The Career Hub Team

Jennifer is the Director of Career Services at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She has supported students’ career journeys in both public and private institutions, working with students and alumni from diverse backgrounds and a wide variety of career interests. As a first-generation college graduate, Jennifer believes career education should be a transformative experience for students and works to develop new approaches to engage, educate, and empower them as they create visions and strategies for fulfilling personal and professional lives.

Jennifer holds a BA in French from Indiana University and an MA in French Literature from the University of Texas in Austin.

1. How did you get to your position at O’Neill?

My career path has been varied but always grouped around service and management.  While earning my anthropology degree, I worked for a national bookstore and I decided to shift my career path to retail management, then into hospitality management, and finally to student career services where I have truly found my home.

2. What part do you enjoy the most about working in the Career Hub at O’Neill?

For me this is a tie between watching students discover how they can “Lead for the Greater Good” in their own authentic way, and connecting with an organization or company who hired one of our students/alumni and they can’t wait to hire another one!

3. What are some of your favorite things outside of work?

I love to read, cook, watch movies, and swim!

4. What is a quote or saying that you live by?

“There is no story that is not true.” ― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

5. Favorite album of all time?

I can’t answer this, give me a mix tape! Anyone know what that is now?

6. Advice for students?

Your first destination after your degree program is not your final destination.  Choose what you want to do next, not forever, it’s much less intimidating.

How did you get to your position at O’Neill?

Originally from West Michigan, I graduated from Hope College in 2016 with a BA in Communication. From there, I went on to work in Talent Acquisition for almost four years until I decided to go back for my Master’s Degree in the Fall of 2019. In April 2021, I was awarded my Master’s of Education with an emphasis in College Student Affairs Leadership from Grand Valley State University! During my graduate degree, I worked as a graduate assistant for the GVSU Career Center. I also had experiences working in career services for Muskegon Community College and the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan. I believe that the combination of skills I gained from my talent acquisition experiences and my higher education experiences led me to this wonderful career consultant position at the O’Neill School!

What part do you enjoy the most about working in the Career Hub at O’Neill?

Connecting with students is truly my favorite part! Career can be an overwhelming topic, so I enjoy providing students with resources that turn an overwhelming feeling into a feeling of confidence.

What are some of your favorite things outside of work?

I have a Goldendoodle, and I spend most of my time outside of work with him! His name is Ebby, after Ebenezer Scrooge, a movie that my whole family watches together every Christmas Eve.

What is a quote or saying that you live by?

You can’t achieve what you don’t dare to dream.

Favorite album of all time?

Taylor Swift, 1989.

Advice for students?

Take care of yourself first. You can’t pour from an empty cup!

How did you get to your position at O’Neill?

I grew up in central Nebraska and completed a Music Education degree at the University of Nebraska. During college, I worked for several non-profit fine arts organizations as a music director and loved this work.  After college, I served as recruiter for a nonprofit summer fine arts camp, then moved over to recruit at the University of Nebraska.  I loved promoting educational experiences to students and families, particularly first generation and low income families.  Admissions introduced me to the world of Student Affairs and higher education and I knew the college environment was a great fit for me.  Next, I completed a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel from the University of Wisconsin and completed an internship with the Career Center at Luther College.  Since graduation, I’ve worked in the areas of Career Services and Student Activities and Leadership at Bethany College and Emporia State University in Kansas, and now the Career Hub in the O’Neill School.  As I was relocating to Indy, my Kansas buddies reached out to Pat Donahue and Jennifer Schepers and introduced us.  Little did I know the O’Neill School had such a great commitment to the greater good!

What part do you enjoy the most about working in the Career Hub at O’Neill?

O’Neill students and alumni are incredibly talented and motivated to do great things.  The Career Hub is focused on guiding students into career paths and to build and market out those professional skills.

What are some of your favorite things outside of work?

I love running, boating, and hanging with my four kids who are all in college and beyond.  I’m also a Lionel Richie superfan and love college football.  I have a chihuahua and a chiweenie at home that my kids conveniently forgot to take with them….

What is a quote or saying that you live by?

Show up, be seen, answer the call.  

   -Brene Brown

Favorite album of all time?

Hands down:  Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Advice for students?

Make every connection count, treat each professional relationship with care, and never underestimate the significance of every single experience.  Even that part-time summer job that just pays the bills builds skills and knowledge that may come around later.  You never know!

How did you get to your position at O’Neill? 

I have spent the last seven years working in higher education. In my previous role, I helped students explore potential career paths and taught a career development course. I loved having those big picture conversations with students about what they wanted to do after college, so I decided to become a Career Consultant. I am also an O’Neill School alumnus, so I was eager to come back to IU and serve students in the Career Hub. 

What part do you enjoy the most about working in the Career Hub at O’Neill? 

I enjoy working with students in the Career Studio. No two days are the same and every student’s situation is different, which provides a lot of variety in the work we do as Career Consultants. 

What are some of your favorite things outside of work? 

I enjoy listening to music, exercising, and making/trying new foods. I’m a big sports fan, especially of our IU teams! 

What is a quote or saying that you live by? 

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman
 

Favorite album of all time? 

Born in the U.S.A. from Bruce Springsteen is great; Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa is a current favorite. I enjoy many kinds of music so it really depends on my mood. 

Advice for students? 

Get involved! The opportunities and experiences you pursue throughout college can be so fulfilling, both professionally and personally. I also recommend visiting the Career Hub early and often in your O’Neill career. The more you utilize our resources, the better prepared you will be during your internship/job search.

How did you get to your position at O’Neill?

I have wanted to work at IU and really love the work of the O’Neill School. I thought that the position sounded like a really fun opportunity and gave it a shot.

What part do you enjoy the most about working in the Career Hub at O’Neill?

Getting to work with all kinds of different employers to get more opportunities for our students.

What are some of your favorite things outside of work?

I’m a big fan of Arsenal Football Club and the St Louis Cardinals. I spend most of my time with our two kids and my wife Makayla.

What is a quote or saying that you live by?

Treat others the way you want to be treated

Favorite album of all time?

Hard to pick one, I would have to say the Hamilton soundtrack. There is a little bit of everything and it fits any mood

Advice for students?

Work hard and take chances. Go after the things you want