OPCD efforts receive more national attention

Andy Chan

How well colleges and universities prepare students for life and work after college is always a timely topic this time of year given the many commencement-related stories in May and June.

Widely recognized as a national leader in helping students make the transition from college to careers, Wake Forest has been a driving force in the national movement to transform personal and career development at colleges and universities.

Recent accomplishments include:

• Inclusion in Jeff Selingo’s new book, College (Un)Bound. Selingo, editor-at-large at the Chronicle of Higher Education, interviewed Vice President for Personal and Career Development Andy Chan and highlighted Wake Forest’s unique approach to developing a “College-to-Career Community.” He also featured the quotes and examples from panelists appearing at Wake Forest’s 2012 Rethinking Success conference.
• A roadmap for success. The Office of Personal and Career Development recently released “A Roadmap for Transforming the College-To-Career Experience,” which outlines a seven-step process to help colleges and universities of all sizes and resources rethink the way they prepare students for the world of work. Edited by Chan and Wake Forest Fellow Tommy Derry, this crowdsourced paper includes input from 20 innovators in higher education and business – including Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives and Professor of Law Jennifer Collins and Professor of Religion and Director of the Humanities Institute Mary Foskett. It also profiles and shares insights from some of the country’s leading personal and career development models in higher education, building upon ideas shared at Rethinking Success.
• Most visionary leader. CSO Research Inc. named Chan “the most visionary and forward-thinking leader in career services and recruiting” last week. No. 6 on the list was Katharine (Kate) Brooks, who will join the OPCD staff from the University of Texas at Austin this summer.
• More media coverage. Inside Higher Ed, the Triad Business Journal, and the Greensboro News & Record were among news outlets that immediately covered the roadmap. Chan also appeared on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC to discuss the job outlook for 2013 grads. This week, he noted faculty involvement and early student engagement as key to Wake Forest’s success in personal and career development in a Wall Street Journal story. Meanwhile, Executive Director for Employer Relations Mercy Eyadiel appeared on several local news outlets during commencement weekend, including News 14 Carolina and WFMY News 2. Instructor of Counseling Heidi Robinson and several 2013 graduates also participated in live commencement day interviews.
• TEDx circuit. Chan recently delivered a TEDx talk titled “‘Career Services’ Must Die” at Lawrence University. Watch it here. Jeff Selingo also spoke at the same TEDx.