Large-scale career fairs can be exciting—but also overwhelming—for students navigating high expectations, crowded environments, and performance pressure. This 30-minute roundtable will explore an innovative Standard Operating Procedure: the Care Spotter Team model implemented at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during the Spring Career Fair and Fall Career EXPO. Participants will learn how cross-campus collaboration between the Center for Career and Professional Development, the ERAU Counseling Center, and trained Eagle-2-Eagle peer supporters creates a proactive response system for students experiencing mental health events or physical distress.
The discussion will outline identification protocols, peer-to-peer de-escalation strategies, escort procedures, and the implementation of a “Rest & Re-Set Room” equipped with calming resources and on-site professional staff. Attendees will engage in dialogue about staffing models, training considerations, risk management, and scalable implementation strategies. This session is ideal for institutions seeking to intentionally integrate well-being, belonging, and student-centered care into high-impact recruiting events.
Career Center Outreach and Expo Manager, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Lizz Giordano is a career services professional with more than eight years of experience in employer relations, career advising, and large-scale recruiting initiatives. She currently serves as Career Center Outreach & Expo Manager at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she... Read More →
As early-career hiring continues to evolve, employers and career development professionals are seeing shifts in interview expectations, candidate readiness, and communication skills. This roundtable will examine what employers currently seek in early-career talent, the interview questions being used across industries, and how students are performing in real-world interview settings. Participants will explore emerging student strengths, common challenges and habits that hinder interview success, and practical strategies institutions and employer partners can use to better prepare students for today's hiring landscape. Emphasis will be placed on collaboration between career services and employer relations teams to align student preparation with workforce expectations and support stronger interview outcomes for the next generation of talent.
Program Director | Lecturer, UCF | College of Business
Amy is a 15+ human resources professional with 5 years of experience in higher education, including designing learning experiences, coaching emerging professionals, and leading workforce development initiatives across organizational settings. Currently serving as a university instructor... Read More →
Today's career decision making process is influenced by rapidly changing labor markets, competitive academic environments, and societal pressure to achieve. These factors may intensify student stress, burnout, and self doubt which directly shape how students select majors, engage in career exploration, and build professional identities. This roundtable will examine the deeply interconnected relationship between student well-being and career development in higher education. Career development professionals play a significant role in creating environments that support not only student career success but also student career wellbeing. By focusing more on building a supportive career development, higher education institutions can help this next generation navigate their paths with confidence, clarity, and resilience.The session invites participants to collectively rethink advising practices, program design, and collaboration strategies that contribute to a supportive career development ecosystem. Through shared dialogue, participants will explore approaches that emphasize balance, purpose, and student well-being related to the career decision-making process.
Assistant Director, Career Planning, University of Central Florida
Alexandra Minnick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works with traditional and nontraditional college students in the Central Florida community. She currently works as the Assistant Director of Career Planning at UCF Career Services for the last 3 years. She has 6... Read More →
OBBBA is now law, and career centers across Florida are racing to figure out what "demonstrated experiential learning" and "measurable career outcomes" actually require in practice. Most directors are still building the answer in real time. This roundtable convenes career services leaders for a tactical exchange: what counts as experiential learning under the new requirements, how are you tracking it, what audit trail are you building, and where are your current systems most exposed? Facilitated by Rahul Jindal, the conversation draws on lessons from 200+ career center director interviews to surface concrete approaches institutions are already piloting. Participants leave with a working checklist of what to track, what to document, and what to fix before the next academic year. Bring one question, one example, and one challenge from your campus.
We help students across 80+ universities get hired with scalable career readiness tools: professional attire (CareerCloset), formulaic prep for career fairs, and international student visa support. Designed for tight budgets, our solutions are employer-funded and impact-driven.
This roundtable explores best practices for the ethical, responsible, and effective use of artificial intelligence in career coaching. As AI-powered tools increasingly shape resume development, career exploration, skills assessment, and job search strategies, career professionals must balance innovation with student-centered, values-driven practice. Participants will discuss opportunities for AI tools that enhance human coaching, while addressing concerns related to bias, data privacy, accessibility, transparency, and overreliance on automation. The session will emphasize equity-minded decision-making, institutional guidelines, and coaching frameworks that preserve empathy, agency, and critical thinking. Through discussion and shared experiences, attendees will leave with initial ideas to start designing, or bettering their processes for strategies, guiding principles, and reflective questions to support responsible AI integration in career services. This roundtable is designed for career educators seeking to thoughtfully adopt emerging technologies while maintaining professional ethics and meaningful student engagement.
