Staff
To make an appointment with your career advisor or explore majors with a career specialist, please login to Handshake and use our online scheduling to make an appointment. If you need further assistance, please call
785-532-6506.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Closed on university holidays as indicated on the K-State academic calendar.
Meet our Staff
Career Center Studio
Cesar Rivera | Graduate Assistant | carivera1131@k-state.edu | 785-532-6506 |
Cesar provides support for major and career exploration. Read More Cesar recieved his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Kansas State University. He is currently pursuing a master's in Counseling and Student Development.
Strengths: Maximizer, Communication, Relator, Significance, Futuristic Favorite K-State tradition: |
Grace Scott | Graduate Assistant | gescott@k-state.edu | 785-532-6506 |
Grace provides drop-in advising for all students from all colleges. Read More Grace recieved her bachelor's in Human Development and Family Science from Kansas State University. She is currently pursuing a master's in Family Studies and Human Services. Strengths:Woo, Communication, Positivity, Discipline, Learner Favorite K-State tradition:Caturday!; |
Career Specialists

Lasondra Aurand
Career Specialist
Human Development and Family Science

Lexi Cannizzo
Career Specialist
Human Development and Family Science

Alyssa Durrant
Career Specialist
Human Development and Family Science

Jordyn Harris
Career Specialist
Human Ecology

Xia Hunter
Career Specialist
Athletic Training

Brett Jennrich
Career Specialist
Marketing

Liz Parkes
Career Specialist
Mass Communications

Natalie Rash
Career Specialist
Nutrition & Kinesiology

Alex Roth
Career Specialist
Management

Walker Sheldon
Career Specialist
Industrial Engineering
College Liaisons
Mary Ellen Barkley | Assistant Director | mebark@k-state.edu | |
Mary Ellen serves as liaison to the Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Read More Mary Ellen has a bachelor's in psychology from Washington State University and a master's in college student personnel services from K-State. Mary Ellen is a Start Smart Salary Facilitator. She has worked for the Career Center since 2000. Strengths: Belief, Developer, Input, Positivity, Relator Favorite K-State tradition: Call Hall! |
Taylor Gnagi | Coordinator | tjgnagi@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Taylor oversees major/career exploration and career readiness for students. Taylor also serves as the liaison to the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. Read More Taylor has a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Human Services from K-State, and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Auburn University. She worked at the Career Center as a student from 2015-2018, and returned as Coordinator in 2022. Strengths: Empathy, Connectedness, Developer, Responsibility, Positivity Favorite K-State tradition: Watching the K-State Marching Band play before football games |
Pat Hudgins | Associate Director | phudgins@k-state.edu | 785-532-6508 |
Pat serves as the liaison to the College of Education students, advises pre-health students and leads center-wide programming and the advising team. Read More Pat received her bachelor's in communication from the University of Cincinnati and her master's in college student development from K-State. Pat is a Start Smart Salary Facilitator. She has worked at the Career Center since 2013. Strengths: Includer, Learner, Maximizer, Relator, Responsibility Favorite K-State tradition: My favorite K-State traditions include attending Purple Power Play with a great display of fireworks and K-State Open House. It’s a time I share K-State with new members of the community. |
