U Career Success | University of Utah

What happens when nearly 100 early University of Utah students get the chance to learn and apply professional skills by interning at area nonprofits and community organizations? What students said: “I learned that I’m stronger than I thought I was.” “I have learned that I am truly a leader. Not by getting everyone’s attention, but by making sure things come together. Wherever I go I want to make an impact.” “Through this experience, I discovered that I genuinely enjoy mentoring others and helping them grow.” “I learned that I can communicate technical jargon to non-technical users in a way that makes sense and allows them to be informed enough to make decisions about it.” “I absolutely love helping people. Seeing them change their lives for the better made me so happy.” Community Champions, offered through U Career Success and funded by the office of President Taylor Randall, harnessed student power this summer by recruiting more than 40 community organizations to hire—at no cost to them--first- and second-year students to work in a wide variety of capacities. Organizations benefited from the interns' energetic contributions, while students with limited prior experience built career-ready skills and explored directions for their futures while being paid an hourly wage by the U. What organizations said: "[Our intern] surpassed our expectations in all areas." "[Our intern] approached every task with initiative, creativity, and professionalism well beyond what is typically expected of an intern. His contributions quickly proved to be essential in moving projects forward." "This model of community collaboration not only strengthens local nonprofits like ours, but also equips future leaders with the skills and empathy to build tomorrow’s community-centered organizations. We love this!" "They all had a great work ethic, were on time, professional and very excited to be here. I miss them so very much." Results: A+ for both students and the community. Special thanks to our Early Career Explorers team for selecting, training, and coaching 93 interns through the summer: Liz Hasty, Samantha Wisell, Robert Johnson, Emilie Elmont-Davis, Drew Melebeck, and former team members Tony Gomez and Cristopher Anderson, MPA. And to Corporate & Community Engagement relationship manager Jane Dower for collaborating closely with host agencies to create positive experiences for them and for students. Thank you to all who pulled together to make this transformative program happen! https://lnkd.in/gftSz4C4

It’s electric when students learn from established professionals who are willing and eager to empower their next steps. You may not know: the U has a team of professionals who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make connections like these come to life. Meet Lisa Lovoi and James Wesson, M.Ed.! Lisa acts as a relationship manager for the Corporate & Community Engagement team, working with employers in arts and entertainment. James, a multi-instrumentalist and former music teacher, is the career coach for students in the College of Fine Arts. 🎨 🎶 In March 2024, Lisa and James attended a Salt Lake City Animation Expo, now known as Sketch to Screen. The expo was the creation of Jordyn Curley, a talented and energetic television producer who is passionate about connecting people in the animation industry, creating opportunities, and mentoring the next generation of artists. The expo is one of many networking events she hosts for people in animation and beyond. Never one to miss a beat, Lisa invited Jordyn to moderate a panel of Utah creatives at the U: Jonathan Pitcher, Michael Murdock, and Brian Ericson. Since then, Jordyn’s led students through a “Networking for Introverts” workshop and invited them to her other events for creatives and industry enthusiasts. Shout out to Kate Wolsey, a terrific advocate for student artists and College of Fine Arts internship director. Kate’s work with ArtsForce and its student leaders has helped build connections ensuring that good things come to each new class at the university. It’s electricity, energy, groundwork, and human connection that make the magic happen. Thank you, Lisa, James, and Kate for all you do for U students in the arts! ✨ Learn more about the kinds of opportunities Jordyn and Charles share in this excellent article by Elias Kempt and Inez Akumutima. #ucareersuccess #networking #careers #universityofutah https://lnkd.in/gEYP_Zbq

Meet the Corporate and Community Engagement Team 👋 Say hello to Debora, Senior Associate Director of the Corporate and Community Engagement Team! Debora collaborates closely with the entire team to ensure seamless employer partnerships, working on outreach, and helping coordinate getting companies on campus and connecting them to University of Utah students. She and her husband have recently started commuting to work together on his motorcycle, and it's turned out to be more fun than she expected! When Debora isn't at work, she loves to thrift, nearly 90% of her wardrobe is thrifted. We are so lucky to have Debora on our team, thanks for everything you do to connect, engage, and make a difference! 💼💙

The University of Utah STEM Fair yesterday had 95+ employers in attendance and over 2,000 students check-in! We are so grateful to our incredible partners and our amazing students for connecting, networking, and creating their future! #stemfair #universityofutah #careers

We are thrilled to share the exciting news about the grand re-opening of the Cintas Career Closet at the University of Utah! This initiative is a testament to the incredible support and generosity that the entire Cintas team has extended towards our community. ✨ The Career Closet serves as a vital resource for students, providing them with professional attire necessary for job interviews, internships, and other career-related events, enhancing their chances of success in the professional world. 🎓 We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering dedication and commitment shown by Cintas, which has played a pivotal role in making this project a reality. Their contributions not only help students look their best but also instill a sense of confidence and readiness as they embark on their career journeys. 💼 As we look forward to the future, we are excited about the growth and positive impact the Career Closet will have on countless students in the coming years. Cintas Matthew Italasano Kendra Simon Jason Taukiuvea David Price #cintas #careercloset #careers #universityofutah #ucareersuccess