To better guide the next generation of students at the University of Central Florida, the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center is evolving its outreach strategy from independent departmental efforts into a unified, centralized model. This innovation in connectivity provides a single "front door" for faculty and student organizations, ensuring a cohesive approach to classroom presentations, labs, and workshops.This roundtable explores the integration of three distinct teams into one collective system: career services, internship opportunities, and graduate/professional school preparation. We will discuss the logistics of a centralized request form and the deployment of a diverse speaker pool to deliver NACE-aligned content, such as the "Don't Cancel That Class" initiative. In comparing 2024-2026 trends, we have developed a data-driven strategy to forecast needs the guide students. Participants will discuss leveraging these insights to build the long-lasting partnerships necessary to turn student career aspirations into reality.
Academic Support Coordinator I, University of Central Florida
As an Academic Support Coordinator I at the University of Central Florida, Riya N. Patel partners closely with faculty partners, ensuring they have the technological tools and resources to drive student success. From managing the Career Services Canvas course to streamlining outreach... Read More →
Student employment is one of the most accessible and scalable ways to engage students, yet it is often underutilized as a tool for career development. This interactive roundtable invites participants to explore how campus jobs can be intentionally designed to support career readiness, skill development, and long-term success. Through guided discussion, attendees will share current challenges, exchange ideas, and identify practical strategies to move student employment beyond transactional work experiences. Whether your institution has a centralized or decentralized model, participants will leave with actionable insights to better align student employment with career outcomes and enhance the overall student experience.
Student Employment/JLD Coordinator, University of South Florida, Tampa
Edson O’Neale has been working in Higher Education for over 15 years with a wide variety of experiences in Student Activities, Advising, Admissions, Student Success and now Career Services. Edson currently serves as the Student Employment/JLD Coordinator at the University of South... Read More →
As AI becomes a foundational workforce skill, institutions must find ways to integrate practical AI experiences across all majors-not just technical fields. This roundtable explores how vibe Coding, a no-code, prompt-driven approach to building AI-powered tools, can be embedded into any course using the Base44. Participants will discuss strategies for incorporating AI skill-building into diverse disciplines, enabling students to move from ideas to functional prototypes-such as portfolios, business tools, or class-specific applications-without prior coding experience.This interactive session will engage attendees through guided prompts, peer discussion, and collaborative brainstorming to identify opportunities and challenges within their own courses. Participants will leave with practical ideas, adaptable frameworks, and strategies to integrate AI-driven learning into their curriculum, enhancing student engagement, creativity, and career readiness outcomes across disciplines.
Elery Rojas is the Director of University Programs and Outreach at Base44, where she empowers educators and innovators to lead in AI and digital presence. With over a decade of experience in higher education, Elery has dedicated her career to advancing student success through career... Read More →
Wellness in the Workplace is an interactive 30-minute roundtable designed for employers, career professionals, and organizational leaders committed to cultivating healthy, human-centered work environments. Together, we will explore how companies are supporting employee wellbeing through meaningful initiatives, ranging from mental health benefits and flexible work structures to creative perks that promote balance, belonging, and resilience. Participants will share current practices, discuss evolving employee expectations, and examine how wellness directly influences engagement, retention, and organizational culture. The session will also highlight how career professionals can empower students to prioritize wellbeing during the job search and evaluate employer wellness offerings. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas and a deeper understanding of how to integrate wellness principles into both workplace strategy and career development support.
Employer Relations Coordinator & Career Coach, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
Sara A. Sabourin, M.A.Ed. is an Employer Relations Coordinator & Career Coach at the University of South Florida. She is also a certified Sound Healing Practitioner; a certified Mental Health First Aider; and an entrepreneur facilitating Stress Management Technique workshops to corporate... Read More →
This presentation shares the results of a statewide benchmarking study of career services technology across 19 Florida colleges and universities. Evaluating more than 18 platforms across job skills, career exploration, and job search, the study identifies dominant tools such as LinkedIn Learning, Big Interview, and Handshake, highlights emerging momentum around Career Forge, and surfaces widespread dissatisfaction with cost versus actual student utilization. While most platforms are functionally sound, the data reveals consistent challenges: fragmented systems, limited integration, rising subscription costs, and underuse by students. As institutions increasingly turn to free or low-cost AI tools to fill gaps, the presentation argues that technology is no longer the primary bottleneck. Instead, effective adoption depends on intentional team roles, ownership of the student journey, and strategic integration into advising workflows.
