Meet the Staff

Director
Melissa Wilson

Favorite Online Resource: Hire-a-Falcon
Hire-a-Falcon is where students and alumni can find professional internships and jobs and search for part-time positions in the River Falls area.  The system is free to use and allows employers to post opportunities when they are targeting UWRF students and alumni to work for their company or organization.  Did I mention it was free?  

Favorite Print Resource: Graduate Admissions Essays, 4th Edition, Donald Asher
This resource rarely goes untouched when meeting with a student or alumni who mentions the words "graduate school."  This resource assists students in researching graduate schools, navigating the graduate school application process, and writing the graduate school admission essay, aka: personal statement.  This resource has numerous personal statement examples which assist readers in learning what components are necessary and not preferred when writing this critical piece when applying to graduate schools.

Assistant Director
McKenna Pfeiffer

Favorite Online Resource: What Can I do with a Major Guides
This resource includes information on over 80 majors and allows students to learn the common career areas within the major, typical employers that hire students in the field as well as strategies designed to maximize career opportunities. Additionally, this resource includes research links to help students obtain specific field related information pertaining to  professional associations, career sites and job postings.

Favorite Print Resource: The Book of Lists
The Book of Lists is printed annually by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and  provides listings of hundreds of the hottest area companies by field. This resource can help students and alumni conduct more thorough research on companies in their field of interest as well as identify organizations for informational interviews.

Career Counselor
Amy Knutson

Favorite Online Resource: GoinGlobal
This resource includes critical information for individuals seeking employment opportunities abroad.  The 30 country guides within GoinGlobal demystify the job search process abroad by including helpful websites, application material samples and explanations, visa information, and much more!  This resource is also helpful for international students seeking H1B employer listings and domestic students applying to graduate school abroad.

Favorite Print Resource: Veterans Resources in Career Service
These resources helps veterans translate military experience into civilian language for employment and graduate school applications.  Utilizing the books on the resource shelf, veterans can transition from utilizing very technical military jargon in resumes and cover letters to expressing impressive skills and accomplishments critical to the civilian workforce.  Since UWRF has a strong veteran population, these tools are very valuable when assisting those who have given so much to our nation and campus community.

Employer Relations Specialist
Nancy Pace

Favorite Online Resource: The Job Seeker (must first log into Hire-a-Falcon)
This listing of vacancies is posted bi-monthly in Hire-a-Falcon contains environmental and natural resources jobs and internships throughout the United States.  Some of the many categories are biology, conservation, environmental education, and parks/outdoor recreation.  You can also find many great summer positions.  It is a very valuable resource for environmental majors.

Favorite Print Resource: Green Jobs - A Guide to Eco-Friendly Employment
This resource is great if you are interested in going green.  The opportunities for environmentally skilled workers are skyrocketing. Green Jobs will help you to find a job you like and that will make the world a better place.  With this comprehensive guide, you can be sure to find the job of your dreams-and sleep better at night! 

Office Manager
Sue Watters

Favorite Online Resource: Career Handouts
The Career Handouts button on our homepage directs you to 26 career related topics. Each contains a wealth of valuable information that is essential to creating that perfect resume, assist in your job and internship search, learn effective networking and so much more. Check them out,  then call for an appointment if you need one-on-one assistance. 

Favorite Print Resource: 101 Career Alternatives for Teachers
As an educator you possess skills from your teaching education and teaching career that can be used in other fields. Exactly where do you begin the whole vocation-switching process? In 101 Career Alternatives for Teachers, you'll discover: How to assess your career goals, the best fields for your particular teaching skills and expertise, practical and effective ways to launch your job search, the most attractive and lucrative career alternatives, and much more!

Graduate Intern, Career Fair Coordinator
Tia F.

Favorite Online Resource: Feminist Jobs
This resource, posts jobs and internships for people interested in advocacy positions, as well as jobs in communications, nonprofit organizations and fundraising, and many more.  This website makes it easy for students to search for jobs they  are interested in, find where the position is located, and apply.  The jobs on this website are updated frequently. You will find postings from well-known nonprofits all around the country.

Favorite Print Resource: Career Match. Connecting Who YOU Are with What You'll Love to Do, by Shoya Zichy with Ann Bidouu
This book give its reader a 10 minute self-assessment to help them discover their ideal work setting, as well as work setting that they would not mesh with. It helps readers find a career that fits their passion and personality, and then shows them how to go out and get it! It is a great tool for people who are still unsure about what career path really lights their fire.

Graduate Intern
Tasia P.

Favorite Online Resource: UWRF Mentor Network on LinkedIn
The mentor network on LinkedIn is a great resource because a person is able to connect to UWRF alumni, graduate students and friends/employers of the UWRF community. We are able to do all the researching on the company, salaries, and careers, but being able to hear it from others is a very valuable resource. It gives you a chance to exchange ideas, advice, and knowledge of career paths that people in the network have experienced.

Favorite Print Resource: Career Assessments
I really enjoy the career assessments because it gives a person insight on more of who they are, what environment they would be happy working in, and what type of careers would be the best fit for them. It is a journey to help the student figure out the path they want to take. It can be a scary start if you are not sure of what direction you would like to head or if you are changing careers and I really enjoy being able to watch them grow and discover that!

Student Staff:

Peer Advisors