Our Mission
Through courses, coaching, and connections, the Center for Career & Professional Development empowers St. Mary’s College of Maryland students and alumni to navigate and succeed in their professional journeys.
Acknowledgements
The Center for Career and Professional Development thanks all of our campus partners for their collaboration and support, and for including us in so many impactful programs throughout the year!
Academic Affairs
Institutional Research, International Education, Registrar
Enrollment Management Admissions, Enrollment Operations, Student Financial Assistance, Student Success Services
Business & Finance
Human Resources, Business Office, Information Technology, Physical Plant
Institutional Advancement Development, SMCM Foundation, Alumni Relations, Events & Conferences, Marketing & Communications
Equity & Strategic Initiatives Accessibility Services, Equitable Programming
Student Affairs
Dean of Students, Community Relations, Athletics & Recreation, Health Services, Accessibility Services, Counseling, Public Safety
A Message from the Team
As we reflect on this year’s achievements, we also mark four years of remarkable growth, expanding opportunity, and deepening partnerships. This report highlights a trajectory of rising momentum made possible by our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and employer and community partners. We are grateful for the leadership of President Rhonda Phillips and Dr. Jerri Howland, whose support propels our work forward. Together, we look ahead with excitement as we build on this four-year legacy and continue empowering every Seahawk on their career journey.
Warm Regards,
Cindy Greb
Executive Director
Kristen Pennington Director of Professional Pathways
Kalyn Ciriaco
First Year Coordinator
Darah Schillinger
Externship Coordinator
Riniya Countiss Director of Career Development
Meredith Weiers Internship Coordinator
Amelia Villada Office Manager
About CCPD
Through the College’s Learning through Experiential and Applied Discovery (LEAD) initiative, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) empowers students to develop the skills, knowledge, and experiences that prepare them for lifelong success. From internship programs and career development services to alumni connections and hands-on learning opportunities, CCPD helps students explore career paths, build professional relationships, and gain valuable real-world experience.
The student engagement chart below highlights how students engage with CCPD throughout their four years, followed by a closer look at each of our signature programs
(LEAD 111)
(LEAD 112)
(LEAD 211)
(LEAD 311)
Professional Pathways: LEAD
The LEAD curriculum serves as a cornerstone of St Mary’s College of Maryland’s commitment to experiential learning and career readiness. Through the Professional Pathways courses, students build essential professional literacy skills, explore career interests, and connect their academic experiences to real-world applications. Grounded in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness framework, these courses intentionally cultivate the eight key competencies, empowering students to develop the confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to navigate their professional journeys with purpose and success
LEAD 111: Career & Network Navigation I
First semester, first-year students explore values, skills and interests; build resumes; attend the Career & Internship Fair; and practice networking and interviewing.
LEAD 112: Career & Network Navigation II
Second-semester, first-year students are paired with mentors; refine interview and networking skills; and develop professional branding and career plans.
LEAD 211: Honors College Externship
Second- and third-year students gain field-specific knowledge and hands-on experience through externships taught by industry experts.
LEAD 311: Career & Network Navigation for Transfer
Students
Transfer students enhance career readiness, refine professional documents, engage in life design activities and connect with alumni mentors
LEAD 211: The Honors College Externship
The LEAD 211 Experience
Throughout the last four years, CCPD has offered a total of 96 sections of LEAD 211, serving 1,270 students. These externship courses have continued to provide expanded access to real-world career exploration for our students.
The LEAD 211 courses have welcomed 181 guest speakers and panelists, bringing accomplished professionals, industry experts and community leaders directly into the classroom.
Students also participated in dozens of off-campus experiential trips. These excursions offered meaningful opportunities to gain perspectives beyond the classroom and to explore potential career paths through hands-on, career-focused experiences.
LEAD-in-Action Panel
During fall 2025 Career Week, LEAD 211 instructors Rose Young, Leslie Taylor, Karen Stone and Andrew Koch participated in a panel discussion highlighting their career paths, experiences at SMCM and the externship opportunities available through their courses.
LEAD 211 Guest Speakers
We would like to extend a special thank you to the industry experts who visited our LEAD 211 courses this year to share their experiences and expertise with our students. We are especially grateful to our partners at NAWCAD, who collectively provided nine guest speakers in 2025 — an exceptional contribution that greatly enriched the student learning experience.
Mentor-a-Seahawk
The CCPD collaborates with the Office of Alumni Relations to implement the Mentor-a-Seahawk program, pairing students in LEAD 112 and LEAD 311 with alumni mentors. Mentors and mentees meet multiple times each semester to strengthen students’ professionalism, expand their networks and prepare them for life beyond college. Since the program’s launch in 2022, 1,288 students have been matched with alumni mentors. We look forward to continuing the program and pairing even more Seahawks in the spring 2026 semester.
