Central Career Team

Erica was a first-generation college student and grew up in rural, Northeastern Pennsylvania. For over 15 years she has worked in higher education beginning her career in Multicultural Student Services and Residence Life. For the past 12 years, she has worked in Career Services, first at The Pennsylvania State University where she served as a career counselor, and then at Binghamton University in the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development. There she served as Senior Associate Director for Career Experiences and Education and guided career center initiatives that supported equity and inclusion, oversaw career consulting services as well as a credit-bearing internship program. Erica has also taught numerous courses focused on professional development, internships, and career exploration. In the fall of 2022, she took on the role Executive Director of Career Services at Cornell University. Erica earned a B.A. in Musical Theatre and Communications from Susquehanna University, a M.S.Ed. in College Student Personnel from Bucknell University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Theory and Policy with a minor in Comparative and International Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Her dissertation focused on the higher education experiences and post-graduation plans of college students from rural communities.

Alex grew up in Michigan and moved to upstate New York at first for graduate school. As a member of the Cornell Career Services team, he supports students and alumni who are considering law school and other graduate programs. He is glad to work with anyone at any stage of that process, from the first exploratory steps through to the hard work of researching programs and applying. Alex also currently serves as  President of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA).  Prior to joining Cornell, he completed a Master’s in History at Binghamton University and worked there for more than ten years as an instructor, Pre-Law Advisor, and coordinator of the Individualized Major Program. Outside of the office, he’s likely to be found hiking through the woods or building something in his wood shop.

Elaine is a first-generation college graduate who identifies as Asian American and is originally from Brooklyn, New York. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University at Buffalo and began her career in Operation Management at Amazon after graduation. She later completed her Master’s degree in Higher Education at Syracuse University.

Elaine is passionate about working with students to help them explore and develop their career paths. Her background in business provides her a unique perspective that she brings to her work with students. Cornell students and alumni interested in business, finance, consulting, or entrepreneurship careers should seek an appointment with Elaine.

In her previous role at Syracuse University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, Elaine worked with first- and second-year students in the WellsLink Leadership Program. She provided one-on-one meetings with students and weekly seminars to help them identify their academic, career, and personal goals. She is committed to empowering and guiding students with their exploration and development process.

Liaisons: A3C, First Gen and Low Income Support, Entrepreneurship, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art

CliftonStrengths: Discipline, Harmony, Focus, Restorative, Analytical

Erica is passionate about helping international students navigate education and employment in the U.S. She is originally from Ohio and began her career in higher education in 2014 while in graduate school in Dallas, Texas. Erica has served as an academic advisor and international student advisor (DSO and ARO) for students pursuing Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and graduate degrees. She couples her training in counseling with a deep understanding of the cultural and immigration-related pressures that international students experience. Her goal is to help students make confident and informed decisions while making the most of employment opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. She comes to Cornell Career Services from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Liaisons: Office of Global Learning, English Language Support Office, Black Student Empowerment (Dean of Students), Office of Spirituality and Meaning Making

Heather joined Cornell University’s Career Service team in 2017 where she focuses on empowering students with the skills and confidence to explore their careers. Before moving into the role of a career advisor and encouraging students to find their best-fit career paths, she was a member of the Cornell admissions team helping students find their best-fit college. As the Career Exploration Coach, Heather manages Cornell’s campus wide networking platform, develops partnerships across campus to support career development for Cornell students, and encourages exploring careers through connections with others. In addition to completing the Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP) Advising Across Difference course at Cornell, she is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and is energized by the opportunity to administer the Strengths assessment through group workshops and individual meetings to help students recognize their strengths in their personal, academic, and professional experiences.

Heather grew up in Ithaca and earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders from Pennsylvania State University. As a first-generation college student, she is passionate about connecting students with resources and community and she is inspired and motivated by her work as a professional in higher education. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Heather will likely answer, “A multipotentialite.” Curious? Check it out.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Liaisons: Cornell Athletics, Office of Alumni Affairs, Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI), Cornell Commitment, Undergraduate Admissions at Cornell, Visitor Relations, Dining, Tatkon Center for New Students, West Campus House System.

Top 5 Strengths: Achiever, Empathy, Relator, Developer, Learner

Jessamyn joined Cornell Career Services in 2019 as the Manager of the Career Exploration Unit. In addition to student appointments and workshops, she runs the Career Services liaison program, programming committee, and professional development committee.