Kelli Grogan leads the Career Services Center at Florida College in Tampa, Florida. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Northern Kentucky University, as well as a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, both from the University of Kentucky... Read More →
This roundtable discussion explores how intentional, low-stakes networking experiences can strengthen students' career readiness, confidence, and career exploration. Participants will learn about a collaborative networking initiative between Florida Gulf Coast University's Communication program and both the professional and FGCU student chapters of Florida Public Relations Association. The event provided students with an opportunity to practice networking skills in a supportive environment designed to reduce anxiety and encourage authentic professional conversations. Roundtable participants will discuss strategies for creating networking opportunities, preparing students for professional engagement, and partnering with both student organizations and employers to support skill development.
The transition back to work after a significant leave is often viewed as a hurdle to be cleared rather than a creative opportunity. Traditional career models demand linear progression, but life is rarely linear. This roundtable explores how Life Design principles can transform the return to work after life transitions into an intentional, innovative journey. Participants will discuss high-level strategies for reframing re-entry challenges and prototyping flexible pathways that harmonize professional ambition with personal priorities.
Interim Executive Director, New College of Florida
Ciara Suarez has been working in Higher Education since 2019, and returned to the New College of Florida in September 2023 as the Coordinator of Office and Recruitment Services in the Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity. She is also the Coordinator in the Office of Global... Read More →
Large-scale career fairs can be exciting—but also overwhelming—for students navigating high expectations, crowded environments, and performance pressure. This 30-minute roundtable will explore an innovative Standard Operating Procedure: the Care Spotter Team model implemented at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during the Spring Career Fair and Fall Career EXPO. Participants will learn how cross-campus collaboration between the Center for Career and Professional Development, the ERAU Counseling Center, and trained Eagle-2-Eagle peer supporters creates a proactive response system for students experiencing mental health events or physical distress.
The discussion will outline identification protocols, peer-to-peer de-escalation strategies, escort procedures, and the implementation of a “Rest & Re-Set Room” equipped with calming resources and on-site professional staff. Attendees will engage in dialogue about staffing models, training considerations, risk management, and scalable implementation strategies. This session is ideal for institutions seeking to intentionally integrate well-being, belonging, and student-centered care into high-impact recruiting events.
Career Center Outreach and Expo Manager, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Lizz Giordano is a career services professional with more than eight years of experience in employer relations, career advising, and large-scale recruiting initiatives. She currently serves as Career Center Outreach & Expo Manager at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she... Read More →
As early-career hiring continues to evolve, employers and career development professionals are seeing shifts in interview expectations, candidate readiness, and communication skills. This roundtable will examine what employers currently seek in early-career talent, the interview questions being used across industries, and how students are performing in real-world interview settings. Participants will explore emerging student strengths, common challenges and habits that hinder interview success, and practical strategies institutions and employer partners can use to better prepare students for today's hiring landscape. Emphasis will be placed on collaboration between career services and employer relations teams to align student preparation with workforce expectations and support stronger interview outcomes for the next generation of talent.
Program Director | Lecturer, UCF | College of Business
Amy is a 15+ human resources professional with 5 years of experience in higher education, including designing learning experiences, coaching emerging professionals, and leading workforce development initiatives across organizational settings. Currently serving as a university instructor... Read More →
Today's career decision making process is influenced by rapidly changing labor markets, competitive academic environments, and societal pressure to achieve. These factors may intensify student stress, burnout, and self doubt which directly shape how students select majors, engage in career exploration, and build professional identities. This roundtable will examine the deeply interconnected relationship between student well-being and career development in higher education. Career development professionals play a significant role in creating environments that support not only student career success but also student career wellbeing. By focusing more on building a supportive career development, higher education institutions can help this next generation navigate their paths with confidence, clarity, and resilience.The session invites participants to collectively rethink advising practices, program design, and collaboration strategies that contribute to a supportive career development ecosystem. Through shared dialogue, participants will explore approaches that emphasize balance, purpose, and student well-being related to the career decision-making process.