In summer 2025, the CCPD and the Office of Alumni Relations represented St. Mary’s College of Maryland at the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers (EACE) annual conference. CCPD’s Darah Schillinger and Meredith Weiers presented alongside Holly Fabbri from Alumni Relations, sharing insights about the Mentor-a-Seahawk program and its positive impact on students
Impact of Student Career Mentors
Over the past four years, the CCPD has partnered with 110 Career Mentors (CMs) who have played a vital role in supporting student success. Serving as teaching assistants, staffing the CCPD Career Studio, and contributing to major initiatives such as Career Week and the Career & Internship Fair, CMs have been instrumental in expanding our reach and impact. Their peer-to-peer support, ranging from internship and job search guidance to LinkedIn and Handshake profile development and resume and cover letter refinement, has resulted in a total of 3,532 student appointments, marking a period of exceptional engagement and growth.
The CCPD began partnering with the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement on Bay-to-Bay Service Days in the spring of 2025. Led in part by Associate Director Holly Fabbri and Director Caroline King, this annual initiative brings together alumni, students and employees to give back to their communities through hands-on service projects. Bay-to-Bay Services Days continue to strengthen the bond between SMCM and its extended Seahawk network, creating opportunities for connection, leadership and meaningful engagement.
Service Days
In 2025, more than 300 participants took part in Bay-toBay Service Days, reconnecting with fellow alumni and making an impact across regions near and far. Through environmental cleanups, community projects and other local initiatives, participants demonstrated the service-minded spirit that defines the Seahawk community. The week strengthened connections across generations and highlighted the power of collective action. CCPD is proud to support this tradition and looks forward to expanding service opportunities in the years ahead!
Signature Honors Internship Program
At St. Mary’s College, the Honors College Promise guarantees that every student has the opportunity to engage in an internship, research experience, or international study. The LEAD initiative (Learning through Experiential and Applied Discovery) advances this promise by connecting meaningful academic experiences with professional skill development. Through a combination of credit-bearing courses and hands-on learning opportunities, LEAD ensures that every program of study equips students with the knowledge, skills and real-world experiences they need to succeed.
Academic Year 24-25 Internship Opportunities by Area of Study
567 Total Internships Completed
The Signature Honors Internship Program (SHIP) provides students with meaningful, hands-on experience in their chosen fields, offering both compensation and the possibility of academic credit. Our team works closely with on- and off-campus partners to expand and diversify internship opportunities, ensuring students have access to experiences that support their professional growth and career readiness.
Exceptional Internship Opportunities
This year, our team has been dedicated to building new and strengthening existing partnerships with employers and organizations at local, regional and national levels. Our aim was to expand the number and variety of internships and research opportunities for our students. As a result of these efforts, over 567 SMCM students have engaged in unique, impactful and personally enriching internships, significantly boosting their employability.
We have successfully managed a growing network of partners and employers, helping them post job and internship opportunities, recruit on campus and hire our students. We actively invited these partners to participate in Career Week events and connect with the College on Handshake. Consequently, our active employer connections on Handshake have surged to an impressive 4,532.
Champions of Opportunity
Annapolis Maritime Museum - Beltway Companies - Boyden Gallery & Fine Art
Collection Calvert Marine Museum - Charles County Public Schools
Chesapeake Biological Lab University of MD Center for Environmental Science
City of Alexandria Police Department - Dream.US & Parker Dewey - Enterprise Mobility
Historic Sotterley - Historic St. Mary’s City - JAG Consulting, LLC
JPMorgan Chase & Co - Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm - KBR
Leadership Southern Maryland - MIL Corp
National Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils (NARCDC)
National Security Agency - NAVAIR - NAWCAD - Naval Systems, Inc (NSi)
Patuxent River Naval Air Museum - PEARL Program at Morgan State University
PSi Pax - Resource Management Concepts, Inc. (RMC) - Sabre Systems, LLC
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Southern Maryland Folklife Center - St. Mary’s County Arts Council
St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce
St. Mary’s County Historical Society - The Maryland General Assembly of Annapolis
St. Mary’s County Public Schools - Textron Bell Helicopter
The Patuxent Partnership SoMD 2030 Workforce Development Program
The St. Mary’s Washington Program
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland - University of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy - Walt Disney World
The Patuxent Partnership SoMD 2030
Workforce Development Program
SoMD 2030 is focused on strengthening the STEM pipeline, expanding career opportunities and fostering partnerships with government, industry and academia. This collaborative initiative is funded by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aviation Division (NAWCAD) and is carried out by The Patuxent Partnership (TPP) under their Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with NAWCAD. The program provides college internship opportunities with local industry, government and nonprofit organizations, opening doors to further education and career pathways.
