Managing the overall operations of the career center including the budget, personnel, programs, and services.
LACS Staff
Dr. Katharine Brooks, Director
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Author, "You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career (Viking, 2009). Trains career center personnel nationwide on career coaching techniques for the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE). Developer and course instructor for courses relating a liberal arts education to the workplace. Former school psychologist, college counselor, social worker, and human resources generalist.
Education and training:
Ed.D. in Educational Psychology, and M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from West Virginia University. BA in Sociology & Anthropology from Gettysburg College, PA. Licensed Counselor in Texas and Pennsylvania. Certified Distance Career Counselor.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
None. I'm doing the career I love.
Best piece of career advice?
"Do what you love; the money will follow."
When not at work I enjoy:
The Texas music scene, playing guitar, banjo & hammered dulcimer, mixed-media art, and watching movies.
Coaching Team
Tatem Oldham, Career Coach & Pre-Law Advisor
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Helping students decide if they want to go to law school and guiding them through the process of applying. Also, resumé and personal statement critiques, and helping liberal arts students with the career decision-making process.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Experience as a psychotherapist in both group and individual settings. Extensive training and two years' experience with the foster care system in Texas.
Education and training:
MEd in Educational Psychology, and BA in Communication Studies, both from The University of Texas at Austin. Advanced Certification in Conflict Mediation; 30 hours+ training in child abuse prevention and Child Protective Services. Licensed Professional Counselor Intern.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Part-time therapist, part-time philanthropist.
Best piece of career advice?
99% of excelling is perseverance. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
When not at work I enjoy:
Reading; family time.
Daniela De Luna Olivares, Career Coach
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Coaching students on a path to self-discovery to find their own strengths and career interests by assisting with interview and job searches, resume and cover letter writing, and interview skills.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Non-profits ranging from community organizing, ESL adult education, and advocacy organizations.
Education and training:
Currently working on a master's at the LBJ School of Public Affairs with a focus on social and economic policy. Bachelor of Arts and Letters in Political Science with a minor in Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Adult ESL teacher, since it can empower people to improve their quality of life.
Best piece of career advice?
Never go at it alone. It can be daunting to write a resume, attend a career fair, etc... for the first time. Luckily there are always friends, professors, and the lovely Liberal Arts Career Services staff that want the best for you and are always available to help out.
When not at work I enjoy:
Walking my two schnauzers, watching PBS, phoning friends and family and improving my cooking skills.
Bill Carpluk, Career Coach
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Coaching students through identifying potential careers; researching employers, jobs, and internships; resumé and cover letter writing; and interview skills.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Two years of national service with AmeriCorps NCCC, serving communities throughout the U.S. in areas of need including: education, environment, unmet human needs, public safety, and disaster relief. Former student athlete who still has a passion for all things sports.
Education and training:
Working toward a Masters Degree in Public Affairs at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. Graduated with a BA in Economics from The Johns Hopkins University.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
I would love to be the general manager of a professional sports team, trying to wheel and deal and win championships.
Best piece of career advice?
Do! Do! Do! On the path to finding what you love to do, you can never have too many experiences.
When not at work I enjoy:
Team sports, being outdoors, reading books, watching movies, listening to music.
Nancy Stano, Career Coach
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Coordinating recruiting team activities, developing new recruiting strategies, overseeing goal-setting and results evaluation. Communicating with employers and students to strengthen the services our recruiting team provides.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Career Coaching; Teaching at the college level; Freelance education consulting work with high school through executive MBA level students.
Education and training:
Doctoral Student in Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin; Master in Accounting, The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan; Bachelor of Business Administration, The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Working with adolescents in a high school setting, focusing on extracurricular activities and leadership development.
Best piece of career advice?
Surround yourself with the best resources possible and trust the information you get from them. Trust that when you make a well-reasoned and thought out decision you will begin moving down a path that, at that point in your life, is the best path for you to be on!
When not at work I enjoy:
Spending time with my family, photography (admiring the work of others as well as my own craft), running, following Detroit sports from afar, and the (more than) occasional viewing of the West Wing!
Robert Vega, Graduate School Advisor & Internship Course Instructor
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Internship Course Instructor for four internship classes, one (LA 310) classroom-based, and the others web-based. Graduate school advisor for students interested in advanced liberal arts degrees.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Experiential learning (e.g., internships, study abroad, gap year activities).
Education and training:
MA in International Relations from Boston University, including study in England and France. BA in Political Science from the University of Houston.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Running a backpacker's hostel on a beach in the South Pacific or Southeast Asia.
Best piece of career advice?
Step outside your comfort zone to better understand the world and who you are. Working in a forest in Wyoming, teaching at an inner-city school in New York, or interning at a public health clinic in Tanzania will help you fine tune your adaptability, problem-solving, coping, and interpersonal skills - all strengths in high demand by employers.
When not at work I enjoy:
Dinners with friends and planning my next trip. If I can travel three times a year I'm a very happy man.
