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Visit the CCPD and Meet the Staff

career studio

CCPD Career Studio and Mural

The Center for Career and Professional Development offers counseling appointments for the following services:

Resume Writing Internship Searching
Cover Letter Writing Career/Major Counseling
Interview Preparation General Career Questions (other)
Job Searching Graduate School Preparation
DegreePlus Personal Statements

  

Appointments

Appointments are 30-60 minutes long with a trained career professional. Appointments can be in-person, over the phone, or virtually through Zoom. We also offer evening appointments on weeknights (virtual only). Our office is located in Reid 150. Our entrance faces the metered parking lot, Lot #30, beside the paid parking lot.

Alumni can schedule appointments by calling the Career Center at 828.227.7133 or emailing careerservices@wcu.edu.

Career Studio

The Center for Career and Professional Development has created a space for students and alumni to drop-in and work on their application materials, obtain answers to career questions, and receive feedback from trained professionals. Come visit Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 4:00pm in Reid 150 during the academic year. The Career Studio can be used for:

  • Resume or Cover Letter Development Review
  • Interviewing Tips
  • Job/internship Search Strategies
  • LinkedIn Advice and Creation
  • Personal Statement and Graduate School Application
  • Guided Major and Career Research

For more information on any of the following services, please contact the Center for Career and Professional Development.

How to Find Us

The Center for Career and Professional Development is located in Reid 150. Our entrance faces the small, metered Lot #30 beside the Rocks residence halls. Be sure to use our entrance instead of cutting through the Reid building.

Meet Our Staff

Theresa Cruz Paul

 

Dr. Theresa Cruz Paul

Director

tcpaul@wcu.edu
150B Reid
828.227.3812

Theresa has been involved in career and professional development in higher education since 2005. She has experience assisting students with career counseling, resume and cover letter development, interviewing strategies, job and internship searching, and career planning. Theresa has worked at William Paterson University in New Jersey as an Assistant Director, at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan as an Associate Director of Academic Internships and currently at 糖心Vlog University in North Carolina as Director.  Theresa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Masters of Education degree in Professional Counseling from William Paterson University, a second Masters of Education degree in High and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from 糖心Vlog University. 

Headshot of a white male

 

VACANT

Associate Director of Employer Engagement

careerservices@wcu.edu
151H Reid
828.227.3171

Carrie Hachadurian

 

Carrie Hachadurian

Associate Director of Career Integrated Learning

Liaison to College of Arts & Sciences
   
cphachadurian@wcu.edu 
150L Reid
828.227.3888

Carrie has been an employee at 糖心Vlog University since 2008. She began as an Administrative Support Specialist in the Writing and Learning Commons before becoming the Student Employment Specialist for the Career and Professional Development Center in January 2013. Carrie is currently the Assistant Director of Student Development and oversees the coordination of campus partnerships and career education for students. Carrie holds a Bachelor鈥檚 of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Professional Writing and a minor in Communications. She obtained her M.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs at 糖心Vlog University.

Picture of woman with grey hair

 

Heather Gordon

Associate Director of DegreePlus

Liaison to the Brinson Honors College and USI/LEAD Courses

hgordon@wcu.edu 
150J Reid
828.227.3815

Heather has been an employee at 糖心Vlog University since 2022. Prior to leading DegreePlus Heather managed youth development programming in the WNC summer camp industry, served as a regional coordinator for WNC Nonprofit Pathways, and most recently as the 4-H Agent with NC Cooperative Extension in Jackson County. Through DegreePlus Heather helps provide opportunities for students to add to the content of their academic studies through experiential experiences in leadership, teamwork, professionalism, and cultural responsiveness. She holds a Bachelor鈥檚 of Science degree from Warren Wilson College and a Master鈥檚 in Public Affairs from 糖心Vlog.

