Career Peer Advisors

“What do you do for students at your job?”

I motivate and coach each student in a customized and unassuming way. My objective is to equip them with the tools needed to be successful. End goals come first and I use best-proven methods to help them accomplish their goals.

“Who are you? What do you want everyone to know about you? What do you enjoy?”

Being with others, laughing and exercising are some of the things I enjoy. I am an active person who likes sports and holds a strong work ethic.

“Why are the Career Center services meaningful?”

Career & Professional Development makes the overwhelming easy. We offer a customized approach and a person that is willing to help you meet your specific needs and interests.

“In a quote, what do you say to yourself and students?”

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”— Tim Notke

Maria is the Assistant Director in Advancement Marketing. She has been at DU since 2010 having also worked at the University’s Center for World Languages and Cultures and the Daniels College of Business. Prior to that she worked in nonprofit development and fundraising.  She holds an MA in International and Intercultural Communication from the University of Denver. Her research addresses digital identity management and international newspaper coverage of the Greek economic crisis. She received a BA in French, International Studies and Theater from Loyola University Chicago and is a former Fulbright Scholar in Greece. When she’s not on campus, catch her on a yoga mat, the ski slopes or tending to her urban farm.

Lindsey Day is a career coach who has helped 1000s of clients across the country find jobs they love. Lindsey focuses on solving the talent connection problem by training job seekers to regain power in their career search, think like the employer, and project a positive, confident self-image to land their next great job.

Lindsey’s specialties revolve around technology and personal branding. Lindsey enjoys helping candidates navigate the ever-changing landscape of online job searching and is frequently requested for her expertise in LinkedIn and nonverbal communication. In addition, her real world experience in recruiting provides her with insight into the employer perspective.

Education:
– Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
– Master of Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

John Haag’s 22-plus years as a career counselor—first with a social service agency and then here at DU—have qualified him to provide insight and direction to students and alumni.
Even better, he loves his students and his job. In his own words:
“I love student life as a place and as a concept; it is a wonderful place to make a difference.”

EDUCATION:
MA, human resources management, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.
Graduate-level certificate, career development, John F. Kennedy University, San Francisco, Calif.

For over 20 years, I have been a part of Career & Professional Development assisting students and alumni find the courage to discover their strengths, interests and directions in their career path. Each person has a unique story to tell and it is my goal to help guide them in discovering what that story is trying to tell them about themselves. Ultimately,  we are here to help them take their education to the next step or steps in their career path. I am compassionate and want students to know that I am listening to their story and their hopes. Excellence drives me and I focus on what I can do to make a difference in a person’s life. Career & Professional Development gives students the support and guidance to translate their education into a career. It is my privilege to help and support students in taking these sometimes difficult, but always exciting next steps.

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”— John Bingham 

With a passion for career services and a long, successful career at Michigan State University, DeVry University, and the Savannah College of Art and Design, Sue Hinkin is the backbone of the Career Services team.
Before working in higher education, she worked in the entertainment industry in Southern California.

• MA, Higher Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• BA, Art, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
• Fellow, American Film Institute, Los Angeles, CA

Helena came to DU Career Services in February 2012 with experience in non-profit marketing, program development, event coordination, and social media. She is committed to creating collaborative and effective efforts across the DU campus—bringing staff, faculty, employers, alumni and students together to empower big dreams and help make them happen. Helena is currently engaged in elevating storytelling to a priority, through video, social media, and blogging. Contact her now to share your story!
EDUCATION
• BA, “Facilitating Personal and Organizational Transformation: Psychology, Sociology, and Religion”, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA
• MBA, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA

Jane Mall has been at the University of Denver since 2012.  In her current role as Director of Campus Engagement, she develops engagement strategies for faculty outreach and student organizations and also develops programming to help students reach their Career Milestone through a variety of career development opportunities.  She also manages the successful student nominated Faculty Career Champion initiative.  Prior to this role, Jane led a team of employer relations staff at DU whose primary focus is to assist employers with their hiring of the incredibly talented DU students and alumni.  Prior to joining DU, she spent 11 years as the Director of Corporate Relations and Director of the Experiential Learning Center at Northern Illinois University in the College of Business. Jane also has several years of corporate sales experience in the software industry and has owned and operated two small businesses.  Jane received a B.A. in Finance from Aurora University and a M.S. Ed from Northern Illinois University (NIU) in Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis on Human Resource Development. 