For the summer 2025 season, 46 interns from across the country participated in the program, including 8 SMCM Seahawks!
Seahawks in the SoMD 2030 Workforce Development Program
Julia Garms, Communication and Outreach Intern, St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce
Jose Mari Jaluag, Software Engineering Intern, KBR
Zachary Kralec, Information Technology Intern, Resource Management Concepts, Inc.
Joseph Marynowski, Linux System Administrator, Sigma Defense Systems, LLC
Sofia Silva, Marketing Intern, St. Mary’s County Arts Council
Clara Silva, Gallery Operations and Community Engagement Intern, Render Security Engineering
Roman Spiwak, Business Process Automation Intern, Leadership Southern Maryland
Gerchel Mae Toledo, Aerodynamic Studies using DSMC, NAWCAD
Signature Events
On February 27, 2025, 17 outstanding students visited the Greater Washington office of JPMorgan Chase & Co for an inside look at the world of finance and wealth management. Special thanks to alumna Meg Shernisky ’17, now a Private Bank Associate at JPMorgan, for helping make this opportunity possible.
Through this event, students gained valuable insights from industry professionals through engaging sessions such as Mastering the Markets, Acing the Application & Interview Process, and more!
STEM Networking
On October 15, 2025, 17 students participated in the STEM Networking Consortium, an exclusive event connecting them with STEM employers from across St. Mary’s County. The event offered students the chance to showcase their professionalism, expand their networks, and explore a range of opportunities.
Career & Internship Fair
Over just four years (FY22–FY25), the CCPD has transformed our campus into a premier recruiting destination, hosting eight high-energy Career & Internship Fairs that brought 412 employers – from federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies to cutting-edge nonprofits and regional powerhouses – directly to SMCM. An incredible 3,764 students walked through the doors (a 368% surge in attendance since 2021), and every year dozens walked away with immediate internship or full-time job offers on the spot – including expedited security clearances from DoD partners and same-day hires from top employers.
Career Week
The week leading up to each fair explodes with action. Students dive into resume blitzes, mock interviews, professional headshots, industry panels and the legendary Dress for Success Fashion Show – all designed to build confidence and sharpen skills. The result? Students don’t just show up – they show out, making authentic connections that turn into internships, mentorships and life-changing job offers.
Together, Career Week + our fairs deliver what students (and employers) rave about: real preparation, real conversations and real results – often before they even leave the building!
Thank
CHESAPEAKE CHAMPION
Welcome to the Team
Amelia Villada joined the team as our Office Manager on November 19, 2024.
Amelia brings 17+ years of administrative and HR experience across a wide variety of industries. Her strong organization and dedication to service help keep our operations running smoothly and support students, staff and campus partners.
Riniya Countiss joined the team as our Director of Career Development on April 30, 2025. Riniya brings strong HR expertise, a talent for relationshipbuilding and a commitment to developing students and professionals. Her leadership is expanding career readiness opportunities and campus partnerships.
Kalyn Ciriaco joined the team as our Professional Pathways First-Year Coordinator on September 3, 2025
Kalyn leads hiring, scheduling, training, and assessment for first-year Professional Pathways courses. With a cum laude degree from Salisbury University and a passion for student success, she’s strengthening the foundation of our LEAD curriculum.
2025 Team Highlights
Cindy Greb was selected by President Tuajuanda C. Jordan to receive the 2025 St. Mary’s Way Award, an honor established in 2017 to recognize individuals whose actions embody the St. Mary’s Way.
Kristen Pennington was promoted to Director of Professional Pathways after nearly a year as Employer Relations and Events Coordinator She continues to drive innovation and support for the Professional Pathways program.
Riniya Countiss spoke at the 2025 SHRM Annual Conference on a panel about reverse mentorship, sharing her insights on leadership, career development, and bridging generational perspectives
Meredith Weiers is pursuing a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Management from University of Maryland Global Campus while applying her growing expertise to support student success at CCPD.
Amelia Villada earned her Strong Interest Inventory certification from the Myers-Brigg company, expanding her ability to help students identify their strengths, explore career options, and make informed decisions about their professional journeys.
Darah Schillinger earned her Career Advising Microcredential from the National Academic Advising Association, strengthening her professional expertise and enhancing the support she provides to students as they explore career paths and build workplace skills.