Neil Johnson, Senior Career Coach & Peer Advisor Supervisor
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Assisting students with resumé and cover letter writing; researching employers, jobs, and internships; conducting mock interviews; managing the LACS Peer Advisor program.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Over nine years' experience in career services working with students majoring in liberal arts, as well as electronic and aeronautical engineering.
Education and training:
Pursuing M.Ed., College and University Student Personnel Administration at The University of Texas at Austin; B.S., Physical Education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; Leadership Skills for Managers Certificate Program, the Center for Professional Development, UT Austin
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Coaching sports, most likely basketball, soccer, or tennis.
Best piece of career advice:
Intern with employers to learn more about an industry and your future career interests.
When not at work I enjoy:
Being outdoors, playing basketball and tennis, and watching the Longhorns!
Recruiting Team
Scott Plowman, Manager - Recruitment & Marketing
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Managing employer relations and outreach, recruiting services, marketing activities, and the career coaching staff. Serving as the main liaison to the employment community and ensure that the College of Liberal Arts is marketed to organizations for their recruiting purposes. Oversee career expos, on-campus recruiting, and career-related student events.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Several years of experience in career services employer relations along with previous experience in corporate recruiting and human resources management.
Education and training:
Bacelor of Science in Media Communications and Master of Arts in Organizational Communications, both from Missouri State University.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Musician!
Best piece of career advice?
Strive for a good work/life balance. Always keep time for your personal ventures or hobbies. Don't be afraid to pursue your passion, even if it's not the first priority in your life.
When not at work I enjoy:
Playing music around town with my blues-rock band and sitting in with other music projects as time allows. Riding my bike, spending tiime my family and kids.
Morgan Gossom, Events and Marketing Assistant
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Assisting the recruiting team in all aspects related to employer, alumni, and student outreach; administration; and database maintenance. Also, planning, coordinating, and promoting the Fall and Spring Career Expos and other LACS events throughout the year.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
I worked for two years as a professional copywriter and was amazed at the number of businesses and individuals who could not express themselves clearly in writing. Mastering this one skill will put you miles ahead of others in the eyes of employers, professors, and coworkers alike.
Education and training:
Pursuing MA in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin; currently holding BS in German and Linguistics with ESL teaching certification from Rice University.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Jazz singer
Best piece of career advice?
1) Your life and career will be nothing like you planned or imagined. To be successful, you have to be open and ready to seize unexpected opportunities.
2) Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. You don’t have to make a career out of the first job you get after graduation. In fact, you may have several different jobs until you figure out the right career for you.
3) Do something you love. All the money in the world will not make up for spending 40 hours a week doing something you hate, especially when you factor in the time it takes away from your family, friends, and hobbies.
When not at work I enjoy:
Reading; singing and acting; playing sports – football, soccer, volleyball; weight lifting; walking my wolfdog; watching one of the 27 TV shows I record (I admit, I may have a problem).
Chase Dawkins, Recruiting Assistant & Library Resource Manager
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Assisting the recruiting team in all aspects related to administration, database maintenance, career fairs, and the overall upkeep/appearance of the interview rooms. Also, managing the LACS Career Resource Library and assisting students with questions or concerns relating to the Library.
Additional areas of interest/expertise:
Learning about how and where certain degrees will get you in the working world. It's interesting to me to meet people in professional careers and to ask them what their major/degree was in.
Education and training:
BS in Radio-Television-Film from The University of Texas at Austin.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Some sort of career involving writing and/or professional communication.
Best piece of career advice?
Just take life (or your career) one day at a time as the world (and the individual) is constantly changing.
When not at work I enjoy:
Reading academic/scholarly books & biographies; watching "cult" films; listening to 80s/90s music; spending time with friends.
Front Desk Staff
Lindsay Morgan, Administrative Assistant
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Providing front desk and administrative support to the LACS office and programs throughout the semester.
Education and training:
BA in Sociology from Baylor University, with a minor in Social Work. Currently working towards my MEd in College & University Student Personnel Administration at The University of Texas at Austin.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
Counselor; working with a charitable foundation.
Best piece of career advice?
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed" - Michael Jordan.
When not at work I enjoy:
Watching television shows (like "Lost") and "chick flic" or highly dramatic movies; walking my two dogs Molly and Lola.
Additional Staff Members
Leslie Wood, Office Manager
FAC 18
512-471-7900
Coordinating all of LACS' administrative functions.
Specific areas of expertise:
Ten years' experience working in higher education.
If I could pick any career, other than the job I'm currently doing it would be:
An attorney; I'm a great debater.
Best piece of career advice?
DON'T say anything like these at a job interview:
- I realize it seems odd that I have had only one job lasting three days in 41 years, but honestly nothing really jumped out at me
- I know my resumé doesn't make much sense but I can assure you neither does my life
- So what you are telling me is that if I get one of my fingers cut off by that big machine over there, I would be able to stay home and still receive my pay checks?
When not at work I enjoy:
Antiquing, and spending time with my daughers.