Over the summer, the center welcomed several new team members to MBU in the areas of career design advising, global engagement, faculty connections, and international student support.
New career design advisors include recent Mary Baldwin graduate Jada Smith, who looks forward to leveraging knowledge from her MBU experience to help students find their own sense of direction within the university’s vibrant community. Her academic background in health sciences and psychology yields valuable insight into human behavior and motivation.
“Through open communication, empathy, and a genuine desire to see each person thrive, I’m enthusiastic about contributing to the growth and success of Mary Baldwin students,” Smith said.
Career Design Advisor Fredrick Walker comes to MBU with more than a decade of experience in higher education, the military, and industry, including career services, college admissions, public relations, and equal opportunity/DEI. In addition to his position at MBU, he serves as a public affairs officer in the Marine Corps Reserves.
“I have a passion for cultivating welcoming spaces and helping others reach their full potential in their career and life,” Walker said.
Mary Baldwin alumna Raven Showalter was tapped to lead international education initiatives, study abroad programming, and global engagement as assistant director of global engagement. While a student, she immersed herself in the language and culture of Japan, and spent a semester abroad in Kyoto for the Japanese Studies Program at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts. After graduation, she earned a master’s in international studies to broaden her intellectual interests and hone expertise in international education.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Andrew Raridon serves as faculty director for the center, focusing on how students can best connect classroom conversations with real-world experiences. He brings insight to the center from his research exploring the intersection of social activism and the marketplace, and from years of helping students prepare for careers that yield both personal and societal benefits.
Three current MBU students are also on board to help provide the center’s services, including Sophie Wilkins, global engagement assistant; Akeilah George, civic engagement assistant; and Edina Erkin, international student assistant.
