Employment Engagement Coordinator position presents future career paths for students

Olivia Eldredge | Copy Editor

Internships and networking are an excellent way to start the job-seeking process while attaining a degree, but those tasks can be difficult without a sense of proper knowledge. Hoping to equip students with more connections and opportunities in the workforce, WSU Vancouver is hiring for the new position of Employment Engagement Coordinator.

The coordinator will act as a bridge between students and companies in the northwest region who look for career-driven individuals. Bill Stahley, manager of the Student Resource Center on campus, will be supervising the hiring process. He said the ultimate responsibilities that accompany the position are setting up more internship opportunities and helping students think strategically about how they can use their degree in the future.

“The person in this position will be working with students, but they also will be working with employers out in the community. … [Finding out] how we can get them connected with students, and how we create these different experiences that students could benefit from while they are still enrolled at WSU Vancouver,” Stahley explained.

Domanic Thomas, vice chancellor of student affairs at WSU Vancouver, has also played a large part in the hiring process. Thomas stated the university’s student population is composed of many first-generation students, and incoming freshmen, who do not have an adequate amount of exposure to a variety of career opportunities.

“Having a career services center that offers closer connections with employers [and] skill development related to job interviews, is always important, but it is even more critical at a campus like ours. We have students who need that connection and networking skills and opportunities, more so than many elite private colleges,” Thomas said.

As for the financial support to open the position, Workforce Southwest Washington has partnered with the university to assist with funding and has provided a three-year grant of $150,000 to fund the position. WSW seeks student talent to ensure a strong bond between regional industries and academic training provided by the university to ultimately open more career opportunities for students.

Max Ault, assistant vice chancellor for strategic partnerships, is responsible for promoting community and corporate partnership goals for WSU Vancouver and the greater Vancouver-Portland metro area. Although he has no formal role in the hiring process, his duties include working toward removing barriers for students to have an easier time when seeking career opportunities.

“We would be eager to find an individual who has both a passion for higher education and serving students in a way that invests in their success on campus and beyond. An individual who is well versed in student services and support, community engagement, outreach, team building and program development,” Ault said.

Expected to begin work as early as late October, Thomas revealed they are far along in the interview process and are almost ready to move onto the last selection round. Stahley said students can make appointments with all career staff members by using the Handshake website with a WSU affiliated account and recommends all students sign up to get in the loop about future career options.