CDC Staff

Page address: http://www.mnsu.edu/cdc/about/staff.html

Pam Weller

Director

As CDC Director, Pam is responsible for management of the University’s initiatives in the areas of career exploration and career development. This includes management of the CDC’s planning processes, personnel, and resources; providing oversight for all Center programs and services; development of on and off-campus partnerships and collaborations; and serving as part of the Student Affairs Division leadership team.

A proud alumna of Minnesota State Mankato, Pam has been a staff member in the Career Development Center since January of 1995. She was previously employed as a counselor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Pam is also Past-President of the Minnesota State Mankato Alumni Association and the Minnesota College & University Career Services Association and is an active member of a number of University Committees. She is also involved with Greater Mankato Growth and serves as a GMG Ambassador.

Pam received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and her Master's Degree in Counseling & Student Personnel from Minnesota State Mankato.

Matt Carlson

Interim Assistant Director

Email: matthew.carlson-2@mnsu.edu

Matt Carlson is the Interim Assistant Director and liaison to the Colleges of Arts & Humanities, Education, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. Matt offers classroom presentations on resume building, job searching, networking, graduate school, and interviewing. He provides career counseling to students and alumni through one-on-one individual appointments.

Matt helps coordinate many career-related events including the Government & Nonprofit Career Fair, the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences Career Day, and the Minnesota Education Job Fair. Matt also oversees the Graduate Follow-up Survey which requires following up with 85% of all Minnesota State alumni to capture their post-graduate plans.

Matt has earned a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Counseling: College Student Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science in Photography.

Karina Clennon

Assistant Director

Email: karina.clennon@mnsu.edu

Karina (Harstad) Clennon is the Assistant Director of the Career Development Center (CDC) and serves as the CDC's Employer Relations specialist. She coordinates career services programs and activities for three MSU Colleges: 1) Allied Health and Nursing; 2) Business; and 3) Science, Engineering & Technology. In this role she provides individual and group career planning and job and internship search guidance, services, programming, and resources to students and alumni.

Karina is proud to call Mankato her home, and is active in the greater Mankato community. She is enthusiastic and dedicated to fostering partnerships with employers, internship coordinators, and community members to serve students at Minnesota State, Mankato.

Karina has earned ABD Doctorate of Education: Counselor Education and Supervision from Minnesota State University, Mankato; Master of Science Degree: Counseling and Student Personnel: College Student Affairs from Minnesota State University, Mankato; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree: Communication Studies from Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN.

Mandy Wubben

Acting Career Counselor

Email: amanda.wubben@mnsu.edu

As a Career Counselor, Mandy's responsibilities include coordination of the part-time job functions at the CDC and within MavJobs.com, working with part-time and on-campus employers, and leading classroom presentations on a variety of topics. She is responsible for managing and coordinating CDC involvement with the Campus & Community Fair, the Major Fair, and the Summer Job Fair.

Mandy provides career counseling by appointment primarily for students in the process of choosing or changing their major. Other responsibilities include: presenting workshops, management of the Career Resource Library, and coordinating online career assessments including the FOCUS, the Strong Interest Inventory, and the MBTI.

Mandy received her Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Student Personnel: College Student Affairs from Minnesota State University, Mankato and Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Communication Studies and Philosophy from Luther College in Decorah, IA.

Brenda Garbers

Recruitment Coordinator

Email: brenda.garbers@ mnsu.edu

As Recruitment Coordinator, Brenda works closely with employers looking for talent to supplement their work force. Whether employers are hosting an info session, taking part in a career fair or conducting on-campus interviews, or simply considering college recruitment for the first time and wondering where to start, she answers questions, coordinates arrangements and communicates with students about opportunities available to them. She approves employers and job postings on MavJobs.com and is the registrar for several CDC-sponsored events.

Brenda also serves as office manager, monitoring budgets and purchasing supplies for the CDC and supervising student payroll for all of our graduate assistants and student staff.

Brenda has almost 35 years of service to MSU, including ten years in the Career Development Center and prior administrative support positions in the College of Science, Engineering & Technology and the School of Nursing.

Kristine Norland

Receptionist

Email: kristine.norland@mnsu.edu

Kris manages the CDC's front desk staff, provides administrative and scheduling support for the CDC's professional staff, and helps direct students, alumni, faculty/staff, and employers to the appropriate CDC and campus resources.

Kris has 40+ years of service to MSU. She is a proud MSU alumna and first joined the Career Development Center in 1971, managing student credentials and later overseeing the Graduate Follow-up calling and tracking processes for the CDC office.