As we close this chapter of extraordinary growth for the Center for Career & Professional Development, we pause to celebrate the visionary leader whose belief, tenacity and unwavering mentorship made it all possible: President Tuajuanda
C. Jordan
It was Dr. Jordan who first saw the transformative power of pairing St. Mary’s College’s distinctive liberal arts education with bold, accessible, real-world opportunities. With her trust, she gave us the runway; with her guidance, she kept us aimed at the horizon; and with her characteristic tenacity, she turned “what if” into nearly 2,000 paid internships, career outcomes that consistently outpace national averages, and a career center that has become a point of pride for the entire college.
Because of Dr Jordan, thousands of Seahawks now launch into the world more confident, more connected and more ready than ever before Because of Dr Jordan, St Mary’s College is recognized across the region and the country as a place where career readiness is not an add-on; it is woven into the very fabric of who we are.
We will miss her steady hand, her infectious laugh in the hallways and the way she always asked, “How are we changing lives today?” Yet we know, without a doubt, that Dr. Jordan is not sitting still. Wherever she goes next, students will be empowered, barriers will fall and new trails will be blazed
Thank you, Dr Jordan, for believing in us, for pushing us further than we thought we could go, and for leaving forever stronger the Center for Career & Professional Development and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
We bid a heartfelt farewell to two exceptional leaders who shaped the Professional Pathways program from 2023–2025.
Michael Dunn, director, propelled the program to national recognition, including the 2023 EACE Excellence Award, while guiding over 1,300 students to career readiness.
Megan “Meg” Chee, first-year coordinator, earned the 2024 Seahawk Spirit Award for her creativity and dedication in building community and strengthening the first-year experience
Michael and Meg leave a lasting legacy of excellence. We wish them joy and continued impact on their next adventures.
From the Nest to New Horizons: Thank You, Cindy
Dear CCPD Team, Students, and SMCM Colleagues,
It has been the greatest honor of my career to work alongside each of you and grow our programs into what they are today I am so proud of everything we’ve built together
To my incredible CCPD team: You’ve got this You have the helm now, and I know you will continue to do extraordinary things together Keep pushing boundaries, lifting students up and having fun while you’re at it I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way
To our students and the entire St Mary’s College community: Even in a different role, the success and spirit of this College will always live in my heart
With endless gratitude and love, Cindy
We are honored to recognize Cindy Greb for her remarkable leadership of the Center for Career and Professional Development and the lasting impact she has made on St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Since returning to her alma mater, Cindy has drawn on her deep professional experience to strengthen the CCPD, expand experiential learning and elevate the LEAD Initiative into a powerful student-centered program that connects academic learning with real-world opportunities.
Through her relationship-building, employer engagement and unwavering commitment to student success, Cindy has built a strong foundation that will support Seahawks for years to come. Her vision has shaped a program that not only prepares students for meaningful futures but also deepens the College’s partnerships with the region and beyond.
As Cindy transitions into a new regional role, we are grateful that she will continue collaborating with the College while expanding her impact across the broader community. While we are sad to see her step away from her day-to-day leadership, we are incredibly excited for her next steps and wish her nothing but the very best. We are deeply thankful for all that Cindy has contributed to SMCM and we look forward to continuing the work she so thoughtfully and passionately began.
Once a Seahawk, always a Seahawk!
–The Center for Career & Professional Development Team
Our Plan
As we look ahead, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) remains deeply committed to preparing students for meaningful and successful careers. To achieve this, we are implementing several strategic initiatives focused on expanding outreach for internships and postgraduation opportunities Our team continues to collaborate with the Board of Trustees, College alumni, campus and community partners, and other key stakeholders to strengthen our professional network and open new pathways for student success.
Looking Ahead
Professional Pathways
The LEAD 211 courses continue to serve as a cornerstone of the LEAD initiative, blending academic learning with hands-on experience These offerings equip students with the skills, confidence, and professional readiness needed to succeed beyond graduation
Career Development
The Center for Career and Professional Development expanded career development opportunities by introducing new sponsorship tiers for the Career & Internship Fairs. In turn, this has allowed us to strengthen employer partnerships and enhance visibility for organizations that invest in our students’ success
Our Promise
Guided by the bold vision of the College’s Rising Tide Strategic Plan, the CCPD remains dedicated to empowering students and alumni to navigate their professional journeys with purpose and confidence. On behalf of our entire team, we are grateful for the privilege of serving the St Mary’s College of Maryland community and look forward to continuing this work right here on the banks of the St Mary’s River
