National Student Employment Conference

Odell Bizzell is a nationally known blogger, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. While in high school Odell started a small candy retail distribution center that earned him over $75,000 while earning an academic scholarship to college

As a successful keynote speaker Odell has been featured in the USA Today, Yahoo Finance, CNBC.com, and over 200 media outlets. Odell has partnered with over 200 colleges, youth organizations, and the military to reach tens of thousands of students.

Presentation Title: Work+: Student Employment at Arizona State University

Abbie Anderson, Program Coordinator Sr. of Work+ at Arizona State University is dedicated to transforming the student employment experience. With a strong focus on supporting supervisors of student employees, Amanda leads efforts to create meaningful and impactful opportunities that prepare students for their future careers and equip supervisors with the tools and resources to facilitate a supportive and engaging experience. In addition to overseeing the enhancement of the student employment experience at ASU, Amanda and The Work+Collective team actively collaborate with institutions nationwide to redesign student employment through design thinking and problem-solving methodologies. Collectively, she has created a community where she helps higher education professionals connect, share insights, and advance student employment practices.

Creating an Inclusive Work Environment

HR & Higher Ed Professional with a wealth of knowledge in various industries. My passion for education and student success is my driving force.

Presentation Title: Empowering Success: Holistic Support Strategies for Student Employee Supervisors

Katie Bandy Krikorian is a seasoned higher education professional currently serving as the Director of Career Development & Student Employment at Loyola University New Orleans. With over a decade of experience in the field, Katie has a diverse background encompassing admissions counseling, college recruiting, and classroom instruction.

Katie holds dual bachelor's degrees in Psychology from the University of West Florida and in Music from the University of South Alabama. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Nonprofit Management from the University of New Orleans.

As a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) accredited by the National Career Development Association, Katie brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She also holds certifications in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and Inside Track Success Coaching.

In her current capacity, Katie oversees a dynamic team of five career professionals, leading initiatives to support student career development and employment opportunities. She is actively engaged in the career education community, serving as the Past Chair for the SoACE Career Advising & Counseling Knowledge Group.

Passionate about empowering students to achieve their career goals, Katie is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for student success.

Presentation Title: Empowering Success: Holistic Support Strategies for Student Employee Supervisors

Alice is a 2008 University of Louisiana at Monroe alumna with over 15 years of experience in education with a Masters of Arts in Teaching. In the fall of 2023, she joined the Career Development Center as the Student Employment Coordinator. With a passion for helping others achieve success and seize opportunities, Alice has a rich background in both public and private education, focusing on service-learning grants for visual art projects that support ecological development and coastal restoration efforts. She has also fostered numerous meaningful partnerships within the local community.

Alice’s global experiences have deeply influenced her approach to education and support. She has traveled and lived in diverse regions, including Tibet, Mongolia, India, Southeastern Asia, and Western Africa. Her studies in visual art, language, sociology, and public education have honed her ability to adapt, learn, and thrive in culturally diverse environments.

As a native of Louisiana, Alice draws strength and inspiration from the state’s resilient ecology. She has created a series of surrealist paintings that reflect Louisiana’s unique environment. These works have been displayed in prominent locations such as the New Orleans Public Library, the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, and Pirate's Alley in New Orleans. In her free time, Alice continues to produce abstract, realistic, and surrealistic visual art. She also enjoys walking along nature paths, swimming laps, and gardening.

Alice’s role as the Student Employment Coordinator allows her to leverage her diverse experiences and strong communication skills to support student employees in finding meaningful work opportunities and career development pathways. Her dedication to fostering success in others is evident in her commitment to creating a supportive and enriching environment for all.

Presentation Title: Leadership in the Library, Supporting Student Success

Stephanie received a Bachelor of Arts from Oglethorpe University in 2008 and a Master of Library Science from Valdosta State University in 2018. She's worked at Oxford College Library since 2018.

