Colleen Perry, an 18-year career veteran specializing in university career services, joined the Andrew Young School in July as director of graduate career services and student life.
Perry comes to the school from Georgia State’s University Career Services office, where she was assistant director for co-op and internships. In this role she managed internships, career events and cooperative education.
Her academic and professional experiences, as well as her personal values and interests, are strongly aligned with the mission, vision and values of the Andrew Young School.
“There is so much value in an internship,” says Perry. She is committed to promoting their benefits and working to expand opportunities. “I want AYSPS students to stand out, show who they are, utilize the resources that are provided to them and find their good fit.”
Perry has worked at several universities, from large urban institutions such as Georgia State and the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, to small suburban institutions such as the College of New Jersey and the University of Rochester. She holds an M.P.A. from SUNY Brockport in New York and a Master’s in Transpersonal Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, Calif., and has also worked in the social work and human resources fields.
“I believe my vast range of experience will be an asset in working with the diverse student population at the Andrew Young School,” says Perry. “I want to provide the right resources to students and show them that there is no right or wrong way to succeed in the professional world.
“I understand that the job process can be scary. However, there is a lot of grey area within the professional world. What may work for one person, may not necessarily work for another.”
In her new position, Perry says she looks forward to being able to truly get to know each student and work closely with them to deliver the services they truly need. She says that she plans to gain an understanding of what the students are learning in the classrooms and supplement that knowledge with valuable programs and resources.
“We are the place you can come,” she says. She hopes that Career Services can alter the overwhelming job process into more manageable steps for students.
She also encourages student feedback in regards to what they think is working, and what isn’t, as they seek career assistance.
“Everyone has a different story, a different goal, a different dream, and I hope to bring all of that to bear,” says Perry. “My door is always open.”
For more information on how Career Services at The Andrew Young School can help you, or to contact Colleen Perry visit: http://career.aysps.gsu.edu/