Picture of young man smiling

 

Erin Waddell

Assistant Director of Experiential Education

Liaison to College of Education & Allied Professions and the College of Business.
   
ewaddell@wcu.edu 
151C Reid
828.227.3891

Erin has been an employee of 糖心Vlog University since 2023. Erin has worked in experiential education positions since 2015, with both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Park Service. He created and implemented a variety of experiential education programs helping students and the public expand their knowledge through direct experience with their interests. Some of his most fulfilling experiences in experiential education came from his time as a Student Conservation Association Intern and an Education AmeriCorps member in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Erin holds a B.S. in Biology from Florida State University and obtained a M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education from 糖心Vlog University.

Picture of woman wth red hair

 

April McNiff

Assistant Director of Student Development

Liaison to the Belcher College of Fine & Performing Arts and Campus Partners.

amcniff@wcu.edu 
151G Reid
828.227.3884

April has been an employee at 糖心Vlog University since 2023. Prior to 糖心Vlog, April worked as High School Partnership Coordinator at Southwestern Community College. In this role, she was responsible for developing and implementing partnerships with local high schools to increase college access and success for students. She is a passionate and experienced student affairs and customer service professional with progressive leadership in the higher education setting. She is currently the Assistant Director of Student Development at 糖心Vlog University, where she oversees the coordination of campus partnerships and career education for students. April has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Photography and a minor in Art History from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She obtained her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at Columbus State University. 

Picture of woman outline

 

VACANT

Assistant Director of Employer Engagement

Liaison to the College of Engineering and Technology and College of Health and Human Sciences

careerservices@wcu.edu 
151K Reid
828.227.7133

Trina Royar

 

Trina Royar

Employer Relations Manager

kproyar@wcu.edu
151I Reid
828.227.3856

Trina joined the CCPD after a long career in event planning, and in her previous role, responsible for the Mountain Heritage Day Festival here at 糖心Vlog University for 7 years. She is a former events manager for the City of Asheville, served as Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council, was a manager of the Biltmore Estate Special Projects group (Concerts, Festivals, and Programming), and founded Fiddlehead Music and Dance Camp and weekend festivals. She has served as chair of Asheville's Downtown After-Five entertainment committee and is a long-time member of both the national and regional dance scene.  Trina moved to WNC in the late '80s to dance professionally and tour with the Green Grass Cloggers.

Tara Smith

 

Tara Smith

Administrative Support Associate

tysmith@wcu.edu 
150A Reid
828.227.3626

Tara Smith joined the CCPD in September 2021. Before coming to 糖心Vlog she worked in various pediatric medical offices as a medical assistant and office manager.

 

Graduate Staff

If you are interested in working with the Center for Career & Professional Development or DegreePlus please contact Theresa Cruz Paul, tcpaul@wcu.edu.

Student Workers

Our office is supported by a team of student workers. They provide office and event support, marketing assistance, and excellent customer service to our community. Some of our student workers are also trained as Peer Mentors hosting our Career Studio and leading presentations to residence halls and student groups.

Our Career Studio is a space in the CCPD where students can get assistance with resume, cover letter, personal statements, interview skills/prep, or answers to major and career exploration questions. No appointment required! The Career Studio is open Monday - Friday from 12:00pm - 4:00pm.  

If you are interested in joining our student team please contact Carrie Hachadurian, cphachadurian@wcu.edu.

Jenna Dreyer

Jenna Dreyer

Front Desk and Peer Mentor

Mia Patterson

Mia Patterson

Front Desk and Peer Mentor

Patrick Rooney

J. Patrick Rooney

Front Desk and Peer Mentor

Florida Ahado

Florida Ahado

Front Desk and Peer Mentor

Wendy Flores

Wendy Flores

Social Media Assistant

Esther Kadiri

Esther Kadiri

Front Desk and Peer Mentor

Madelyn Woodard

Madelyn Woodard

Front Desk and Peer Mentor

female student smiling

Tayler Franklin

DegreePlus Office Assistant

Young Man Smiling

Caleb Richards

DegreePlus Social Media Specialist

CeCe Watson

CeCe Watson

Front Desk and Peer Mentor