Career Services Center - St. Cloud State University

Addie Habstritt Turkowski, Director

Email: ahturkowski@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 1997 - present

As the Director, Addie not only meets with students, but also speaks with employers who are on campus for recruiting events.  She works with the School of Education to assist educators with their career direction and job search in education and is on the MN State Education Fair Committee.  Addie is active with the St. Cloud Area Chamber Connection, a member of TEST (Training and Employment Skills Team), member of the Forum of Executive Women, and a member of the St. Cloud Region Warrior to Citizen Initiative.  Addie also co-chairs the SCSU Veteran Advisory Board.  Addie has taught classes on Career Decision, Career and Life Planning, College Transitions and Photojournalism. 

At SCSU Addie also worked as the Associate Director of Residential Life and Interim Director of Residential Life.  Previously Addie worked for the American Society of Clinical Pathology and Heidelberg College. 

Addie has her Masters of Arts in Counseling and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications.

Her interests include natural medicine, writing, antiques, traveling and SCSU sports.

Andy Ditlevson, Associate Director for Employment Services

Email: apditlevson@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 1990 - present

As the Associate Director for Employment Services, Andy coordinates our employment preparation area which includes meeting with students individually and leading seminars on resume writing, interviewing, and job search preparation, as well as planning our Career Prep, Mock Interview Day and Feedback Friday programs. He also manages recruiting events such as the MN State Universities Job and Internship Fair and the Diversity Job and Internship Fair and coordinates the annual MN College Job Outlook survey. Andy also provides leadership for the office in the area of employer relations and oversees the Employer Advisory Board.

Prior to coming to SCSU, Andy worked in career services as the Associate Director of Career Services at Santa Clara University, Placement Counselor at Bowling Green State University, and Internship Coordinator at St. Olaf College.

Andy earned his Master’s degree in College Student Development from Bowling Green State University in 1988 and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Theatre with an Emphasis in Public Address from St. Olaf College in 1982.

Andy is an avid golfer and enjoys coaching his daughter in volleyball.

Michelle Schmitz, Associate Director Career Development and Outreach

Email: maschmitz@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 2005 - present

Michelle first started in the CSC as a graduate assistant in the CSC from 2003-2004. Now, as an Associate Director, Michelle provides overall management of the Career Development and Outreach programs for the CSC. She meets individually with students who are undecided with their major or career plans. She works with the campus community to implement integrated Academic, Career and Life Development activities to foster students’ continued academic achievement. In addition, Michelle supervises the Office of Student Employment Services (SES), directs the graduate level Career Counseling Interns, and teaches COLL 111, Career and Life Planning.

Prior to working in higher education, Michelle held numerous positions in business and human resources. She worked as a Consultant for Schwan’s Consumer Brands, North America, a Human Resources Recruiter for Stellent, Inc. (now Oracle) and a Business Analyst with Hewitt Associates.

Michelle graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Master of Science in College Counseling and Student Development in 2005 and College of St. Benedict with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 1999.

Her personal interests include spending time with her husband and two daughters as well as other family and friends. She also enjoys playing volleyball and socializing. Michelle lives by the statement "six degrees of separation" and probably knows someone who knows you. She has been known for running into people she knows in the middle of nowhere.

Bobbi Murphy, Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Internship Development

Email: ramurphy@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 2006 - present

Bobbi works with students, faculty, and employers to increase, promote and develop internship opportunities and management through relationship building and community and university partnerships. Specific efforts include but are not limited to, internship search and prep sessions, employer internship events, intern blogging, networking and informational sessions for faculty and employers, classroom presentations and student appointments.

Prior to coming to SCSU Bobbi’s employment included the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District, Boys and Girls Club-Central MN, Country Manor Health Care Center, and St. Cloud Children’s Home. Bobbi’s work with community organizations and businesses, students, educators, Tech Prep and the School-to-Work initiative deepened her desire to work with students to develop their potential for current and future employment, career development and service to their community.

A 1978 graduate of SCSU, former RA (now referred to as CA) and Assistant Residence Hall Director for Sherburne Hall, Bobbi continues her relationship with SCSU as an alumna, parent of a current student, graduate student (currently working on her Master’s degree in Information Media) and employee.

Bobbi’s personal interests include time spent with family and friends, her Bookclub and Neighborhood Garden Group, anything to do with home and interior design, horses, dogs and Mike and Mike in the Morning.

Laura Emerick, Assistant Director for Career Development and Outreach

Email: leemerick@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 2009 - present

Laura provides career counseling to both undergraduate and graduate students on deciding on a major, career exploration, resume writing, interviewing, job searching, and graduate school. She especially enjoys working with deciding students, helping them to identify their passions and talents and connecting those to different major and career opportunities, as well as advising upper-class students on the graduate school application process. Laura regularly does classroom presentations and seminars and is also involved in outreach and programming initiatives across campus. In addition, Laura coordinates the Peer Career Advisor program and supervises the PCAs, and she is an instructor for COLL 111.

