New Director, Old Challenges
by Tina Chong, Editor-in-Chief on February 12, 2008 in HKS News, News
Will new leadership and re-branding effort revive career services?
One organization is no longer hiring for its top spot - and the few hundred job-hunting students at HKS should be glad.
On January 14, HKS welcomed Sandy Schulz Hessler (MPA/MC ‘00) as the new Assistant Dean and Director of Career and Professional Development, filling a key position at the Office of Professional Development (OPD) that had been vacant since September 2007.
Hessler assumes the position at a critical time for OPD. Susanne Beck, Hessler’s predecessor, stepped down last fall after just seven months on the job; prior to Beck, OPD was without a director for 18 months. Though staff had begun improvement efforts to better meet student needs, the lack of clear leadership in the office over the past two years has left students frustrated and dissatisfied with the state of career services at HKS.
Employment Graphic
Hessler says that her experience as a former HKS student has, in part, shaped the way she intends to approach the challenges ahead.”I saw the disconnect between students and career services during my time here,” she told the Citizen. “One of my goals is to restore clarity around what OPD can deliver and to enforce standards of professionalism and excellence that’s demanded by both students and employers.”
Just a few weeks into her new job, Hessler has already pushed forward a branding initiative that she hopes will provide a clearer image of OPD as an essential resource for students and alumni. Along with the launch of a new web site, collateral materials, and a reorganization of the office, OPD will change its name - for the second time in less than a year - to the Office of Career Advancement (OCA), to be formally announced in March.
“The term ‘professional development’ means something different to the outside world,” Hessler explained. “It implies a single career path, staying within one profession. That doesn’t apply to many of our students, who have varied professional aspirations and are often looking to move from one career to another.”
But will the name change resonate with frustrated students? “While branding is important, I’m more interested in seeing an increase in the quality of the services offered,” said Allison Lombardo (MPP1). “But I’m optimistic about the new director.”
Hessler addressed students at an informal gathering on February 7. In addition to highlighting OPD’s major initiatives for the coming semester, Hessler underscored the importance of public service and called for more students to enter the public and non-profit sectors after graduation.
“I’m encouraged by Hessler’s enthusiasm and especially her emphasis on the importance of helping students seeking public sector and international careers,” said Naomi Krieger (MPP2). “I hope the changes to OPD will be meaningful, and that they will happen soon enough to benefit those graduating this year.”
Hessler, whose background includes experience in marketing, brand management, and recruiting in both the private and non-profit sectors, hopes to draw upon her network to not only connect students to different employers and job opportunities, but also to equip students with the skills necessary to network and pursue employment on their own. Aware of the challenges this task involves, Hessler has started by reaching out to non-profit and social entrepreneurship agencies that have traditionally been underrepresented at OPD. Two such organizations are New Profit, Inc., a national venture philanthropy fund, and Citizen Schools, a national network of after-school education programs.
OPD may face even more pressure in attracting recruiters this year, as a skittish economy threatens to fall into recession. Hessler, however, does not think that the current state of the economy will significantly impact the job market for graduating students.
“Nothing has changed in terms of job availability - agencies are still recruiting and posting jobs. In fact, this is a good time for students who are interested in federal or state government jobs. Long-term trends show that many government employees are of retirement age, and no matter what happens this November, the elections will result in a turnover of political appointees, creating new opportunities for graduates.”
The biggest hurdle for Hessler, however, may be gaining the trust of a skeptical student body.
“The best we can do is to build the systems, raise the standards of excellence, ask for specific feedback on what we are doing, and ultimately, give students results on a daily basis,” she said. She added, “And I’m not going anywhere. I will be here.”
Written by Tina Chong, Editor-in-Chief · Filed Under HKS News, News
Tina Chong is a second-year master in public policy student at the Kennedy School. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Yale, she worked in both the private and non-profit sectors and helped to start up City Year, an AmeriCorps program, in her hometown of Los Angeles. Tina currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the Citizen.
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