Enhancing Supervisor Support: Learning from Working Learners and Supervisors about Needs and Best Practices with the Work+ Collective

Jonathan serves as the Director for First and Second Year Experiences at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to beginning this position in 2024, Jonathan served in student leadership development at VCU and continues to bring a passion for building inclusive communities, developing innovative leaders, and transformative learning experiences to his current role. He is a current Ph.D. student in VCU’s School of Education, where his research focuses on equitable and transformative supervision of student leaders and employees.

Presentation Title: Shared Language: Creating Belonging in the Workplace through CliftonStrengths

Dr. Maribeth Hearn is the Director of the Career Success Center at the University of St. Francis. She also serves as the CEO of Vocational Strategy, Inc. Dedicated to helping people discover their vocation, and then thrive in the workplace, she provides a customized, client-centered approach to finding purposeful, meaningful work. In addition, her 20 years of award-winning business leadership, and 10+ years as an adjunct professor, have equipped Hearn as a strategic thinker and effective leader. Her educational background includes an MBA, an earned Doctorate, as well as Certifications as a Gallup Strengths Coach, DDI Facilitator and Strong Interest Inventory Practitioner. Her doctoral research focused on employee engagement. Hearn is the past president of the College Career Consortium of Illinois and a member of several nonprofit boards.

Presentation Title: Work+: Student Employment at Arizona State University

Amanda Kennedy, Assistant Director of Work+ at Arizona State University is dedicated to transforming the student employment experience. With a strong focus on supporting supervisors of student employees, Amanda leads efforts to create meaningful and impactful opportunities that prepare students for their future careers and equip supervisors with the tools and resources to facilitate a supportive and engaging experience. In addition to overseeing the enhancement of the student employment experience at ASU, Amanda and The Work+Collective team actively collaborate with institutions nationwide to redesign student employment through design thinking and problem-solving methodologies. Collectively, she has created a community where she helps higher education professionals connect, share insights, and advance student employment practices.

Presentation Title: Good Cops & Bad Cops - Supervising Graduate Assistants Who Supervise Student Employees
Presentation Title: Not Like a Regular Mom, I’m a Work Mom: Setting Boundaries as a Young Supervisor

Julie Kephart is a second-year doctoral student at the University of Central Florida (UCF) – a Carnegie-rated Research 1, Hispanic-Serving Institution in Orlando, Florida. Progressing toward a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership on the Higher Education track, she is interested in studying equity and student success related to work experience and being a student employee. The research focuses on students who work while taking classes in higher education settings. Historically, she has focused on the impact of Federal Work-Study programs and development programs for students who work on a college campus. She is a member of the National Student Employment Association and has worked with UCF’s Work+ Grant Initiative through the University Innovation Alliance.

Julie Kephart earned her Bachelor of Science in Event Management in 2019 from the University of Central Florida (Cum Laude) and her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: Higher Education/Student Personnel in 2021 from the University of Central Florida. Currently, she works in the University of Central Florida’s Division of Student Success and Well-Being as an Assistant Director in the Office of Academic Advocacy. Prior to working for the University of Central Florida, she also worked at the University of Florida and Valencia College.

Presentation Title: From Seeds to Trees: The Evolution of Student Employment
Presentation Title: Unlocking Potential: The Power of Federal Work Study Partnerships

Jen Le serves as a Scholarship & Employment Specialist for the Office of Student of Financial Aid (OSFA) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In this role, she maintains the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub and Student Jobs Platform, provides training and support for users and administrators, and promotes the platform across campus. Jen also coordinates donor events for scholarship recipients in partnership with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association through the OSFA Ambassador Program. Jen’s range of involvement within OFSA has given her a deeper appreciation for working in a place that advocates and supports students in accessing affordable higher education.Jen holds a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis and a Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Don't have a student employment office? Try a Student Employment Advisory Council!

