Augustana’s career development specialists are called career coaches for good reason. They help students practice and perform to the best of their abilities.
Students can select the appropriate coach based on their primary career goal or the industry they are considering. The coaches also will serve as first-year advisors.
Coaches focus on students' field of interests, rather than majors. This allows students in any major to pursue careers, graduate school, internships and post-grad service that align with their interests.
Health sciences
If you're interested in a health-related career, you need to meet Beth Ford. She enjoys the one-on-one interaction with students and seeing just how far they can go.
Ford says: "You don’t have to know where you want to go or what you want to do right away. All coaches are meant to help you discover and uncover who you are and what you want to do."
→ Learn more about Beth Ford and her goals for students
Environment, science, technology, engineering and math
The Quad Cities has many resources for students on and off campus, including the Upper Mississippi Center, and places throughout the cities for students to gain experience in their fields and take it back to their home communities.
Sumita has over 12 years' experience working in higher education in different roles and departments. Her own experience as an international students gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards that many Augustana College students face. Sumita's passion is learning new skills and working with students. She also has skills working with Adult and Dislocated populations.
Accounting, Business and Management, Communications, Marketing and Sales
Malik Wildermuth is passionate about helping young people identify and reach their goals and helping them get off to a successful start to post-undergrad life. Malik's coaching skills are also seen on the court as an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach.
Arts and Entertainment, Education, Law, Government and Public Administration, and Social Services and Non-Profit
Claire Brakel Packer is an experienced professional in adult education, student development, and community engagement. Claire values higher education as it changed her life by opening doors she didn't even know existed. She enjoys being a part of the career journeys of Augustana students as they learn more about who they are and how they want to live that out in the world. Claire also oversees PLEN.
Exploring majors and careers
If you are exploring majors and careers, see Keri Bass. She starts by asking: What brings you joy? What drains you? You did this job in high school for four years? Why? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it?
Bass says: "Asking those simple (but maybe tough) questions is a really reflective process of what they’ve done and what they want to do — and holding space for both the future and the past in the same conversation."
→ Learn more about Keri Bass and her goals for students