Prior to coming to St. Cloud State, Laura worked at the University of Iowa as an Admission Counselor in the Office of Admissions and as the University Program Coordinator in the Belin Blank Center for Gifted Education, a first-year experience program for high achieving students.

Laura earned her Master of Arts in Counseling and Student Development in Post Secondary Education in 2009 and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in History in 2005, both from the University of Iowa. She also recently completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from SCSU in 2011. Laura loves school and is always contemplating what she is going to study next!

Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and baby daughter, watching TV, shopping at unique gift shops, eating at local restaurants, reading, and exploring the outdoors. She is also an avid runner and health advocate. She enjoys coaching and helping others with running, fitness, and nutrition goals, and is personally on a quest to run a half-marathon or marathon in every state.

Nancy Michael, Recruitment / Graduate Follow-Up

Email: nkmichael@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 2011 - present

With over 36 years of service at SCSU, Nancy has worked in various positions at the University including the Office of Human Resources, the Department of Communication Studies, the Dean’s Office in the School of Health and Human Services and currently in the Career Services Center.

Nancy’s position includes supporting employer recruitment, working with employers that come on campus to recruit students, and is the employer registrar for Job Fairs coordinated by Career Services.

In addition, Nancy serves as the financial representative from SCSU for the MN State University Job Fairs and works with the Minnesota State University System (MnSCU) conducting a follow up on all graduates from SCSU, compiling job placement and continuing education, also the services graduates used at SCSU.

Nancy’s personal interests include spending time in her flower and vegetable gardens.  Along with her husband, she enjoys camping, boating and fishing; anything outdoors.  She has two dogs that are family, Abby (Shih Tzu) and Tucker (St. Bernard).

Jodi Wroblewski, Technology & Marketing Administrator

Email: jmwroblewski@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 2012 - present

In August 2012, Jodi joined the Career services team in the newly created position as the Technology and Marketing Coordinator.    This position has responsibilities including; development and maintenance of the CSC website (www.stcloudstate.edu/careerservices ), social media planning and execution, administration of technology that supports systems for career assessments, coordination of CSC marketing including supervision of the CSC student marketing staff, management of the SCSU Job Post systems, coordination of CSC computer/technology support, and administration of data collection, usage and outcome reports.

Prior to joining the CSC Team, Jodi has worked in various positions in Minneapolis and St. Cloud including ERP Software Systems Analyst, Project Management, Accounting, Marketing, and Graphic Design.

Jodi graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies - Public Relations / Advertising Emphasis in 1999.  She also completed classes in Web Development/Graphic Design at the Minneapolis Community & Technology College in 2000-01.

Her personal interests include time spent with her family, playing in the dirt to try to make things grow, creative projects like stained glass, working out, home construction/remodeling, meditation and time by the water.

Karen Hommerding

Email: kahommerding@stcloudstate.edu
Years in CSC: 2003 - present

Karen first joined the Career Services Center in July 2003 as a Career Resource Specialist. This position and Karen's duties have evolved into her current role as Office Manager. As the CSC's Office Manager, Karen manages the office budgets, supervises the reception desk student workers, ensures our reception desk runs smoothly, EdPost administrator, and the administrator for our appointment and event tracking system - C3M. Karen is also the student registrar for the MN State Universities Job Fair and the Education Job Fair. There are too many little duties Karen does to help keep the office running!

Prior to joining CSC, Karen got her start at SCSU in Business Services, followed by a year and a half in Center for Continuing Studies.

Karen is currently taking one class at a time at SCSU and is working towards an undergraduate degree.

Her personal interests include spending time with her family, camping, gardening, and spending as much time as she can spare floating in the pool.

Hailey Olson

• Undergraduate Major/Minor: Sociology major & Psychology minor
• Graduate Study: College Counseling and Student Development
• Hobbies and/or Favorite Movie: watching TV and movies, live music, playing outside with my dog, spending time with my family, going out to eat with friends, shopping, traveling/vacationing, & sleeping!
• Career Aspirations: I would like to be a Career Counselor or Academic Advisor in a MN college or university... at least that is what I'm thinking right now!

Rebecca Fonss

• Graduate Study: College Counseling and Student Developmentt
• Career Aspirations: To work in Career Services or Advising Center on a University campus.

If I were a color crayon, I would be: Wintergreen Dream

Yan He

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Public Relations
• Year in School/Graduate: 2nd year in Graduate Mass Communication Program
• Career Aspirations: Public Relations Manager / Specialist including creating favorable public image for clients, writing press releases, and fund raising.
• Hobbies and/or Favorite Movie: Play the piano, dance, swim and outdoor activities.