Assistant Director, Career Planning, University of Central Florida
Alexandra Minnick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works with traditional and nontraditional college students in the Central Florida community. She currently works as the Assistant Director of Career Planning at UCF Career Services for the last 3 years. She has 6... Read More →
OBBBA is now law, and career centers across Florida are racing to figure out what "demonstrated experiential learning" and "measurable career outcomes" actually require in practice. Most directors are still building the answer in real time. This roundtable convenes career services leaders for a tactical exchange: what counts as experiential learning under the new requirements, how are you tracking it, what audit trail are you building, and where are your current systems most exposed? Facilitated by Rahul Jindal, the conversation draws on lessons from 200+ career center director interviews to surface concrete approaches institutions are already piloting. Participants leave with a working checklist of what to track, what to document, and what to fix before the next academic year. Bring one question, one example, and one challenge from your campus.
We help students across 80+ universities get hired with scalable career readiness tools: professional attire (CareerCloset), formulaic prep for career fairs, and international student visa support. Designed for tight budgets, our solutions are employer-funded and impact-driven.
This roundtable explores best practices for the ethical, responsible, and effective use of artificial intelligence in career coaching. As AI-powered tools increasingly shape resume development, career exploration, skills assessment, and job search strategies, career professionals must balance innovation with student-centered, values-driven practice. Participants will discuss opportunities for AI tools that enhance human coaching, while addressing concerns related to bias, data privacy, accessibility, transparency, and overreliance on automation. The session will emphasize equity-minded decision-making, institutional guidelines, and coaching frameworks that preserve empathy, agency, and critical thinking. Through discussion and shared experiences, attendees will leave with initial ideas to start designing, or bettering their processes for strategies, guiding principles, and reflective questions to support responsible AI integration in career services. This roundtable is designed for career educators seeking to thoughtfully adopt emerging technologies while maintaining professional ethics and meaningful student engagement.
This interactive roundtable will explore how intentional connections not just contact creates ripple effects across campus and industry. When partnerships are built with strategy, shared purpose, and sustained engagement, they shape student readiness, employer trust, and institutional growth in ways that endure. Participants will engage in facilitated discussion around practical strategies focused on shifting from one-time interactions to integrated partnership models. Aligning employer engagement with academic priorities and workforce trends while creating multi-touch engagement pathways that build brand presence and hiring pipelines. These changes will then focus on impact beyond placement numbers. Designed for employer liaisons, partnership professionals, and career services leaders, this session will provide space to exchange ideas, share challenges, and leave with actionable approaches to strengthen and sustain employer relationships.
Director, Partnerships and External Communications, University of Central Florida - College of Business, DeVos Sport Business
As the Director of Partnerships and External Affairs for the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF, I lead initiatives that strengthen industry relationships, enhance student experiences, and expand the reach of one of the nation’s top sport business graduate programs... Read More →
While many career centers are expanding digital learning opportunities, there are continued barriers in scaling recognition and tracking completion in meaningful ways. This roundtable will explore how one team designed and implemented an automated certificate workflow that delivers completion certificates to students after finishing asynchronous career development modules. Participants will engage in a discussion on tools, integrations, and process design, including platforms like Qualtrics and PDF generation solutions, to better understand how to streamline credentialing while reducing manual work. Attendees will share their own approaches (or challenges) with issuing certificates, micro-credentials, and tracking engagement. Together, we will identify scalable strategies, common pitfalls, and opportunities to enhance student motivation and program visibility through automation.
This engaging roundtable discussion invites participants into a high-impact conversation on how partnerships with businesses, organizations, and nonprofits are transforming student mentoring beyond traditional advising models. Together, we will explore how employer-led and student-focused mentoring creates powerful hands-on learning experiences, expands professional networks, builds student confidence, and accelerates career readiness. Attendees will actively exchange ideas, challenges, and proven strategies for designing, sustaining, and scaling mentoring partnerships that meaningfully connect students to real-world opportunities. This session is ideal for professionals seeking innovative, practical approaches to employer engagement that guide students from the classroom to the community. Expect actionable insights, shared successes, and collaborative problem-solving in an idea-rich discussion designed to spark new connections and amplify student success.
