Previous Career Week Speakers

Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts, History (SIU Carbondale), Master of Business Administration emphasis Cybersecurity (Webster University)

Career Info/Bio: Supports bond trading and portfolio management by analyzing credit risk, monitoring markets, and preparing reports. Assists in strategy reviews, tracks municipal credits and FDIC limits, and contributes to client education. Collaborates with senior analysts to enhance fixed income performance and ensure compliance with investment guidelines.

Employer: Moneta, St. Louis, MO

Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts in History (SIUC); Master of Public Affairs (Indiana University - Bloomington)

Career Info/Bio: Oversee the daily operations and future planning for an Active Component training support battalion; enable deployment readiness for eleven US Army National Guard (USARNG) battalions and three USARNG Brigade Combat Teams across five states.

Employer: U.S. Army, Camp Atterbury, Indiana

Degree(s): Bachelor’s degree—English (Pre-Professional) SIUC; Master’s degree—English Literature SIUC; PhD (ABD—all but dissertation)—English Literature: African American Literature & US Literature since 1865 Florida State University

Career Info/Bio: Create and deliver quality educational programs on DEI and professionalism for attorneys and judges.
Write educational blogs, articles, and social media posts promoting DEI in the legal profession.
Research and share best practices on emergent DEI issues.
Manage the Jumpstart Orientation, a pre-law school program for first generation Illinois 1Ls.

Employer: Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Chicago, IL—office; Forsyth, IL—hybrid live and work

Degree(s): B.A. in Anthropology

Career Info/Bio: As the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Seward House Museum, Ms. Grindstaff manages volunteers, interns, shift scheduling, group tours, and field trips. She coordinates school outreach and programming and gives tours and educational presentations. Ms. Grindstaff also conducts research and develops educational materials focused on accessibility, civics, and literacy.

Employer: Seward House Museum, New York

Degree(s): BA in Anthropology (2015), MBA with a focus in analytics for managers (2021), Both from SIU

Career Info/Bio: Assist in conducting field archaeological investigations and analysis projects throughout the Southern Illinois Region. Including: Phase I-III Survey, monitoring projects, geophysical surveys and analysis of pre and post contact material. I also assist Collaborative Research Engagement and Transportation sections in collaborations with descendant communities.

Employer: Illinois State Archaeological Survey, American Bottom Field Station in Collinsville, IL

Degree(s): B.S. in Communication Studies

Career Info/Bio: Develops and distributes press releases, feature stories, digital content, and major publications to connect the community with Rend Lake College. Manages newsletters, media relations, and event coverage while assisting with marketing projects and Board of Trustees reporting, ensuring transparency, community engagement, and effective communication.

Employer: Rend Lake College Marketing & Communications Department, Ina, IL

Degree(s): B.A. Political Science and a B.A. Spanish: 2019.  SIU School of Law (2022 ) with a concentration in International and Immigration Law.

Career Info/Bio: My practice areas are civil litigation, medical malpractice defense, and appellate practice. My job duties include researching federal and state legal issues, reviewing and drafting legal documents and discovery, conducting depositions, attending court, and interacting with individual and institutional clients.

Employer: Brown, Hay, and Stephens, Springfield, IL 

Degree(s): B.A. in Political Science; Master's in Public Affairs (Indiana University Northwest)

Career Info/Bio: Cory currently serves as President & CEO of Thames Strategies, a full-service public affairs firm committed to delivering individualized strategies, tactics and solutions to a diverse clientele spanning the private, public, nonprofit, and political arenas. Our firm specializes in crisis management, government affairs, grassroots community engagement, communications, political strategy, and DEI initiatives.

Employer: Thames Strategies, Chicago, IL

Degree(s): BS in Journalism and BA in Sociology, MA in Organizational Leadership, MS in Public Relations

Career Info/Bio: In education, I am an ELA teacher at a Global Media and Mass Communications Magnet School where I use creativity and media to building literacy. Outside of my 9-5 I am an organizer, working with marginalized communities and organizations to build networks of support around the world. 

Employer: Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN

Degree(s): Liberal Arts Degree in University Studies (2008). Juris Doctor (2011). Both from SIU.

Career Info/Bio: I am an attorney, licensed in both Indiana and Illinois. My practice focuses on representation of medical professionals in both malpractice and constitutional claims.

Employer: Stoll Keenon & Ogden, Indianapolis, IN

Degree(s): BS Speech Communications (2001), MPA (2005) - Both SIU

Career Info/Bio: I oversee a team of business development professionals for a global civil engineering and consulting firm. We specialize in water and transportation infrastructure projects, in addition to government consulting and program management.

Employer: Egis in the USA, Indianapolis, IN

Degree(s): B.S. in Communication Studies, specialization in public relations. Minors in Journalism and Sociology.

Career Info/Bio: I plan and execute marketing campaigns that promote ticket sales, special events, community relations, and fan engagement for our MLB club. My job blends creativity and strategy—writing copy, analyzing data, and collaborating with different departments—to create unforgettable experiences that keep fans (and staff) excited all season long.

Employer: St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis, MO

Degree(s): B.A. in English: Creative Writing

Career Info/Bio: Conduct 3-4 college visits a week and speak to professors about Norton’s educational materials. Collaborating with colleagues on these sales opportunities, and providing customer support to professors who assign or which to evaluate our resources.

Employer: W.W. Norton Inc., Remote

Degree(s): B.A. in LCIS (Classics) and Economics

Career Info/Bio: At Lowenhaupt & Chasnoff, a boutique trust & estate law firm, I spearheaded the creation of an in-house financial department and handle accounts payable and receivable for the firm. In addition, I work closely with attorneys to administer estates, arrange probate court filings, and draft estate planning documents for our clients.

At the Saint Louis Art Museum, I design and lead a variety of collection tours for museum members, interest groups, and schools following training with museum curators and faculty.

Employer: Lowenhaupt & Chasnoff (Legal Assistant); St. Louis Art Museum (Docent Program), St. Louis, MO