May 5, 2015
Academic and Career Information Center selects new peer career specialists
The Academic and Career Information Center, or ACIC, selected eight new peer career specialists for the 2015-2016 academic year.
Peer career specialists assist Kansas State University students in the career exploration and planning process. They individually guide students through career assessments and help them to connect career goals with academic majors, minors and certificate programs at K-State. Career specialists fill an essential role in serving the K-State community.
Studies suggest that 80 percent of college students change their major at least once, and the 2014 National Freshman Attitudes Report written by Noel-Levitz, indicates 21 percent of entering freshman report being very confused about which career occupation to pursue.
The new peer career specialists include:
Jessica Ayres, sophomore in hospitality management and dietetics, Wichita; Taylor Gnagi, freshman in family studies and human services, Topeka; Megan Malm, freshman in communication studies, McPherson; Shannon Oakley, sophomore in secondary math education, Wamego; Bailey Porter, freshman in anthropology and pre-medicine, Overland Park; Chris Reusz, sophomore in bakery science and management, Downers Grove, Illinois; Caylin Smith, junior in communication studies, Hillsdale; Savanah Thorne, freshman in family studies and human services, Lees Summit, Missouri.
Eight peer career specialists from 2014-2015 are returning and include:
Miranda Cook, junior in marketing and management, Paola; Ellen Harley, junior in family studies and human services, Olathe; Makenzie Hrabik, junior in economics, Olathe; Jordan Korb, junior in economics and pre-law, Valley Falls; Amanda Stultz, junior in psychology, Andover; Paige Wiley, junior in communication studies, Overland Park; David Zeiger, junior in secondary education and mathematics, Overland Park.
Olivia Miller, Olathe, will continue to serve as the ACIC Graduate Assistant while completing her master's in college student development.
Thanks and congratulations to our 2014-2015 graduates that include Abbie Bontrager, human resource management, Wichita; Brook Katterhenry, kinesiology, Lenexa; Katie Leise, landscape architecture, Omaha, Nebraska; Garrett Smith, family studies and human services, Olathe; Ashley Wunder, sociology, Topeka.
In addition to one-on-one career exploration appointments, career specialists facilitate Academic and Career Decisions, EDCEP 120, which is a career-planning class. Career specialists also are responsible for helping with the center's programs and activities including outreach presentations and the annual Majors, Minors and More Fair, which will be Oct. 14.
For more information, please contact ACIC coordinator Jared Meitler at jmeitler@k-state.edu.