The challenges of a global pandemic were confronted and turned into opportunities by the professionals leading the Center for Career Education at Millsaps College. With this work came an award for “Best Practices by a Career Center,” bestowed by the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Employers.
The award recognizes the college or university career services office that has successfully implemented innovative systems that demonstrate best practices in student success and/or workforce readiness.
“This is a wonderful testament to our work over the past year, and we are grateful to bring this award home to Millsaps,” said Ryan Colvin, director of the Center.
The Center for Career Education was selected for its timely and strategic response to the disruption of COVID on internships and the Major Experience. In addition to providing virtual, professional development workshop series covering financial literacy, resume and interview tips, and applying to graduate school, the Center for Career Education restructured the Internship for Credit program. The internship course added a Major Experience section that included career readiness activities and reflections, and supplemented hands-on learning with virtual, micro-internship solutions to continue serving students and positively impacting career development.
In addition to the award to the Center, Brittany Woodburn was selected as the 2020-21 Outstanding New Professional of the Year. Woodburn joined the Center as a career specialist in March 2020.
Colvin praised Woodburn’s recognition as well.
“Without complaint, Brittany immersed herself in her role and the field, asking relevant questions for knowledge and development, providing thoughtful insights based on her experience, and offering recommendations for engaging our students virtually,” Colvin said. “With her input, we were able to to pivot and provide services to our students from a distance.”