About Us
The Career Center is a division of Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas. As a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), our office complies with the Principles for Professional Conduct for Career Services Professionals. Our staff also maintains memberships in multiple professional organizations.
Career Center Staff
Lisa Garza
Director
Lisa has worked in higher education for over 17 years and joined the UT Dallas Career Center staff in May 2005. In the Career Center she’s held several positions, including Internship Coordinator, Assistant Director, and Associate Director, and she is now proud to serve as the Director. As Director, Lisa works with a very talented staff to oversee a comprehensive range of career-related services.
Lisa has extensive experience working with international students and employment issues, particularly with regard to Curricular and Optional Practical Training (CPT and OPT). Lisa currently serves as Vice President of the Internship Network for the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA).
Lisa holds a BA from SUNY Geneseo and an MSW from UT Arlington and regularly revisits the idea of beginning a Ph.D. Lisa enjoys working with college students and helping them to be successful at UT Dallas and beyond.
Shereada Harrell
Associate Director,
Employer Relations
shereada.harrell
@utdallas.edu
Shereada received her Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master of Science degree from the University of Central Arkansas in College Student Personnel and Administration.
Prior to her arrival at UT Dallas, she has spent five years in the field of career services at Arkansas State University, Troy University, and the University of Central Arkansas. Shereada has experience in career services in the areas of career expos, employer outreach, career counseling, and career programming.
She enjoys preparing a wide range of student centered programs and services that assist students with their career exploration, development, and management.
Mickey Choate
Associate Director,
Career Development
Mickey Choate is the Associate Director of Career Development in the UT Dallas Career Center. He has extensive experience assisting students in identifying their career options.
His responsibilities include directing the credit career development classes and career development programs available to students through the Career Center. He also ensures that students get excellent coaching, advice and guidance from the team of career counselors and career program coordinators in the center.
Mickey is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and a Bachelor’s of Science in Counseling from TAMU-Commerce.
Prior to coming to UT Dallas in 1988, he served as the Associate Director of Career Services at Texas Christian University and as a Career Counselor with UT Arlington and TAMU-Texarkana.
Mohammed Rahman
Associate Director,
Internships and Operations
Mohammed is the Associate Director of Internships and Operations. He worked as an internship coordinator for almost three and a half years before moving into his new role. He has worked as an Intake Officer at Richland College with the TRIO Educational Talent Search program and Health Profession Division and as Program Coordinator in the Career Services office at the University of Central Arkansas, UCA.
He is a UT Dallas alum and has earned his Masters of Science degree in College Student Personnel Services and Administration from UCA.
"I realize that for a student's career dreams to materialize is to earn a college degree. This understanding provides groundwork for me when I am working with students. Tapping into students' potential and guiding them to success during the internship process makes it a rewarding experience for me."
Vacant
Associate Director,
Career Programs
Vacant
Assistant Director,
Career Programs
Dionne Dean
Internship Coordinator
Dionne earned her Bachelor of Science in Clothing Textiles and Merchandising from Florida State University. Working as an Assistant Buyer in the Macy’s South buying office in Atlanta, Georgia, she assisted in maintaining a multi-million open-to-buy budget and worked with vendors such as BCBG, Coach, Isaac Mizrahi and Nine West.
In 2006, Dionne made the career transition into education, completing an AmeriCorps Year-of-Service at the University of Chicago Collegiate Scholars Program. Dionne earned her Masters of Arts in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago. While doing so, she worked as a College and Career Counselor at ACE Technical Charter High School where she worked with students learning about the fields of Architecture, Construction and Engineering.
Dionne comes to UT Dallas from Florida International University in Miami, Florida where she worked as an Academic Advisor in the College of Architecture and the Arts, working with freshmen, transfer and graduate students in the fields of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture, as well as Art, Art History, Communication Arts, Music and Theatre. Prior, Dionne worked as a Senior Academic Advisor in Undergraduate Education, serving freshman and sophomore students entering the university’s STEM programs.
Kortney House
Internship Coordinator
Kortney graduated from UT Dallas in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Literary Studies. While earning her degree she served students at the campus bookstore, where she developed her interest in working in the realm of higher education. She joined the Career Center staff in August 2009.
As an Internship Coordinator she interacts with students from the schools of Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.
