With the myriad of options given to college students it can be stressful deciding on a major alongside the course load that accompanies it. Students might know what subject they wish to pursue or what particular job they want but be unable to piece it all together. Within Career Development, Leslie Holden knows how to shine a light through the fog so you can ride the waves to a new career path.
“I’ve been at the college since the early nineties. I was in residence life and I moved over to the career services. I’ve been in the director position since 2016.” said Holden when asked about taking the position.
Before they introduced the central location for career development, the notion was a more informal case-by-case basis for each department handing individual future planning. The career development center itself was started around 1992 and has kept going strong to support students in their futures. For Holden, this field was an unexpected jump due to how eventful her life has been.
“When I was an undergraduate, I didn’t what I wanted to do. I switched majors three times before I finally decided on Psychology. In the meantime, I got involved on campus in different kinds of positions. I was an R.A. and a peer mentor for academic advising which made me realize I could do this a real job,” said Holden retelling her busy past. ” At Plymouth State, New Hampshire I got a position as a residence director which led to an internship for the career services office while I got my Master’s Degree. When I came to Ferrum, I came in as the coordinator of residence education and started to move up through the department.”
There is no exact day-to-day operations for the career development department due to the diverse needs of all the students on campus. Holden and other members of the department work alongside first-years, sophomores, Juniors, and seniors. Whether they need to explore their options, switch their paths, or figure out what major they need; the center staff is there to guide them to success.
When so many students come and go throughout their daily routines, it can be difficult to effectively support all of them. Holden knows this struggle very well when thinking of the roughest part of her role.
“Having enough time in the day to meet everyone’s needs would be the toughest part. Reaching out to students who don’t respond and trying to get them to come in is tough. I send out information to all students and I see a lot of students in classes but I know there are students that need assistance,” said Holden. “We could be a very good resource for them but they’re just not coming in. I don’t know whether its because they’re unaware of the program or that they don’t know they need help.”
Holden is not the only member of the career development center that struggles to meet the needs of students. John DeVault is the vice president of student success does everything he can to support student progress. DeVault may not see as many students face-to-face like Holden but works hard as a mediator for several departments. From the career development to library services, he covers a wide section of keeping support programs afloat to give students all the resources they could ever want.
DeVault had a lot of experience before coming to Ferrum College.
“I’ve been here at Ferrum for two and a half years,” he said. “Before that I worked at another University doing student success and advising. Before that I worked at a private school for twenty years teaching, coaching, advising, and administration.”
He said the hardest part of his job is managing the resources available because there is never enough for every program. Some programs get altered to fit demands, limited resources, or redundancies.
“We’ve been moving towards putting some resources for study halls lately,” he said. “Alongside that, we put resources into food because it affects a student’s ability to study. For the student personally, we’ve been seeing a trend of needing more education on time management skills,” DeVault stated.
Angel Ramos-Mendoza, junior, is a student who has utilized the services offered. Ramos-Mendoza is studying for a major in Pre-Professional Health Science with an emphasis on pre-physical therapy with a minor in exercise science.
He aims to become a physical therapist and thanks Holden and the Career Development program for the guidance he’s received.
“It’s been incredible, really! Leslie Holden has been a huge help outside of semesters. Coming in as a freshman I really didn’t have a plan in mind so I went to the Carter Center. They helped me find out what I wanted to do and how to get there.” said Angel.
Ramos-Mendoza is aspiring to get his Bachelor’s in Science and get into a Dialectical Behavior Therapy School to further his skill-set. Without the help of the Career Development program he said he would be the same stressed out freshman he started as. Holden has pushed him onto a stable path as he pursues his career.
“(She) has been super helpful with getting me started on my resume,” he said. “That was a huge help over the last winter, getting an Internship and a part-time job with a PT Clinic over in Roanoke. The other helpers down there have helped me get my classes and grades in order.”
Any students interested in the program can visit or contact representatives of the Carter Center with the following information:
Holden is in Room 109B of the lower level of Stanley Library. Her email is [email protected]. Her phone number is 540-365-4460.
DeVault is in Room 108 of the lower level of Stanley Library. His email is [email protected]. His phone number is (540) 365-4294.