Jared Meitler | Associate Director | jmeitler@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Jared serves as the liaison to the Graduate School and the graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Jared also serves as the coordinating instructor for the EDCEP 120 class. Read More He advises students in the Open Option program and provides leadership for the visitor services team. Jared has a Master's in Counseling & Student Development and a Bachelor’s in Health and Human Sciences, both from Kansas State University. He started working at the Career Center in 2012. Strengths: Analytical, Competition, Includer, Maximizer, Relator Favorite K-State tradition: Teaching my 2 son's the words to the Wabash Cannonball, the Alma Mater and the Fight Song! |
Teresa Parks | Assistant Director | twparks@k-state.edu | 785-532-1680 |
Teresa serves as the liaison to the College of Health and Human Sciences. Read More Teresa has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Kansas State University and a master’s in Administration of Justice and Security. Teresa started with the Career Center in 2021. Strengths: Communication, Adaptability, Empathy, Connectedness and Responsibility Favorite K-State tradition: Call Hall ice cream!!! It was a dorm tradition to take new freshmen to get ice cream and then we would all walk back to the dorms together eating, laughing and talking! I love Call Hall to this day!! |
Chloe Wurst | Assistant Director | cnwurst@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Chloe serves as the liaison to the undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Read More Chloe has a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Women Gender Studies from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a master's in Leadership Management from the University of La Verne. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Academic Advising at Kansas State University. Chloe started with the Career Center in 2022. Strengths: Input, Individualization, Strategic, Futuristic, Learner Favorite K-State tradition: "Listen and You Can Hear the Call". I will never forget the first time I heard the Bluemont Bell when I stepped foot on campus. Several student graduates, faculty, and staff affiliated with the College of Education stood in uniity as the mighty bell rung. It's surreal to be a part of an experience that makes history come to life. Check out the history of the Bluemont Bell! |
Anthony Ybarra | Assistant Director | anthonyy@k-state.edu | 785-532-6508 |
Anthony serves as liaison to the College of Engineering. Read More Anthony has a bachelor's degree in human resources from Kansas State University and a master's in college student development. Anthony has been with the Career Center since 2011. Strengths: Arranger, Communication, Individualization, Positivity, Woo Favorite K-State tradition: Finals week ... the bells in Anderson Hall play the Fight Song and Alma Mater. It reminds me of when I was walking from my last final about to go out into the world, creating a surreal moment in time. |
College of Business Administration: Career Development Team
Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus: Career Services
Employer Relations
Deb Owens | Recruiting Coordinator | dowens@k-state.edu | 785-532-1681 |
Debbie coordinates career fairs, approves employer access to Handshake and manages job postings. Read More Debbie has worked at the Career Center since 2001. Strengths: Achiever, Context, Individualization, Learner, Relator Favorite K-State tradition: Purple Power Play! | |||
DeLon Barbour | Employer Relations Associate | dbarb20@k-state.edu | 785-532-6506 |
DeLon assists all current and prospective employers with any type of recruiting on campus. Read More DeLon received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Business from Kansas State University. He recently joined the Career Center team in 2021. Strengths: Competition, Restorative, Developer, Learner, Achiever Favorite K-State tradition: Saturday GameDay at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. There's nothing like it. Tailgating in the parking lot, and cheering on your favorite Wildcats with 50,000 of your closest friends. |
Student Staff

