CoLA Career Week with Alumni will take place October 19th-23rd. This year, we have 11 alumni from across our majors who will give talks about their careers, and how their College of Liberal Arts degree helped to provide the foundation for their current positions. Talks are paired with certain CoLA classes, and they are also open to ALL SIU students, faculty, and staff. Some talks are in-person, and others are virtual. Meeting links for virtual talks, and locations for in-person talks, are listed below. Students can also register for talks that they plan to attend (doing so will create reminder emails about the talks, and will include meeting locations through email). *Registration Links only work for SIU students.
Deputy Executive Director of the Glenview Park District
Monday, October 19
Degree(s): B.A. in Political Science, SIUC; Master of Public Administration, SIUC
Career Info/Bio: Johnathan Kiwala is Deputy Executive Director of the Glenview Park District, bringing a strong background in information technology, public finance, and organizational leadership. An expert in applying artificial intelligence in local government, he leads initiatives that improve financial reporting, automate workflows, and strengthen decision-making through responsible AI implementation. At age 26, he became the first Executive Director of the Kenilworth Park District, helping build the agency from the ground up and leading its growth for more than a decade. His career combines public service, financial stewardship, and practical innovation to better serve communities.
Executive Assistant, TPG Financial Services and Principal, The Clay Experience
Monday, October 19
Degree(s): B.A. in History, SIUC; CMS in Museology, Harvard University
Career Info/Bio: Makela Clay is an operations consultant who partners with small business owners to streamline their administrative functions. During her two decades of experience, Makela has acquired a diverse background in fundraising, event & project management, executive support, office management social media strategy and client relationship management. Previous employers include Twitter, Goldman Sachs, Monitor Group (currently Monitor Deloitte), The Commonwealth Club of CA and 5-time Grammy® winning choral ensemble San Francisco Girls' Chorus.
Employer: TP, Financial Services and The Clay Experience
Degree(s): B.S. in Communication Studies, SIUC; M.S. in Communication Information, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Career Info/Bio: Savannah is a brand and content strategist at CVS Health, where she works across digital, product, and brand marketing. A proud SIUC alumna (2020), she began her communication career in the banking and fintech industries before earning her M.S. in Communication Information from the University of Tennessee. Her work focuses on connecting data, creativity, and strategy to tell stories that deliver measurable results and feels genuinely human.
Executive Director of Community Relations and University Events
Monday, October 19
Degree(s): B.A., History, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; M.S.Ed., College Student Personnel, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Career Info/Bio: Sarah Vanvooren is Executive Director of Community Relations and University Events at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. An SIU alumna with more than 15 years of higher education experience, she leads major university events and initiatives connecting SIU with the broader community. Her work has included commencement, conferences and nationally recognized events such as SIU’s 2024 Total Solar Eclipse celebration.
Degree(s): B.A. in English (Pre-Professional), SIUC, with minor in Speech Communications
Career Info/Bio: As a Senior Account Manager, Carole-Ann works with C-suite leaders at Fortune 500 companies, helping them connect with business analysts and research to make smarter, informed decisions for their business. Responsible for account strategy across technology provider clients, she holds sales quota and is responsible for renewing and expanding existing client relationships as a trusted partner.
Associate Director, Human Resources – Supply Chain Operations, Away From Home & Kraft Heinz Ingredients
Tuesday, October 20
Degree(s): B.A. in English, SIUC
Career Info/Bio: Leads HR and people strategy across Kraft Heinz’s multi-site Away From Home manufacturing network. Partners with operations leaders to shape organizational strategy, strengthen culture, develop talent, and drive performance. Leverages the power of communication and storytelling to influence, connect people to purpose, and turn people strategy into business results.
Career Info/Bio: As a dispatcher with Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Ian fields emergency calls for services, dispatches officers, and handles sensitive CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Systems) data on a daily basis. In October 2025 Ian authored and published issue 1 of the Wanderers comic series through his self-owned imprint Cthulhuville Publications.
Employer: Jackson County, MO Sheriff's Office | Cthulhuville Publications
Degree(s): Dual B.S. in Journalism & Political Science, SIUC
Career Info/Bio: Consultant specializing in executive communications, public affairs campaigns, and corporate strategic initiatives. Scopes project needs, allocates and monitors resources, and delivers desired outcomes. Serves as a liaison with key project stakeholders. Clients typically include business executives, public officials, and community advocates.
Degree(s): B.S. in Speech Communication (Public Relations), SIUC; M.A. in Leadership and Organizational Development, Saint Louis University
Career Info/Bio: Helena Paschal is an SIU Carbondale alumna, Communication Trainer, and CEO and Founder of Correlations Training. She holds an M.A. in Leadership and Organizational Development and a B.S. in Communication with a specialization in Public Relations. Her work focuses on communication across differences, workplace dynamics, professional judgment, and leadership communication.
Degree(s): B.A. Political Science, SIUC with minors in Mandarin and Economics; J.D. American University Washington College of Law
Career Info/Bio: Tim is an SIU Alum who attended American University’s Washington College of Law, graduating in 2023. Tim worked at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2023-2026 and now works for the Illinois Attorney General in Chicago.
Degree(s): B.S. in Speech Communication, SIU; M.A. in Public Affairs Reporting, University of Illinois Springfield
Career Info/Bio: As a press secretary and policy advisor at the Illinois Attorney General’s office, Jamey promotes the work of the office and regularly communicates with members of the press. She also conducts research and tracks congressional actions as part of the office’s policy team. Before coming to the attorney general’s office, Jamey served as assistant director of the University of Illinois System’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs, Deputy Director of Communications for the Illinois State Comptroller, and Illinois Issues Executive Editor at NPR Illinois.