Internship & Career Experiences Coordinator, Career Coach, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Dr. Harris Ambush is an experienced educator, program creator, and community impact leader whose work spans local and international contexts in education, community building, and human development. He has taught and led programs in diverse settings around the world, serving learners... Read More →
In an era where “doing more with less” has become an expectation rather than an exception, burnout in higher education is no longer a risk, it’s often inevitable. For career services professionals, expanding responsibilities, constant urgency, and growing student needs can quietly erode capacity, creativity, and purpose. This roundtable reframes the conversation from managing overload to intentionally doing less with clarity and impact. Participants will engage in candid discussion about how unchecked work demands affect effectiveness and how strategic decision making, prioritization, and boundary setting can protect both staff well-being and institutional outcomes. Rather than focusing on balance as a destination, this session invites participants to reflect on how work can better support life and how leaders and teams can reclaim control over their time and energy.
Career Education Coordinator, University of West Florida
Communication professional with experience in higher education, research, student services, marketing, and public speaking. Passionate about education with a desire to see students succeed and gain more confidence in their careers.
Career Education Coordinator, University of West Florida
Jessica Prather is a Career Education Coordinator at the University of West Florida, where she develops and delivers innovative programs that support student career readiness, experiential learning, and professional growth. Since joining the Office of Career Development and Community... Read More →
As higher education continues to evolve, career services professionals are being asked to do more than deliver programming and manage student engagement. They are increasingly expected to show how career support connects to opportunity access, employer relationships, and student outcomes. This roundtable invites participants to explore how institutions are defining career impact today, where they see gaps in their current approach, and how campuses can create a more connected model that supports both staff effectiveness and student success.
Nick Ryan works with higher education institutions to strengthen the connection between career services, employer engagement, and student outcomes. His work focuses on how colleges and universities can build on existing career services infrastructure to better support opportunity... Read More →
MyCareerCloset in partnership with USF present: Professional attire is more than appearance. It affects confidence, access, and employer perception. This roundtable will explore how institutions can move beyond traditional donation closets to build scalable, sustainable, and equitable professional attire strategies. Participants will discuss implementation models, funding pathways, employer partnerships, and ways to position attire access as a core part of career readiness. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for piloting or strengthening a campus approach that supports students while improving recruiting outcomes and institutional visibility.
Director of Operations & Marketing, University of South Florida, Tampa campus
Amanda Marshall serves as the Director of Operations & Marketing in the Center for Career & Professional Development at the University of South Florida, Tampa campus. With a deep passion for fostering a supportive and collaborative environment, Amanda leads the Operations & Marketing... Read More →
We help students across 80+ universities get hired with scalable career readiness tools: professional attire (CareerCloset), formulaic prep for career fairs, and international student visa support. Designed for tight budgets, our solutions are employer-funded and impact-driven.
CEO, Rose Fuller Consulting, Rose Fuller Consulting
Rose Fuller Consulting Founder, Fuller Career Consulting (formerly Director of Career Development Services, Florida Gulf Coast University) Rose brings deep practitioner credibility from her years building and running FGCU's career services operation. She now consults with Florida... Read More →
This roundtable will focus on how faculty can partner with career centers to support career development classes and large-scale career programming, such as Careers in Weeks. Participants will share strategies for engaging faculty in promotion, classroom integration, and student participation.
Assistant Director & Career Coach, New College of Florida
Ellie joined the New College CEO team in January 2023. Ellie is passionate about helping students realize and reach their full potential. She’s been working with people of all ages since she could remember. Ellie is excited to work alongside students as they navigate their ever-changing... Read More →
Assistant Director & Career Coach, New College of Florida
Ryan joined the New College CEO team in August 2023. He is a Florida native and lifelong learner dedicated to helping students reach their full potential. Ryan began his academic career at the University of South Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Master of... Read More →
Career services professionals are often pulled in every direction while working with limited resources and limited support. Whether navigating internal silos that keep departments from working together, struggling to build employer relationships that go deeper than a resume drop, or trying to decode what hiring managers actually want, they are constantly being asked to do more with less and do it better. This roundtable brings together career services leaders for an honest, solutions-focused conversation about what it takes to build a truly connected career services model. Because every career services department is unique, we recognize that challenges vary. Together, we will explore strategies for breaking down internal silos, cultivating employer partnerships that go beyond the annual career fair, and aligning outreach to workforce trends that matter most to the students we serve, including adult learners, career changers, and military-connected populations.
Employer Engagement Manager, Western Governors University
Anthony "Hank" Hankerson is an Employer Engagement Manager at Western Governors University, where he is dedicated to building meaningful partnerships between employers and students to meet the evolving demands of today's workforce. A proud United States Navy Veteran, Hank brings a... Read More →