She guides them through the internship process, helping them to obtain invaluable hands-on experience in a chosen industry. This role allows her to help students discover their interests, values, and strengths through working experiences, enabling them to seek out professions which give them the opportunity to thrive.
Casey Elder
Career Expos Coordinator
Casey joined the UT Dallas Career Center in June 2012 and serves as the Career Expos Coordinator, organizing and coordinating over 10 expo events per year for the Career Center. Casey hails from Pensacola, Florida but moved north to attend The Ohio State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 2010. She then moved back south to Texas and attended the University of North Texas to earn her Master of Education in Higher Education and College Student Personnel in 2012.
While at North Texas, she worked in many areas within the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs including Greek Life, Admissions, Student Activities and the Career Center. She found her home in Career Services after working as graduate assistant in the Career Center for one year. She loves being innovative and constantly improving the current career expos while also implementing new ideas to better cater to both students and employers in their job hunting and recruiting efforts.
Jill Reilly
Career Programs Coordinator
Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from The University of Texas at Austin and has a background in communications, marketing, and customer service. She joined the UT Dallas Career Center in November 2010.
As Career Programs Coordinator, Jill develops and executes programs for students to educate them on job related topics and to provide them with tools to be successful in the workplace. She loves meeting new students and getting involved with groups on campus.
Bill Howard
Student Employment Coordinator
(On-Campus/Work Study Employment)
Bill joined the UT Dallas Career Center in 2013 after transferring from the Student Programs Office. He currently manages the Work-Study program, On-Campus jobs, and the National Student Employment Week celebrations. Before Bill relocated to Dallas in 2011, he spent time as a Retreat Coordinator for Sky Ranch in Van, TX, where he gained invaluable knowledge in customer service. Bill graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and is currently obtaining his Masters of Science in Healthcare Management from UT Dallas.
Bill desires to see every student realize their full potential while they attend UT Dallas, and he enjoys working with and helping the outstanding students that attend UTD. When Bill is not working, he enjoys doing absolutely anything with his wife, and is excited to be in the process of adopting from Lesotho!
Kathy Meyer
Career Counselor
Kathy has been with the Career Center for 12+ years as one of the Career Counselors. She brings to her counseling role a dynamic energy that helps motivate students to search for their choice of major or degree and possible future career opportunities!
Kathy has been very active at UT Dallas since returning in November 2000. She has served two years on the Alumni Executive Board and many committees related to promoting the Corporate Special Olympics. She has served on the Staff Council and Gallerstein Women's Board and was the Faculty Advisor for the sorority, Alpha Lambda Chi.
She is an alumnus of UT Dallas who graduated in Dec 1982 when our college was still only a graduate school. She had a 10 year career at Texas Instruments as a Business Programmer Analyst and Human Resources Administrator. Kathy went on to earn her Masters of Arts at Amberton University in Counseling in 1994. She completed her practicum and LPC internship hours at Collin County Community College, Eastfield College and Richland in their respective counseling centers and job placement offices. She is an LPC-S, who has supervised other licensed professional counselor interns in earning their state of Texas license.
Janie Shipman
Career Counselor
Every day I am excited about being a Career Counselor in the UT Dallas Career Center! I really love the “aha!” moments that students and alums experience as they begin to understand their career assessments. My credentials include Texas Licensed Professional Counselor, a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Florida Atlantic University, and a Master of Education in Counseling/Career Counseling from the University of North Texas.
My specialty areas are one-on-one career counseling, interpreting assessments, resume writing, interviewing, job search strategies and coaching, presenting career-related seminars, and working with student groups to encourage career exploration. After many changes along my own career path and several different occupations, I feel that I am a “walking, talking commercial” for the value of career counseling. I am thrilled to be able to use those experiences to motivate both students and adults, and I have a passion for empowering people to build and manage their own careers.
Lauren Nise
Career Coach
Lauren joined the Career Center in January of 2010 and holds a Master's degree in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
She has extensive experience in the Telecommunications and Software industries with a focus on training & development and business process improvement. Her true passion is building relationships and helping people achieve their professional goals.
As the Career Coach Lauren will partner with you to create a step-by- step plan to achieve your immediate and long term career goals.