Karina Ayala-Varela
Career Closet Intern
Chemical Engineering

Jackson Dirks
Paraprofessional
Secondary Education

Lindsey Johnson
Career Fair Intern
Hospitality Management

Lindsey Owens
Marketing Intern
Communication Studies

Kaylee Warren
Paraprofessional
Theater

Rosa Cano
Paraprofessional
Business Administration
Administration
Mary Ewing | Office Manager | mewing@k-state.edu | 785-532-1691 |
Mary supports the Career Center with all administrative procedures to include accounting and personnel. Read More She has a bachelor's degree in restaurant management from K-State. Mary has been with the Career Center since 2006.
Strengths: Communication, Connectedness, Harmony, Input, Woo Favorite K-State tradition: Purple … because it's an awesome color! |
Kerri Keller | Executive Director | kdkeller@k-state.edu | 785-532-1691 |
Kerri directs the overall operations of the Career Center and teaches the LEAD 399 Internships for Career Development class. Read More Kerri has a Ph.D from K-State, a master’s degree in student personnel and a bachelor's degree in psychology/social work. She has worked in career services for over 20 years at universities in Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri and Kansas. Strengths: Connectedness, Futuristic, Learner, Maximizer, Strategic Favorite K-State tradition: K-State Family — this is a special place and I appreciate the extra effort everyone gives to take care of the family. | |||
Robert J. Sanders | Administrative Assistant | rjsanders@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Read More Strengths: Favorite K-State tradition: |
Alison Sotkovski | Administrative Assistant | alison@k-state.edu | 785-532-6508 |
Alison supports the Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Education. She is also the go-to person for education on-campus interviews. Read More Alison has been with the Career Center since 2001. Strengths: Adaptability, Empathy, Intellection, Responsibility, Restorative Favorite K-State tradition: The family atmosphere. |
Jodi Swendson | Administrative Assistant | jswend@k-state.edu | 785-532-1680 |
Jodi supports the Colleges of Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. Read More Jodi received her bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University. She joined the Career Center team in 2015. Strengths: Adaptability, Empathy, Ideation, Input, Positivity Favorite K-State tradition: Doing the Wabash at K-State games! |
Sandra Guzman | Marketing Specialist | sandra44@k-state.edu | 785-532-6506 |
Sandra designs all of the marketing for the career center events. Read More Sandra recieved her bachelor's degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Leadership Studies from Kansas State University. She joined the Career Center team in 2022. |
Alpha List
DeLon Barbour | Employer Relations Associate | dbarb20@k-state.edu | 785-532-1680 |
Mary Ellen Barkley | Assistant Director | mebark@k-state.edu | 785-532-1680 |
Mary Ewing | Office Manager | mewing@k-state.edu | 785-532-1691 |
Taylor Gnagi | Coordinator | tjgnagi@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Sandra Guzman | Marketing Specialist | sandra44@k-state.edu | 785-532-6506 |
Pat Hudgins | Associate Director | phudgins@k-state.edu | 785-532-6508 |
Kerri Keller | Executive Director | kdkeller@k-state.edu | 785-532-1691 |
Jared Meitler | Senior Assistant Director | jmeitler@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Debbie Owens | Recruiting Coordinator | dowens@k-state.edu | 785-532-1681 |
Teresa Parks | Assistant Director | twparks@k-state.edu | 785-532-1680 |
Robert J. Sanders | Administrative Assistant | rjsanders@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Alison Sotkovski | Administrative Assistant | alison@k-state.edu | 785-532-6508 |
Jodi Swendson | Administrative Assistant | jswend@k-state.edu | 785-532-1680 |
Chloe Wurst | Assistant Director | cnwurst@k-state.edu | 785-532-1685 |
Anthony Ybarra | Assistant Director | anthonyy@k-state.edu | 785-532-6508 |
Student Staff
Lasondra Aurand, Career Specialist; Major: Human Development and Family Science |
Karina Ayala-Varela, Career Closet Intern; Major: Chemical Engineering |
Lexi Cannizzo, Career Specialist; Major: Human Development and Family Science |
Rosa Cano, Paraprofessional; Major: Open Option |
Jackson Dirks, Paraprofessional; Major: Secondary Education |
Alyssa Durrant, Career Specialist; Major: Human Development and Family Science |
Jordyn Harris, Career Specialist; Major: Human Ecology |
Xia Hunter, Career Specialist; Major: Athletic Training |
Brett Jennrich, Career Specialist; Major: Marketing |
Lindsey Johnson, Career Fair Intern; Major: Hospitality Management |
Lindsey Owens, Marketing Intern; Major: Communication Studies |
Liz Parkes, Career Specialist; Major: Mass Communications |
Natalie Rash, Career Specialist; Major: Nutrition & Kinesiology |
Cesar Rivera, Graduate Assistant; Major: Counseling and Student Development |
Alex Roth, Career Specialist; Major: Management |
Grace Scott, Graduate Assistant; Major: Family Studies and Human Servicesg |
Walker Sheldon, Career Specialist; Major: Industrial Engineering |
Kaylee Warren, Paraprofessional; Major: Theater |