Spotlight

Assessment & Data Analytics KG - KG Spotlights

Introducing Your New Assessment and Data Analytics (ADA) KG Chairs!

May 7, 2019 by 1 Comment
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Howdy from Aggieland!

Abdullah and I wanted to introduce ourselves to the greater SoACE community and give you a little taste of what we hope to do this year.

As your new chairs for the ADA KG we are hoping to provide you insight about how to effectively capture data in order to improve career readiness for students.

We wanted to hear from you on any ideas around Assessment and Data Analytics that you would be interested in by filling out this one question form. We also invite you to come join the conversation on Slack about any helpful tips and tricks you’ve learned about data!

We’re also planning a three-part webinar series this summer about the essentials of assessment and data and how to effectively use it to improve programming. Stay tuned for more information!

Now, a little bit about us!

Abdullah Abdul Kader received his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from India. After a brief career in the engineering industry he joined the Career Center in January 2017 in a newly created position and serves Master’s students in the College of Engineering.

Cami Hernandez Merhar is the Assistant Director of Mentoring here at Texas A&M where she is amassing a holistic view of mentoring culture at the university. The majority of her role involves strategically advising mentoring programs across campus on best practices, technology, and logistics. Prior to coming to Texas A&M, Cami lived in Seattle where she worked for various technology companies.

We’re excited to work with all of you to learn and implement assessment best practices!

Cheers,

Abdullah & Cami

Member Spotlights

Member Spotlight: Marcus Everett

May 3, 2019 by 0 Comments

Marcus Everett is the Group Talent Acquisition Manager for Enterprise Holdings in central & west Texas. He started his career with Enterprise in 2007 as an entry level Management Trainee and was promoted in to a recruiting role in 2011. Since then, Marcus has managed recruiter teams in two states. He attended Texas State University and received a B.A. in Mass Communication. Marcus currently enjoys playing disc golf, is an avid music nerd, a trivia beast, enjoys leisure travel, and is currently on the never-ending quest to find the best burger in America!

How did you get into the University Relations profession?

By accident. I was a Branch Manager with Enterprise when my mentor suggested I join our recruiting team. I never envisioned myself as an “HR Professional” much less back on college campuses. Luckily,  the Enterprise model is unique in the sense that I get to recruit for the same position that I was recruited in to. It’s been a blessing in disguise for me, as now I get to have a little to do with “making dreams come true”!

Describe your SoACE Experience. How did you get involved and how has that experience influenced you?

I got exposure as a one-day conference attendee several years ago when the conference was in my backyard. I enjoyed the group-think and camaraderie at the event. Shortly thereafter, an Enterprise colleague contacted me about joining the D&I team. Given my diverse background I decided it was a good place to start. After two years on that team, I was drafted by my college contacts to join the conference committee and it’s been a blast.

What advice do you have for new professionals who aspire to get more involved in the profession?

College recruiting is more competitive now than ever. You must be a bona fide salesperson who is not afraid of rejection.  Be prepared to overcome objections and make a lasting impression on campuses that will resonate with students and business partners alike. A little bit of finger crossing, and perpetual positivity won’t hurt either!

What has been your greatest accomplishment to date?

Turning an entry level position renting cars in to an opportunity to mature in to a mentor for others that came after me. Professional growth is something that most can achieve, and personal growth gives one satisfaction, but being able to pay if forward to others is marvelous.

How have the relationships you have built over the years impacted your career?

The relationships built through my SoACE membership affirmed that we are all in this together. Regardless of what “side” you’re on, we all get paid to set people up for success. How awesome is that!

What is a unique fact about you?

I spent 10 years preparing for my recruiter life as a radio personality on various radio stations in Texas and I’m a stage 4 cancer survivor.

Member Spotlights

Member Spotlight: Erica Lake

April 5, 2019 by 0 Comments

Erica Lake serves SoACE as the Director of Targeted Knowledge Groups. She is the Director of Corporate Engagement in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina. Throughout her 15 years in higher education, her career has spanned Career Services, Greek Life and University Housing.  Erica has been involved in SoACE since 2011 and was the 2012 New Professional of the Year.  She is a two-time graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Science in Counselor Education and Student Affairs. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, and spend time with her husband, Dietrich, and two sons, Sebastian and Austin. You can connect with her on LinkedIn @EricaJamesLake.

How did you get into the Career Services profession?
I became intrigued and passionate about the job search process after obtaining my undergraduate degree. Like many of our students, I did not take full advantage of my university Career Center. As graduation approached, I was not able to find a desirable position, so I decided to pursue graduate school.

Fortunately, I obtained a graduate assistantship and later a full-time internship at Millsaps College. The experiential education positions that I held in Career Services, University Housing and Greek Life helped to direct my professional career. I found a home in Career Services because of the tremendous support that I received from former supervisors and mentors who invested their time and resources into me. In addition, the relationships that I have developed through SoACE and NACE have been extremely rewarding. Currently, I have the pleasure of facilitating career and corporate connections between students, faculty, and employers for the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.

Describe your SoACE Experience. How did you get involved?
I began my SoACE volunteer journey in the Employer Relations Knowledge Group, after meeting current president, Mark Colvenbach, at the 2012 conference in St. Petersburg, FL.  He invited me to volunteer with the Employer Relations Knowledge Group as a Program Coordinator. I was involved with the Knowledge Groups for about three years and eventually progressed to the Chair role. Then I ran for a board position, but did not win. However, I stayed involved and volunteered on the 2016 conference committee in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. After that experience, I moved into my current board position, Director, Targeted Knowledge Groups. This position has allowed me to work closely with some of the most involved members of our association. I am eager to serve as President-Elect beginning in July 2019 and to continue our legacy of excellence.

What advice do you have for new professionals who aspire to get more involved in the profession?
Get involved. Just do it. We are always looking for good people to serve. Remember, we are all professionals with many responsibilities. We appreciate any time you can dedicate to SoACE. Involvement is very rewarding. We have a special community of members and volunteers. The relationships that you develop through our association are priceless.

What is your favorite quote?
“People will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

This quote resonates with me because I always strive to uplift others. Encouragement goes a long way in building strong relationships.

What has been your greatest accomplishment to date?
Being chosen as president-elect of SoACE is a huge honor.  I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve this amazing association of my peers and employers. I look forward to working with our members and the board of directors to prepare the leaders of the next generation. SoACE has given me so much professionally and personally. I am eager to contribute in a larger capacity.

What are some of your hobbies when not working?
I love to read and am always seeking ways to make a positive impact on the community.  Additionally, I like doing Zumba exercise classes and working out. My family and I enjoy traveling and attending Gamecock football and women’s basketball games.

Erica enjoyed her first trip to New York City while attending the National Retail Federation’s Big Show Student Program with UofSC students.