Chris Lienemann

Technology & Information Specialist

Email: christopher.lienemann@mnsu.edu

Chris’s responsibilities include administering MavJobs, developing and maintaining the CDC website (www.mnsu.edu/cdc), managing data collection and reporting for the CDC’s services including the Graduate Follow-Up survey, overseeing the CDC’s social media planning and execution, and coordinating the CDC’s computer/technology support.

Prior to joining the CDC, Chris worked as an enterprise software support professional in a variety of industries, including accounting, telecommunications, and healthcare information, in addition to a background in retail management.

Caroyln Vue

Graduate Assistant

Email: carolyn.vue@mnsu.edu

Carolyn is a first year graduate student at Minnesota State University- Mankato in the Counseling and Student Personal program with an emphasis on College Student Affairs. As a graduate staff in the Career Development Center she assists students with: one-on-one counseling with students to improve resumes and cover letters, providing information on jobs and internship opportunities, and assisting with practice interview.

Carolyn is a proud alumni from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities with a Bachelors of Science in Youth Studies and a minor in Leadership. She was closely involved with many other organizations, including the Hmong Minnesota Student Association as the co-chair for the Activities position. In addition to that, she has worked and volunteered for many great organizations such as Upward Bound, YouthCARE, and Minneapolis Community Education Youth Program. Carolyn is passionate about being a resource for students to support their exploration of self and assisting in building relationships in order for students to feel at home on campus.

Kaitlyn Giles

Graduate Assistant

Email: kaitlyn.giles@mnsu.edu

Kaitlyn is a first-year graduate student at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Counseling and Student Personnel program with an emphasis on College Student Affairs. As a graduate assistant for the Career Development Center, Kaitlyn assists students with: exploring careers, choosing or changing majors, resume and cover letter reviews, job search, internship search, interview tips and practice interviews, graduate school planning, and other career-related issues.

Kaitlyn received her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphases in Business, Spanish, and Mathematics from Minnesota State University, Mankato. During her undergraduate work, she was involved with the offices of Admissions, Career Development, Student Support Services, Educational Talent Search, College of Business, Residential Life, and New Student & Family Programs. Kaitlyns goal is to assist students with realizing their full potential by helping them to discover their passion, develop their skills and experience, and ultimately launch their careers.

Rachel Eaton

Graduate Assistant

Email: rachel.eaton@mnsu.edu

Rachel is a second year graduate student at Minnesota State University- Mankato in the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program with an emphasis on College Student Affairs. As a graduate assistant in the Career Development Center, she assists students with: resume and cover letter reviews, internship and job searches, and other career related questions.

Rachel received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, with a minor in Environmental Science. During her undergraduate years, she worked for the Job Center of Wisconsin, La Crosse, aiding individuals in their career searches through social media outreach, cover letter and resume editing, and job search etiquette workshops. She also enjoyed working for Habitat for Humanity as a cashier and social media outreach intern during that time. Rachel gained her Master of Science in Counseling and Student Personnel: College Student Affairs from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Rachel is excited to connect students with majors and careers they are passionate about and help them develop and expand their skill sets.

Rebekah Pitassi

Graduate Assistant

Email: rebekah.pitassi@mnsu.edu

Rebekah is a first year graduate student at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Counseling and Student Personnel program with an emphasis on College student Affairs. As a graduate staff in the Career Development Center, she assists with: reviewing resumes and cover letters, job and interview search, interviewing tips and resources, and other career related questions.

Rebekah earned her Bachelor of Arts in English at Bemidji State University. During her undergraduate years, she worked closely with the TRIO Upward bound program for three summers as a Residential Assistant. During the academic year, she worked as a Peer Advisor in the Career Services office. Rebekah is eager to assist and help students find their passion, while providing them tools to help them discover their skills and strengths.

Laura Diaz

Graduate Intern

Email: laura.diaz@mnsu.edu

Laura is a second year graduate student at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Counseling and Student Personal program with an emphasis in College Student Affairs. As a gradate intern in the Career Development Center, she enjoys assisting students one-on-one with their career development needs such as resume and cover letter reviews, job and internship search process, choosing or changing majors, graduate school planning, and other career-related concerns.

Laura received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with an emphasis in News/Editorial and Public Relations from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a minor in Marketing and Human Resources. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree she gained employment working as a full-time Program Director for the Mankato Family YMCA in the areas of aquatics, youth sports, and adult recreation. Throughout her time with the YMCA she worked closely with college-aged students and discovered a new passion for helping connect students to resources that will help them to succeed. This new found passion lead Laura back to school to pursue a Master's degree in College Student Affairs. Laura is excited to assist students and alumni on their career development journey by helping them to discover their passions, develop their skills and experiences, and launch their career.