Jessamyn earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Spanish from the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo). She took two gap years to work as a research fellow in the Health Behavior Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), focusing on adolescents and young adults. She completed her M.S. and Ph.D. from the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has worked in counseling centers, disability services, and career services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Grand Valley State University.

Jessamyn is a Certified Career Counselor (CCC) and has taught career courses and specializes in career assessments. As a counseling psychologist, Jessamyn is enthusiastic about integrating theory, research, and practice. She is particularly interested in the intersection of career and mental health. She enjoys helping college students define and achieve their career goals. In 2024 she became a certified Facilitating Career Development Instructor through NCDA.

Jessamyn grew up in Ithaca. She worked at Cornell Adult University summer programs and as a Research Assistant for Dr. Casasola in the College of Human Ecology.

Impostor Phenomenon: Jessamyn’s research investigates how the impostor phenomenon (“imposter syndrome”) impacts career and education outcomes. She has worked with individuals and co-lead group therapy on the topic. She has presented over twenty times on the topic for Cornell audiences and as an invited guest speaker for professional organizations or other universities.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Liaisons: Counseling and Psych Services (CAPS), Skorton Center for Health Initiatives, Office of Undergraduate Biology (OUB), Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC), Student Disability Services (SDS).

Top 5 Strengths: Input, Analytical, Discipline, Individualization, Deliberative

Media:
Career Services Awarded Article of the Year (NCDA 2021)
Career Development Toolkit Wins Technology Innovation Award (EACE 2022)
Career Development Toolkit wins national award for technology excellence
Unpacking the Hidden Curriculum of Career Services: The Cornell Career Development Toolkit

Although she’s native to Upstate New York, after high school she ventured into Miami Florida for a handful of years. She graduated from Miami Dade College with an A.A. in Political Science as the President of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society in April 2022. Kayleigh simultaneously worked full time as an Operations Manager at a luxury residential property on South Beach where she enhanced her exceptional transferrable skills. A large part of who Kayleigh is, is her love for new cultures, new environments, and overall new experiences. Traveling to unfamiliar destinations is a lifelong commitment of hers – Boston, MA is her favorite city within the states; however, Kayleigh has a deep fondness for Europe, especially the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Full force indulgent into new environments brings a new sense of growth and she finds fulfillment with her efforts here at Cornell.

Advisor: The Wardrobe

Strengths: Deliberative, Restorative, Relator, Achiever, Responsibility

Liaisons: Off-Campus Living, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Latinx Student Empowerment

Lisa joined Cornell Career Services in 1998. She has always enjoyed diving into new technologies and tweaking systems to best support the needs of her department.  Lisa has supported the technological side of career services from the first days of moving from paper to online and installing an office web server, through the years of custom programming, to the advent of big apps that join staff and students to large networks of community and services.

Lisa attended Ithaca College on a National Merit Scholarship and earned a Bachelors in Speech Communication.  She also holds a Masters in Theology and Youth Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.  Lisa has homeschooled her four children,  is an active member of her local library’s board of trustees,  and enjoys woodworking, gardening, hiking and reading.

Top 5 Strengths: Connectedness, Intellection, Relator, Achiever, Developer

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Mia loves helping students throughout their college journey, especially when they’re grappling with the infamous question…”What should I do with my life?!”. After completing her Bachelors in psychology, Mia took a gap year to work before heading to Ohio State for a Masters in Higher Education & Student Affairs. She has since returned to her Western NY roots, working at universities to support students with everything from majors and jobs to holistic wellness and personal growth. As an activist for social and racial justice, Mia brings her dedication to equity into her job as well. She loves helping students consider how their passion for social change can translate into a fulfilling career. When she’s not at work or engaged in local activism, you can find Mia hiking with her partner and black lab, snuggled up with a book, or attempting new craft projects.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Liaisons: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell in Washington, Cornell Outdoor Education, David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, Education Minor, Environment & Sustainability Program, and LGBT Resource Center.

Top 5 Strengths: Input, Individualization, Learner, Communication, Restorative.

Susan joined Cornell Career Services in January 2023 as the executive assistant to Erica Kryst. She has worked at Cornell for 15 years and has held various positions across campus. In addition to supporting Erica and managing office projects, Susan provides office coverage and helps students and staff that visit the office. Susan enjoys meeting new people, learning where they are in their education, and what they plan to do after Cornell.