AMES, Iowa – Driven by a desire to prepare students to navigate a dynamic and ever-changing career landscape, Katy Griner is excited to step into her new role as assistant director for Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services office on June 1.
Griner will provide the day-to-day leadership of the CALS Career Services office, serving as the “face” of the office. She will manage the Career Services team, which includes the Pathways to Innovation and Leadership program, coordinate the annual CALS Career Day, build relationships with employers and create programming that prepares students to enter the workforce.
She joins Eric Anderson, who was hired as the associate director of CALS Career Services earlier this year.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Katy Griner to CALS and the Career Services team. Katy brings over 20 years of experience working directly in student support and development,” said Eric Anderson, associate director for CALS Career Services. “In addition to growing up on a farm in southeast Iowa, she has taught a career development course at Simpson College and is a certified Career Connector in her current job at the University of Iowa. We believe her strong background in counseling, student development and agriculture will well position her to be successful in supporting our students, alums, employers, faculty and staff.”
Griner has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Truman State University in Missouri and a master’s in counseling and educational development from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has held several counseling and therapy-related roles over the years, including as a counselor and director of student leadership development at Simpson College, and her current role as an embedded staff therapist in University Housing and Dining with the University of Iowa’s University Counseling Service.
She obtained her Career Connector certification to better assist students as they explore career options and experiential education opportunities and prepare to apply for jobs or graduate school. Griner also has experience leading a career observation course aimed at helping first- and second-year students explore academic and career pathways and develop workforce skills.
Her background in therapy and counseling will provide a unique perspective as she interacts with CALS students.
“My approach has always been grounded in student and personal development, leading me to a focus here on helping CALS students, staff and faculty connect and translate students' strengths, competencies and CALS experiences to meaningful career paths,” Griner said. “I believe career readiness is already integrated into all aspects of student support at CALS, and I'm looking forward to working with everyone to develop that further.”
The hiring of Griner leaves just one position to fill in the CALS Career Services office after the retirement of long-time Career Services employees, Mike Gaul and Lois Benning, last summer. The final role needed will be a career services specialist. That job position will be posted at a later date.
Contacts
Eric Anderson, CALS Career Services, 515-294-2919, ericand@iastate.edu
Whitney Baxter, Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications, 515-294-2314, wjsager@iastate.edu