U Career Success and the College of Architecture + Planning are thrilled to announce student Ella Kindall as the winner of the Landscape Design Contest. Ella's design, titled, “Uniquely Utah” will be installed west of the Garff Building in the upcoming months. “I’m really excited, [and it’s] kind of overwhelming,” Kindall said. “This is a massive state university and to have a permanent installation with my name on that is insane.” Stay tuned for updates as Ella Kindall’s design is brought to life next to the Garff Building! Read the full announcement here: https://buff.ly/ZsSoKuL

NBA Foundation Awards $50,000 Grant to Support Generation Next and HBCU Utah Fusion Programs at the University of Utah ✨ As we wrap up our 5th year of HBCU Utah Fusion, formally HBCU IMPACT, we have an exciting announcement. The NBA Foundation has awarded a generous $50,000 grant to be shared equally between the HBCU Utah Fusion and Generation Next programs, furthering their shared mission to empower under-resourced youth through academic, career, and leadership development opportunities. 🏀 This 2025 funding is part of the NBA Foundation’s $1.2 million investment in 23 partners nationwide—selected from over 600 applicants—aimed at promoting economic mobility among youth aged 14–24. Since its launch in 2020, the Foundation has committed over $140 million and impacted more than 770,000 youth across 28 NBA markets. “We are honored to be selected once again by the NBA Foundation,” said Simone Lawrence, HBCU Utah Fusion and Generation Next Programs Manager. “This support helps us build pathways to success for University of Utah students seeking career support and for students interning in Utah from HBCUs around the country.” HBCU Utah Fusion connects top talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities with internships at leading companies in Salt Lake City, while Generation Next supports first-generation college students at the University of Utah with year-round mentorship and scholarship opportunities. Each summer, the two programs collaborate to deliver a dynamic, immersive experience that combines internship work, leadership training, and community service. Together, these initiatives foster connection, cultural exchange, and career readiness, helping students from across the country and Utah grow into future leaders. We have been able to serve over 100 students nationwide through these initiatives, and with this renewed gift we can continue to increase our reach. #NBAFoundation #HBCUFusion #GenerationNext #YouthEmpowerment #InternshipOpportunities #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureLeaders

✨ Happy National Intern Day ✨ Not pictured: the rest of our incredible Career Success Interns! Today, we’re celebrating the incredible interns who bring fresh energy, ideas, and talent to workplaces everywhere. Your curiosity, hard work, and drive make a lasting impact, and we see you! At U Career Success, we're proud to support students as they grow, explore, and thrive in their internships. Here's to all the interns shaping the future. 💼 #NationalInternDay #InternshipSuccess #UCareerSuccess #FutureLeaders

The College of Health recently released an article highlighting the importance of a college degree and how students can utilize it to get better jobs! Our very own Amy Duquette, a career coach for the college of health, mentions that it's never too early for students to start seeing her to get a jumpstart on their career journey. Check out the rest of the article using the link below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/ge-R8F-3

The entire U Career Success team wishes to express our immense and heartfelt gratitude to Katie Hoffman-Abby, who leaves the University after a decade of positive impact on student futures and on talent-driven workplaces in Utah and well beyond. Her innovative vision has led to a surge in professional opportunities for students of all majors while the University’s connections to top employers have grown stronger, generating increased goodwill and new possibilities. A U alumna, successful entrepreneur, and industry leader in health care staffing, Katie has been a catalyst for student career achievement since she joined the University of Utah in 2015. Beginning at the David Eccles School of Business, she and then-dean Taylor Randall reimagined an innovative and proactive model for career services that yielded rapid increases in salaries and placement outcomes. As president, Taylor Randall was eager to see personalized career coaching extended to all University students. What began as a pilot in 2022, quickly scaled under Katie’s direction to support every college at the U. At the same time, Katie worked with our team of relationship managers to exponentially grow the portfolio of companies and community organizations we work with. As a result of Katie’s positive leadership, unrivaled passion, and work ethic, more students and employers than ever attend career fairs, targeted expos, and skill-building workshops, as well as many focused events that connect specific students with amazing futures. Social media and a nationally awarded student-to-student podcast keep the U community well-informed of opportunities ahead.  Katie leaves a legacy of strong alliances with colleges, departments, initiatives, organizations, and career champions from every corner of campus. She and her beloved Cavalier King Charles Rocky are well-known figures on walkways and in hallways, where they are always willing to share a moment with a stressed-out student or one who is missing their pet from home.  Our team of professionals and student interns has had a daily front row seat to inspirational leadership that has propelled all of us-career coaches, corporate and community relationship managers, and events team members-to do our very best work. We are all the richer for our association with Katie and we wish her the very best in every new venture, as she remains firmly in our hearts. #universityofutah #ucareersuccess #gratitude