Jenni Nuhn, former Truman career ready coach, has assumed the new role as assistant director of the University Career Center.
Nuhn, a Truman State University alumna, began working in the new position Jan. 2. After working as a project manager in human resources, Nuhn and her husband decided to return to Truman, where she began working in the career center in Aug. 2017 as a career ready coach.
The assistant director position opened when the former career technology and operations manager left in August. The position was then retitled to the assistant director position soon thereafter. Nuhn had to apply with a standard online application process. She then had to interview with a committee and then the career center, have lunch with students, and give a presentation on the values of a liberal arts and sciences education and helping students with their next destinations. Nuhn also underwent a skills test, where she was given a resume and cover letter to review and edit. Out of less than 10 applicants, Nuhn was selected for the job.
Dave Lusk, associate vice president for career development, said on top of her experience in office management, coaching and career assessment, Nuhn stood out because of her experience as a recruiter.
“She has seen both sides of the career center, from being a coach for our students to being a recruiter of our students for positions,” Lusk said.
In her new role, Nuhn is responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the career center, completing budget reviews, ordering supplies, hiring and training student staff and interns, and career coaching. The assistant director will also take charge of the career center when Lusk is not there. Nuhn also serves as the event manager for the Career and Grad School Week and manages the technology in the career center as well as the career center’s website.
In her time at Truman, Nuhn has worked to expand TruSTAR, a program that works to prepare Truman students for a successful transition into the workforce by focusing on the eight competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. She looks forward to continuing to build relationships with partners both on and off campus to build roads for students after they graduate. Nuhn also seeks to provide students with more opportunities outside of Missouri and Iowa.
“One of the particular things that Dave and I have been working on is developing more digital resources, things like virtual interviewing and career fairs,” Nuhn said. “I know not all students want to stay in this region, so how can we connect with resources in places like the West and East Coast, where organizations aren’t going to fly into Kirksville for our expo? As a former recruiter, I’ve utilized virtual recruitment platforms, and I think there are avenues where we can create similar resources for our students.”