01/12/2024
By Kerry Willard Bray

At the beginning of the Spring 2024 semester, the UMass Lowell Career & Co-op Center is significantly changing the career advising structure to undertake a targeted, college-specific approach. Staff historically met with students from any degree program to provide one-on-one career advising assistance. This structure meant that, at times, career advisors could meet with students from every college in a single day.

By transitioning to this new model, career advising staff will now provide individual assistance with enhanced knowledge of academic programs offered by their assigned colleges. Additionally, team members will have the opportunity to better understand the career paths graduates most often pursue based on their degree plan and interests, and to articulate information about these paths to students.

With limited exceptions, career advising staff will support students from two colleges. Staff designations are as follows:

  • College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Jessy Abramson, Julie Kimball, and Janet Lee Taylor
  • Francis College of Engineering: Beth Loell, Carla Merkosky (as of mid-March), Janet Lee Taylor, and Afua Serwa Addae-Addo (until mid-March)
  • Kennedy College of Sciences: Afua Serwa Addae-Adoo and Julie Kimball
  • Manning School of Business: Jessy Abramson and Beth Loell
  • Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences: Carla Merkosky (as of mid-March), Janet Lee Taylor, and Afua Serwa Addae-Adoo (until mid-March)

Staff assignments were selected based on data about college enrollments, classroom presentations delivered by career advising staff within each college, and student appointments from previous semesters. Beginning in Fall 2024, undergraduate day division students will have a designated career advisor visible on their Now Dashboard.

For questions regarding these changes to the advising model, please reach out to Kerry Willard-Bray or by phone at 978-934-6085.