Career services leadership and advocacy

Hi ya, Reader- There’s a question that’s quietly turning into a crisis on campus:“What do we lose if we cut career services?” At some institutions, that question has already become a decision. Staff slashed by 50%.Open roles frozen indefinitely.And yet… Students still expect personalized guidance. Families still demand outcomes. Presidents still need to prove ROI. Career services isn’t being cut because it’s unimportant. It’s being cut because it’s invisible in the conversations that count....

Believe it or not, Reader, one year ago, I hit send on the very first edition of this newsletter. It was a little nerve-wracking, honestly. I wasn’t sure how many people would read it—or if it would matter. But I knew this: Career services deserves more visibility.More strategy. More alignment. More truth-telling. More bold ideas. And I hoped that if I started saying what so many of us were already thinking… maybe we’d all feel a little more equipped to lead. Since then, I’ve written dozens...

It's official, Reader. It's summer! 🌞 Last time, we talked about managing up—how to navigate your relationship with your boss, especially when expectations are unclear or support is scarce. But here’s the thing: Most of the work doesn’t get done “up.”It gets done across. Across departments.Across silos.Across agendas, personalities, and power dynamics that no org chart can fully explain. If managing up is about building support…Managing across is about building momentum. It’s the difference...

Hello, Reader! At the NACE25 conference last week, something happened that I’m still taking in. Someone introduced me as the patron saint of career services.Another said he wanted to be me.And more than a few folks stopped to say hi, thank me for my work, or ask for a selfie (!). Let’s just say: not my usual Tuesday. As someone who usually prefers to hang in the background, it was incredibly meaningful and humbling. If you’re reading this—thank you. This community of thoughtful, committed...

Hello, Reader- It's that time of year again. You made the impact. Now you have to prove it. It’s annual report season, and I’m hearing the same thing from leaders across the board: “We did meaningful, strategic work this year… and I don’t know how to show it.” That tension? It’s not just frustrating.It’s high-stakes. Because when your report doesn’t land, leadership doesn’t just miss the message.They miss the value.The outcomes.The justification for continued investment. And let’s be honest:...

Hello, Reader- There’s a question echoing louder across campuses than ever before: “Is college still worth it?” Students are asking. Parents are asking. Presidents are being asked to justify it. And behind that question is something deeper: doubt. Doubt that the investment will pay off.Doubt that the degree will lead to a good job.Doubt that students are building the skills they need—despite how hard they’re working. That doubt is starting to show up in the data. They’re not just stopping...

Hey there, Reader- Have you noticed it, too? Experiential learning (EL) is everywhere in higher ed right now. It’s in your strategic plan.It’s in your president’s speeches.It’s on your to-do list for “someday soon.” But here’s the truth:Most campuses haven’t figured out how to move beyond the pilot phase. They’ve launched something—a course, a grant, a summer program.But the momentum doesn’t always last. Why? Because scaling EL isn’t just about adding more courses and programs. It’s about...

Hello! Your semester may be wrapping up—but make no mistake: something big is unfolding. While many of us have been laser-focused on events, advising appointments, and increasing FDS response rates (because of course we have), a massive shift has been accelerating outside our offices. And most people in higher ed haven’t caught up to it. The story? The value of higher education is being redefined—by policymakers, accreditors, and governors—and career services is suddenly sitting at the center...

Hey there, Reader- Here’s a painful truth: 2 in 5 students never engage with career services (NACE). Not because they don’t care about their future.Not because your resources aren’t valuable. But because they don’t know what you offer—or why it matters right now. That’s a marketing problem hiding in plain sight. And most career centers don’t even know they need a funnel. Yeah....not this kind of funnel... Wait—what’s a marketing funnel? It’s the journey that moves someone from: Awareness →...