Pat O’Keefe is passionate about variety, education and problem solving—which makes her perfectly suited to her job as assistant director and career counselor for all non-business undergraduates.
In her own words: “I love my job…helping students in their decision-making process around majors and careers. I also love…working with all types of majors and undecided students.”

EDUCATION:
MA, counseling, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
BA, business (minors, sociology and fine art), University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colo.

In my job, I develop a strategy to engage more students and alumni in quality and meaningful career development activities to help clients achieve careers and lives of purpose.  I also develop partnerships across campus to integrate career services into the student experience. Overall, my main goal is to ensure that there are quality services available to students and alumni of all backgrounds. I am passionate about helping others to be successful and have a special passion for supporting diverse and first generation clients. I have a bachelor of science degree in  English Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s degree in educational psychology, with an emphasis in career counseling in higher education from the University of Minnesota.

During my free time, I enjoy hiking, traveling, gardening and reading. As a Minnesota native, I also enjoying cheering on the Minnesota Vikings during football season!

Favorite Quote/Poem:

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ruth Prochnow draws her insight and inspiration from more than 24 years of career counseling experience.
During her long, successful career Ruth has served as Director of Career Services at Tulane University, and in a variety of career counseling and director positions at the University of Wisconsin’s Psychology Clinic and the City of Madison, Wisconsin’s Equal Opportunities Commission.
More importantly, though, Ruth works in career counseling because she loves it. Connecting employers with students and helping students find that perfect internship—that’s what gets her out of bed in the morning.

EDUCATION :
MA, counseling psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
BA, sociology, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, Wis.

Ben began working at DU in 2008 as the career development and public interest program coordinator in the Sturm College of Law. Before joining Career Services, he worked as an analyst in the University’s Office of Academic Assessment. Ben is originally from Indiana.

Education:
– BS, psychology, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
– MA, higher education, University of Denver
– PhD candidate, research methods, University of Denver

I hold space for students to tell their stories and answer the questions: “Who am I,” “what am I here to do” and “how do I get there”. My end objective is to empower individuals through self-awareness and resource-awareness to move towards their goals. Personally, I am driven to play a part in helping people achieve a meaningful life. I love being in nature and I am especially motivated by activities devoted to personal development including yoga, meditation, and hiking. Our careers define only one part of our identity; and, considering we spend an average of 2,000 hours yearly in our jobs, it is critical to help students and alumni in their pursuit of purposeful lives by teaching them how to plan their careers and leverage their talents and interests.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which, kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no person could have dreamed would have come their way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” — Goethe

Even after 18 years at DU Career Services, Tina Stack Oldweiler says each day brings something new and refreshing, which suits her personality well.

With a background in business administration and customer service, managing the Pioneer Careers database and acting as a conduit between students and employers was a natural fit. Hearing those students’ success stories is the perfect reward for her hard work.

Education:
– BA/BA, business administration, Western State College, Gunnison, Colo.

“What do you do for students at your job?”

In my job, I interact with students to explore careers, passions, social presence and personal brand. Ultimately, our meetings will answer questions like who I am? What do I like to do? Where can I find opportunities that align with my interests? How can I find people with my same passions?

“Who are you? What do you want everyone to know about you? What do you enjoy?”

I love to work with students and help them through the path of “finding” self, careers and connections. During my free time I enjoy adventuring in books, local coffee shops and people. I have discovered that social interactions energize and fulfill me.

“Why are the Career Center services meaningful?”

For me, Career & Professional Development offers a space for discovery that complements what is being learned in the classrooms. I have experienced myself how interactions with career services and advisers can produce outstanding results.

“In a quote, what do you say to yourself and students?”

“People hire people, not qualifications” Steven Bartlet

“What do you do for students at your job?”

I engage with graduate students to explore career direction, network and seek connections. I also work with students to develop skills such as writing resumes/CV’s and interviewing that will lead to success in the internship and job processes. Listening is one of my core values and I attend to each person in a different and personalized manner.

“Who are you? What do you want everyone to know about you? What do you enjoy?”

During my spare time, I enjoy being with my family and friends, cooking and meeting with my book club. In everything I do, I try to be positive and keep life in perspective.

“Why are the Career Center services meaningful?”

Work is a key component of life and Career & Professional Development has a lot to offer to help you navigate it. There is much that you can gain by interacting with the staff at Career & Professional Development.

“In a quote, what do you say to yourself and students?”

Connect + Communicate + Care