The OCPD annually awards campus partners as “Career Champions” each year. The Career Champions program recognizes campus partners who value career readiness as part of a student’s overall development. These individuals may directly or indirectly contribute to a student growth by facilitating networking opportunities, developing career-related skills, partnering with the OCPD for assignments or programs, or coaching students 1:1 toward professional success.
Note: President’s Cabinet members, Deans and other upper administrative staff are not eligible for this award.
2025 Career Champions
Mary Kate Allen, Communications Manager
Office of the Provost
Trish Evans, Group Fitness Director
Campus Recreation & Intramurals
Katie Fester, Associate Director
University Housing
Dr. Sara Gremillion, Professor
College of Science and Mathematics
Dr. Sarah McCarroll, Professor
Costume Design and Theatre History
Dr. L. Dwight Sneathen Jr., Associate Professor
School of Accountancy
Previous Career Champions
- Dr. Lisa Dusenberry, Associate Professor – Professional Communication
- Dr. Reinhold Gerbsch, Director of Industrial Relations, Paulson College of Engineering and Computing
- Dr. Beth McGee, Associate Chair – School of Human Ecology
- Dr. Linda Mullen, Associate Professor , Marketing
- Dr. Dziyana Nazaruk, Associate Professor, Community Health Education & Behavior
- Annette Ramos, Systems Administrator – Learning Technology Support
- Danielle Smith, Director – Experiential Learning & Corporate Relationships
- Dr. Allison Belzer, Professor, History – College of Arts and Humanities
- Samantha Hutto, Associate Director, Financial Aid
- Karla Jennings, Lecturer, Communication Arts – College of Arts and Humanities
- Eloise Pitt, Senior Lecturer, Criminal Justice and Criminology – College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Dr. Virginia Rolling, Assistant Professor, Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design – College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Dr. McKinley Thomas, Professor, Health Sciences and Kinesiology – Waters College of Health Professions
- Dr. Mitch Weiland, Professor, Biochemistry – College of Science and Mathematics
- Dr. Katy Gregg, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science, School of Human Ecology – College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Dr. Debra Hagerty, Associate Professor, School of Nursing – Waters College of Health Professions
- Kendria Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of External Affairs
- Dr. Lowell Mooney, Professor of Accounting & Director of Graduate Program – Parker College of Business
- Erin Noel-McFerrin, Assistant Director for Residence Learning, University Housing
- Dr. Wendy Wolfe, Professor & Internship Coordinator, Department of Psychology – College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Hope Wallace Simpara, Assistant Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design, School of Human Ecology – College of Behavioral and Social Sciences