by 
Shauna received her M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University and a B.A. in History from Mansfield University. She joined University of Central Florida as a Career Coordinator in August 2013 and was promoted to Assistant Director in August 2014. In her role, she focuses on employability, where the main part of her job is to supervise the Career Peer Advisor program. Prior to UCF, she worked at University of North Georgia for 3.5 years. Shauna currently serves on the SoACE Conference planning committee, focusing on pre-conference experiences. She lives in Winter Garden, FL with her husband and two boys, Scott and Clark.
How did you get into the Career Services profession?
After graduating with my bachelors degree, I started my masters in education, thinking I wanted to be a high school history teacher. In order to pay for college, I applied to be a graduate assistant in the Career Services office. This experience opened my eyes to the world of higher education and I was hooked. I switched schools after a year, to pursue a masters degree in student affairs. I was fortunate to work under an amazing mentor in the Career Services office at Slippery Rock University. John Snyder took me under his wing and molded me into a professional in this field. Under his supervision, I was shown the world of Career Services and I found my true passion. My supervisors, Dora Ditchfield (University of North Georgia) and Dr. William Blank (UCF), have provided me with so many amazing opportunities to grow in this field. I am grateful to be a part of their teams and to learn from their expertise. It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since I have started this journey; I have truly been blessed to be a part of this field.
Describe your SoACE Experience. How did you get involved and how has that experience influenced you?
The first SoACE conference I attended was four years ago in New Orleans and I was able to accomplish a professional goal of presenting at a conference. The conference gave me the opportunity to reconnect with the colleagues from Georgia and Florida, and make new connections from across the southeast region. With every conference that I attend, the more I learn and develop in the field of Career Services. Since I have had such a wonderful time at the conferences, I wanted to a part of the planning. I have been on the conference planning committee for the last two years, working on the programs sub-committee. This year, I have the privilege of working on the pre-conference experiences, which has been a blast! I am excited to share these experiences with all of you!
What advice do you have for new professionals who aspire to get more involved in the profession?
Find a mentor and participate in as much as professional development as you can. I have really developed as a professional because of these two suggestions. With each stage of my career, I have looked towards my mentors for guidance which has made me a stronger professional. I have also taken advantage of professional development opportunities whether they are on my campus or at conferences. It is important in our field to be familiar with new trends to better serve our students.
What motivates you?
When I was a sophomore in college, I visited my Career Center. I was so lost, confused and felt the pressure to make a decision about my major. I broke down in front of the counselor, who then threw a box of tissues at me and told me that there was no reason to cry over your career. I left that office feeling helpless.
At that time, I didn’t know my journey was going to take me to the field of Career Services but I feel that fate stepped in that day. This piece of my past motivates to me to provide a quality service to students that I wish I had received earlier in life.
What am I currently reading?
I LOVE books! I love to read but with two children at home it is hard to find the time. But that doesn’t stop me from buying books, I always carry one with me. I am currently reading “The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland.” How I learned about this book is a long story, but I am so glad I found it. I love to learn about history but most important I love reading about acts of kindness. This small town opened up their homes and hearts to thousands of people during a tragic day in recent American history. You will cry, but it is worth it.
What has been your greatest accomplishment to date?
In my personal life….my children. Scott is 3 years old and Clark is 7 months old. I love them with every fiber of my being. It is truly the best job in the world to be their parent.
In my professional life…watching my students accomplish so much and develop into professionals. I love seeing them take advantage of the resources in our office and then go and get amazing jobs! They are the reason why I do this job every day.
What are some of your hobbies when not working?
Outside of hanging out with my children, I really love to paint. I have developed a fascination with the paint and sip classes and probably have over 2 dozen paintings. I wouldn’t call myself Bob Ross, but these classes allow me to learn new techniques and most importantly allow myself to distress from life. Feel free to stop by my office, where I display most of my artwork (my husband has stolen his favorite pieces to display in his office). Another “hobby” would be going to the movies. I love to escape (normally during naptime) and catch the latest flick.
Random facts about you…
I was born on my parent’s first anniversary, which has allowed us to have a special bond that I cherish! I was raised in a small country town of Pennsylvania, where we had 2 red lights, I didn’t have cable (I only thought there were 3 channels, ABC, NBC, and CBS growing up), and my graduating class was 75 people. My husband and I are a third-generation couple that got married during a blizzard on the weekend after Thanksgiving. We are huge football fans, every year we get a professional photo taken in our favorite jerseys (Go Bills!). This past May, my husband, toddler, newborn and myself went to see the sunrise (Atlantic Ocean) and sunset (Gulf Coast) in the same day. It was amazing watching mother nature at work.