Jennifer Macleod (she/her) is the Senior Professional Development Program Manager at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) Career Services office. She focuses on career readiness and student support, as well as program development and cross-campus collaboration. She trains and supervises student employees, known as Career Peers. Jen is a career coach, and facilitates career-centered and personal development workshops. She earned her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a focus in Higher Education Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University (EMU). At EMU, she worked with at-risk student populations as a teacher and success coach for three years. She is optimistic, passionate about personal growth, and enjoys learning from each person she meets. She strives to be a positive resource and guide for her students by staying student-focused. Jen feels college is a place to grow, where individuals can strengthen their mind, explore passions, develop transferable skills, gain an understanding of personal values, and prepare for their future.

Don't have a student employment office? Try a Student Employment Advisory Council!

Kelsey Parker (she/her) is a Project Manager for Experiential Learning for the Office of the Provost at the University of Michigan - Dearborn. She coordinates on-campus student employment initiatives, oversees student research opportunities, and runs the university’s incoming student mentorship program. Kelsey earned her Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Grand Valley State University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Eastern Michigan University. She has previously worked in a variety of higher education functional areas, including Residential Life, Graduate Admissions, and Student Life in the Midwest and Florida.

Presentation Title: From Seeds to Trees: The Evolution of Student Employment
Presentation Title: Unlocking Potential: The Power of Federal Work Study Partnerships

Kristina Rittel serves as the Student Employment Manager for the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In this role, Kristina supports the Federal Work Study program as well as the student employment experience. Kristina is passionate about working with students and enhancing the employment experience for all students at UW-Madison. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as well as a Masters of Science degree in School Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Presentation Title: Leadership in the Library, Supporting Student Success

Jessica started working at the Oxford College Library in 2007. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Valdosta State University and a Master of Science from the University of Alabama.

Presentation Title: Come Learn Together: Deep Dive into Job Location & Development (JLD) Programs

Aimee Selleck currently serves as the Student Employment Manager within Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Career Services in Richmond, VA where she primarily supports off-campus student employment access (through JLD efforts) and on-campus student employment development through VCU’s Federal Work-Study Program, including a new sub-program called the Transforming FWS Internship Program. Aimee also manages a free student resource for career clothing called the Suit Yourself Closet. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Student Employment Association (NSEA) as the Vice President of Engagement and Director of Membership. With an interest in connecting and supporting folks in similar roles, she began a monthly meet-up of JLD staff across the country through NSEA’s Partnership Program that now continues with the support of other NSEA volunteer facilitators and members. Prior to working in higher education and student employment at VCU, Aimee worked for various non-profits in roles within volunteer coordination, behavioral health services, youth programming, and science education. Coming to work at VCU was a return to the institution where she received her undergraduate degree in biology in 2015 and where she is now pursuing both a graduate degree in public administration as well as certification as an Emergency Medical Technician through VCU, too.

Presentation Title: From Seeds to Trees: The Evolution of Student Employment
Presentation Title: Empowering Excellence: Strategies for Strengthening Student Supervisor Support

Kasie Strahl serves as the Assistant Director for Student Engagement in the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kasie, in partnership with the Student Engagement team, strives to create a strong student experience by supporting Student Employment, Student Success Services, the frontlines of the Office of Student Financial Aid. Kasie has her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Certificate in Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; as well as a Master of Science in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana State University. Beyond work, Kasie loves to spend time with her family, bake, craft, and watch sports.

Presentation Title: Empowering Excellence: Strategies for Strengthening Student Supervisor Support
Presentation Title: From Seeds to Trees: The Evolution of Student Employment

With a background in financial aid advising, public service, and student affairs, Kari brings her experience in community building and collaboration to the Student Experience Manager position in the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As an alumna, she is thrilled to be a part of a team that works every day to increase access and success in the pursuit of higher education. In this role, she works to increase student supervisor support, oversees success services, and supports front line services. Her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison is in Community & Nonprofit Leadership & Women’s Studies and she holds a Master’s in Public Service and Leadership from Marquette University. In her free time she enjoys camping, playing games, watching and performing improv comedy, traveling, and spending time with her daughter, husband, and other chosen family.