Aashika Khadka

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Finance
• Year in School/Graduate: Senior
• Career Aspirations: My career aspirations are to find a position in my professional field that improves my university skills and knowledge as well as professional skillsthat I gained throughout life. I always follow the line "Do what I love and love what I do"
• Hobbies: My hobbies are shopping, cooking, listening to old Bollywood music, gardening, and also traveling

Ashlee Scheer

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Special Education
• Year in School/Graduate: Sophomore
• Career Aspirations: Teach in a high school, assisting in the transition from school to the real world

If I were a color crayon, I would be: Bright Green

Carrie Klaphake

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Double Major in Communication Studies with an Emphasis in Leadership & Organizational Skills and Travel & Tourism
• Year in School/Graduate: Senior
• Career Aspirations: To work either with sororities and fraternities across the nation or do event planning or fund raising

If I were a color crayon, I would be: Razzmatazz because one the name is fun to say, and two no one else would pick it.

Desirae Demmings

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Communications Arts & Literature
• Year in School/Graduate: Senior
• Career Aspirations: Get a job after college!

If I were a color crayon, I would be: Hot Pink!

Jessica Nietfeld

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Mass Communications major with a Public Relations emphasis/Human Relations minor
• Year in School/Graduate: Senior
• Career Aspirations: Graduate and then become a Medical Aesthetician so I can obtain a career in the aesthetic industries corporate world. Maybe this will allow me to own my own Resort and Spa someday!? Dream big or don’t dream at all!

Something interesting about me: I have a gap in my teeth and curly toes!

Ryan Stein

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Public Relations, Marketing Minor
• Year in School/Graduate: Senior
• Career Aspirations: Professional Dragon Tamer
• Best SCSU Experience: Rock climbing and working at Career Services

If I were a color crayon, I would be: I would be a green pencil, because its way cooler!

Samantha Zarske

• Undergrad Major/Minor: International Studies / Spanish
• Year in School/Graduate: 5th
• Career Aspirations: Working with a global company in corporate social responsibility
• Hobbies: Listening to music and going to concerts, reading and spending time with friends

If I were a color crayon, I would be: White because coloring Easter eggs wouldn't be the same without it.

Sydney Thompson

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Mass Communications (Public Relations)/Spanish
• Year in School/Graduate: 4th Year
• Career Aspirations: To work in communications at a business that promotes environmental sustainability
• Best SCSU Experience: Being in the Honors program

If I were a color crayon, I would be: Teal

Yank (Micah) Orsatti

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Ecology and Field Biology w/ Minor in Anthropology
• Year in School/Graduate: 3rd year
• Career Aspirations: Evolutionary Ecology Research
• Best SCSU Experience: Being exposed to such diverse student populations

If I were a color crayon, I would be: Cerulean blue (because it’s my favorite)

Angelia Thao

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Biochemistry
• Year in school/Graduate: Freshman
• Career aspirations: Becoming a Pharmacist

Favorite Hobby: Listening to Music.

Amy Bedard

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Intended Athletic Training
• Year in school/Graduate: Junior
• Hobbies: Read, shop, go to movies, hang out with friends
• Career aspirations: Graduate with a degree in athletic training and continue to go to school for physical therapy

If I were a color crayon, I would be yellow because it is a color that represents warmth.

Alanna Caballero

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Marketing
• Year in school/Graduate: Junior
• Hobbies: Playing volleyball, watching Iowa Hawkeye football, traveling
• Career aspirations: Corporate marketing/branding

If I were a color crayon, I would be Ultra Yellow – because it is bright
and cheerful and it reminds me of tropical destinations.

Cristhian Arias

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Graphic Design and Advertising
• Year in school/Graduate: Junior
• Hobbies/Favorite Movie: Drawing, Singing, Hangin' with animals. / Movies: Batman Returns, Mean Girls, Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• Career aspirations: To be successful, and happy, enough to be morbidly obese.

Something interesting about me: I grew up on a farm and I love animals . I also love Britney Spears.

Emily Cash

• Undergrad Major/Minor:
• Year in school/Graduate:
• Hobbies/Favorite Movie:
• Career aspirations:

If I were a color crayon, I would be

Hannah Peterson

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Graphic Design
• Year in School/Graduate: Senior
• Favorite Artist: Ingrid Michaelson, Gotye, Regina Spektor
• Career Aspirations: To design for a non-profit organization
  
  

John Gamache

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Communication Studies Major and Minor
• Year in School/Graduate: Sophomore
• Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, bowling, going to the movies
• Career Aspirations: Director of an Early Childhood Program

Something interesting about me:: I love to council and advise people.

Kindra Pfaff

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Elementary Education / German
• Year in School/Graduate: Sophomore
• Career Aspirations: Kindergarten Teacher

Something interesting about me:: I can type 130 words per minute (wpm).

Kaylee Schwindel

• Undergrad Major/Minor: Ecology and Field Biology
• Year in School/Graduate: Freshman
• Hobbies: Fishing and rock collecting
• Career Aspirations: Work for U.S. Fish and Wildlife or work with the DNR

Something interesting about me:: I love learning about Dinosaurs!