Jessica Elder
Resume Programs Coordinator
Jessica joined the UT Dallas Career Center in August 2012, and serves as the Resume Programs Coordinator, coordinating all resume efforts such as Drop-By Resume Critiques, Resume Editor email critiques, and any resume writing seminars or programs. As a Texas-transplant, Jessica moved to the area in 2010 and graduated with her Master of Education in Higher Education and College Student Personnel from the University of North Texas in May of 2012. She previously received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Spanish from the University of Toledo in Ohio, where she grew up.
While at North Texas, Jessica spent 2 years working in the Career Center as a Graduate Assistant. Here she spent much of her time working with undergraduate and graduate students and alumni to assist them in reaching their career goals by providing resume and cover letter critiques, mock interviews, and resources for students to explore different majors and careers. In addition to working in Career Services, she has also worked with first-year and first-generation students and served as an Intern with Study Abroad and Student Government at North Texas.
Cartez Augustus
Technology Coordinator
Cartez holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University Houston and a Master of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Manaagement.
He has a background in technical support, web development, and customer service. He joined the UT Dallas Career Center in July 2012.
As Technology Coordinator he manages the technical activities of the Career Center, which includes website management and technical support. He currently serves as one of the Technology Liaisons on campus.
Kelley Henderson
Administrative Assistant I
kelley.henderson
@utdallas.edu
As an Administrative Assistant, Kelley works within many areas of the Career Center including operations, student employment, programs, and internships. She specializes in customer service, resume critiques, community service work-study employment, dining etiquette, and the Accounting internship program for undergraduate and graduate students. Kelley enjoys building relationships with college students to help them achieve their academic and career-related goals.
When she is not working, Kelley would most likely be found spending time with her husband Jeremy, watching a TITUS or DSO performance downtown, sitting outside on a patio somewhere, hanging out with friends and family, trying a new restaurant, watching a good (or really, really bad) movie or TV show, or reading a book on her couch and cuddling with her two dogs, Pippin and Jake.
Kelley joined the UT Dallas Career Center in January 2011 and is currently working on her Master of Arts in Humanities with a focus on Studies in Literature at UT Dallas. Academically, she is interested in how authors grapple with philosophies of time and identity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literary Studies, also from UT Dallas, and is a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Fannae Shields
Secretary III
Employed in 2001 as a Secretary III
Administration Assistant with the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma
Secretary in the Office of Governor of Oklahoma
Supervisor over Governor’s Youth Program with the Indian Affairs Commission of Oklahoma
Auditor with American Airlines
Computer software training in Excel, Lotus, Word Perfect, Word, CAD, Federal Accounting System, Power Point, Saber, Certified CAD Drafting
American Sign Language and Speech Reading
Listed in “Who’s Who’s Native American Women in the United States”
Assist with publication of 6 different Oklahoma Native American Tribal books
President/Secretary of SE Chapter and past Editor for the Chilocco National Alumni Association (CNAA)
TX State Director of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
Past TX State North Coordinator of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
Past President and Past VP of Ft. Worth Chapter, Hearing Loss Association of America
Career Center Student Employees
Lawanda Maxwell Ryan Paranzino Lauren Johnson Sharmayne Ford Krystal Ogundipe Miranda Harman William Deltuva
Other Campus Career Partners
Mission
Vision
To be an innovative, centralized, proactive and exemplary Career Center, empowering constituents to successfully manage their careers throughout a lifetime.
Mission
In support of the UT Dallas mission to produce engaged graduates prepared for life, work, and leadership, the Career Center is committed to the following three-fold mission:
- To prepare students and alumni for a lifetime of career transitions in a constantly changing world through comprehensive career education programs, which addresses their diverse and multidimensional needs.
- To partner with employers to develop and implement effective and efficient campus relations programs.
- To enhance the excellent educational programs of the university as they relate to the career education of students by collaborating and partnering with faculty and staff from all disciplines.
Guiding Themes
- Empowerment - Serving as a catalyst enabling constituents to assume responsibility for the management of their careers.
- Dynamic Partnerships - Cultivating meaningful internal and external collaborative relationships, which result in increased expertise and expanded opportunities for constituents.
- Service - Providing timely, relevant and credible programs, materials and services while maintaining a positive customer-centered focus.
- Standard of Excellence - Modeling an on-going commitment to professionalism, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of quality in every endeavor.
- Sensitivity to Diversity - Responding to the unique needs of individuals with care, respect and understanding.