true love, technology.  Her favorite activities include riding roller coasters, singing, dancing and eating.

Melanie Mays, Assistant Director for Internships

Melanie received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and her Master’s Degree in Counseling at Michigan State University. She has been in the field of career counseling since 2003 and has worked and lived in Michigan, Montana, and now North Carolina. She enjoys hiking with her husband and dog when she’s not at work and loves the NC Mountains and beaches!

Charmaine Curtis, Career Internship Counselor

Charmaine is the center’s new Career/Internship Counselor from Richmond, Virginia. She assists students with internships and all other career counseling needs.  Curtis holds a master’s degree in Continuing Education: Counseling and Psychology. She enjoys meeting new people, reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Gretchen Pugh, Graphic Designer/Internship Program Assistant

A Greensboro native, Gretchen earned a BFA, with concentration in graphic design from Longwood College in Virginia. At the same time, she was a member of the Women’s Golf Team at Longwood and was named an NCAA All-American. Upon graduation, Gretchen chose golf over art, turned professional, and began teaching others the skills necessary to play golf. All the while, Gretchen used her graphic design skills to promote her golf lessons and to do freelance graphic work ranging from designing logos, brochures, promotional posters to painting well known characters on store windows. After 12 years of teaching golf, she decided to switch courses and focus on a career as a graphic designer. Gretchen currently creates and designs all collateral used in the promotion of the Career Services Center and its events and workshops.

Leslie Nguyen, Assistant Director for Career Development

Leslie has been with UNCG for the past four years.  After three years as the CSC Business School Career Counselor, Leslie moved into the role of Assistant Director of Career Development this past year.  Leslie is originally from Northampton, PA, but came to UNCG by way of Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT), where she received a full athletic scholarship to play Division I Women’s basketball and complete her undergraduate degree in Business Administration.  Leslie continued on at Sacred Heart, earning a Master of Business Administration degree (concentration strategic management) while working as a Graduate Assistant in the Career Services Office for two years.  Leslie's professional interests include working with undecided majors and students making career decisions and preparing students for interviews. Leslie also enjoys sports, the beach, snow skiing, traveling and her miniature Doberman Pinscher, Scrappy!

Amanda Pelon, Career Counselor, Bryan

Amanda is the Career Counselor and liaison to the Bryan School of Business and Economics. Amanda provides a variety of career services to Bryan School students and oversees the Bryan School branch office of the Career Services Center. As an undergraduate she studied International Relations and Business Administration at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. She recently completed a Master’s in Student Affairs Administration at Michigan State University but has been working with college students from almost ten years. Prior to joining UNCG in 2008 Amanda has worked in study abroad, admissions, residence life, career counseling, and human resources for the private sector. Throughout all of her experiences Amanda has always considered herself an advocate for students as they develop globally competitive careers.  In her free time Amanda enjoys yoga, sewing and crafts, and she loves being outside. Together with her husband they take pleasure in water sports, hiking, gardening, and traveling.

Elisabeth Doggett, Career Counselor

Elisabeth (Lis) is originally from Hawai'i and began her career in higher education as a student employee in 1996. She received both her B.A. in Spanish and M.S. in Counseling at UNCG. As a Career Counselor, she assists students in individual appointments and group presentations. She especially enjoys helping students with deciding on their major and career path, understanding what they have to offer an employer, and planning for graduate school. She is a Safe Zone Ally, and enjoys traveling, speaking Spanish, and practicing yoga in her free time.

Chad Collins, Assistant Director for Student Employment

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Chad started at UNCG Career Services in 2004.  He holds a M.S. degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College and a B.A. degree in Psychology and Religion from the University of Rochester.  Chad is a current member of both local and national professional associations in career services/student employment and has presented at the National Student Employment Association’s annual conference.  He likes to work with students from all majors and is Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) certified.  Outside of his professional life, Chad enjoys hockey, golf and music. 

Tricia Lamar, Program Assistant for Student Employment

Tricia has worked at UNCG in the Career Services Center for 8 years.  Prior to UNCG she worked at The North Carolina School of the Arts.  Tricia's previous careers included: owner of Baby Furniture Plus, creator of Atlanta Cookout Caterers and X-Ray technologist.

Jessica Majkowycz, Student Employment Advisor

Jessica is a recent graduate from Syracuse University, where she completed her Masters of Science in Higher Education. Before moving to Greensboro in August of 2008, she worked as a residence director at Le Moyne College and interned in Campus Activities, New Student Orientation, and Career Service at several other universities.  In her new position as the student employment counselor, she works with students seeking part-time employment and oversees the Federal Work Study Community Service Program. In her free time, she enjoys tapping into her creative side and enjoys scrapbooking and cake decorating.  In another life, she would be a pastry chef and own her own dessert shop.

Mary Mishler, Career Resource Librarian

Mary manages both the CSC Career Resource Library Collections and the CSC web-based, online Reference File Service.  Additionally Mary helps students in the CSC resource library and during drop-in hours.  She holds a Master of Library Science and a Bachelor of Arts in History, both from UNCG.  Mary has been on staff with the Career Services Center for 13 years.  Prior to coming to UNCG she managed Interlibrary Loan for the Washington County Free Library in Western Maryland.

Amelia Smith, Front Office Receptionist

Amelia has been at UNCG for 6 ½ years. She is the face you see when you enter Career Services and the voice you hear when you call the Center. Prior to coming to UNCG, she worked at the NC School for the Deaf. In addition to her receptionist’s duties she supervises and trains the student employees of the Career Services Center. Amelia loves spending time with her family, cooking, working out, and playing with her grandson.