Inside Student Life

My career path reflects the type of “non-linear” possibilities that we often discuss with our students. The majority of my professional career has been spent in industry as a marketing leader and hiring manager for media and market research organizations in different locations across the US. The foundation for those pursuits and experiences came from degrees I earned in Communications, Media Management and Business Administration.

My transition to higher education, and specifically the career space, was somewhat serendipitous stemming from a networking conversation I had with a college classmate who was serving on the advisory board for the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School. The school was adopting a new strategic plan which included undergoing a curriculum redesign for their MBA programs and looking to bring in experienced industry professionals to help inform those changes, coach and mentor students interested in related career paths and represent the school with cultivating relationships with industry contacts and alumni. I thoroughly enjoyed the coaching and mentoring aspects of my previous roles, so making this leap ended up being a great match with the ability to directly apply my skills and experience in a meaningful manner.

I was drawn to this opportunity at UB based on the significant focus that was being placed on careers, level of support specifically within Student Life and ultimately all the great people that I met along the way. I am a native Buffalonian but had actually not lived and worked in the region since my own college years, so the opportunity to join UB was also one to come home to a place that I love.

It all starts with having good people! We have been fortunate with the support of Student Life to expand our talented Employer Relations & External Engagement and Experiential Learning team. This has included establishing specialized coverage, expertise and engagement with significantly more employers across career communities, industry spaces and related academic units. We also have been partnering with employers for unique approaches in engaging students with experiential events where students can demonstrate their skills and curiosity. Recent examples have included partnering with the SEAS DREAM lab for employers to hold live demos for students to get hands on with their technology, and with CAS programs for employer recruiters to participate as judges for a promotional video contest. We have also involved employer representatives in our student preparatory programs for career fairs and company information sessions. One such example is our Career Education team facilitated a "Healthcare Resumania" event in advance of the spring Health Hiring Summit where students had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from participating organizations who provided 1:1 consultation and tips in advance of the summit. This provides recruiters with opportunities to have more involved conversations with our students and helps reduce what sometimes can be daunting dynamics of the recruiting process for students.

First and foremost, that we meet our students where they are both literally and figuratively. We serve as a guide and resource provider at any stage of their journey whether a student is exploring what is possible based on their interests, looking to gain and learn from meaningful work-based experiences or is actively involved in the employment recruitment process. We are intentional to help inspire and cultivate a mindset for students in broadening out what is possible for them, and to nurture the skills and confidence to have agency over their unique individual career interests and pursuits. Engagement with the Career Design Center is also much more varied than just visiting our space or meeting with us individually. Our team conducts programs and pop-ups all over each UB campus, and partners closely with a robust and growing network of alumni providing networking support and UB faculty and staff career champions who embed career into their classes and programs. Ultimately, our aim is that every UB student experiences a supportive and knowledgeable community which cares about their personal growth, wellbeing and career outcomes. Additionally, we have developed an extensive offering of on-demand digital career resources that students can access at any time that best fits their schedules.

Employers are craving authentic connections with students especially given the impact AI and other factors have had on the avalanche of applications they receive to job postings. That has influenced some of the strategies and recruiting approaches I mentioned previously  as employers shift towards proactively sourcing candidates rather than relying primarily on the traditional application and interviewing process. Employers have also shifted their focus towards skill-based hiring rather than any specific academic major, which includes prioritizing durable skills such as communications, teamwork, leadership and critical thinking. There has also been a significant increase in the importance of students earning and growing through experiential learning opportunities, which the Career Design Center has played a key role along with other UB entities in the recent past to expand access, variety and support for students. We have seen an increased interest in networking activity between students, alumni and recruiters as they take a more relational approach to career exploration and pursuits. There has also been a shift in topical focus by students engaging with our office influenced by some of the uncertainties and possibilities related to AI. This includes more students prioritizing more stable employment opportunities, while also establishing back up plans or exploring multiple paths to “hedge their bets” as they pursue their primary interests.

I have a mix of activities that I really enjoy including playing the guitar and participating in service programs through my church. I try to experience and enjoy the many scenic places and spaces across western New York with my wife Alison, especially outdoors whenever possible. I also have been involved with soccer much of my life as a player, coach and referee, so you can find me outdoors on a field somewhere in Western New York many weekends in the spring, summer and fall.  

There are so many great choices! I am a big fan of The Burning Buffalo on Hertel. Great food, atmosphere and people.