What questions do you have? Let us help. The CES team is here for you!
If you don’t know who to reach out to, please call 253.879.3161 or send an email to ces@pugetsound.edu. Thanks!
Maya Herran
Sar Winland
Indigo DaCosta
Elizabeth Wormsbecker
Lisa Garza
Michal Nolte
Maddison Sellers
Julie Venezio
Associate Director of Career and Employer Engagement
Hi, I’m Maya (she/her)! I’m the Associate Director of Career and Employer Engagement, and I focus on connecting Puget Sound students with employers and meaningful professional experiences.
My favorite part about my job is building intentional relationships with employers eager to hire talented students who are eager to put their skills to work to make a difference in the world – identifying opportunities to connect early professionals with meaningful work is something I love!
I also really enjoy supporting my Career Advising team in offering intentional programs and events to connect students with career early and often, and in fun ways! Catch us at the Career Fair, networking events, and mentorship opportunities.
When I’m not at work, you can find me exploring Tacoma’s local restaurants or adding to my handmade wardrobe.
What was your first, or an early work experience that impacted your career path?
During college, I held as many as three part-time jobs at one time and was always running from work to class to work.
Not only did I get the opportunity to try out lots of different things – nannying, food service, music leadership, research, telephone outreach – but I became adept at managing my time and communicating to my supervisors.
Ultimately I learned that I love to connect with people, solve problems and make a positive impact, and that I prefer a fast-paced work environment. I’ve found lots of different ways to do those things vocationally, including in my role here at CES!
What did you learn in your major field of study that you currently use in your work?
I studied psychology and anthropology, and my degree taught me so much that I’ve used in my work with other people! One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of perception to the human experience.
Sometimes we go into college thinking there’s a right and wrong answer to every question. Through my coursework, I learned that in most scenarios, there are actually many right choices — what matters more is the motivation for the choice and the level to which an individual feels autonomy and ownership of that choice.
I use this in my work with students making decisions about their futures – even when it’s challenging to hear that I don’t have one “right” answer, we work together to think through what might be a right next step for you in your journey.
What is your favorite location/event/hidden gem/thing about Tacoma?
If you take a 15-minute walk from campus to the pedestrian bridge on Yakima Ave, there’s an amazing loop through a residential area that I love to walk.
It starts on West Road and opens up to a beautiful view of Commencement Bay, with Brown’s Point and Vashon Island in the background. It’s a quiet walk that feels like a secret and I often find myself heading in that direction after a day of work to relax and see the beauty that is right in our neighborhood!
Career Advisor; Instructor: Career Launch (EXLN 401)
My name is Sar (they/them) and I am on the career advisor team here in CES. I’m excited to start working with you and be a part of your career journey!
I have a BS in Psychology from Kent State University and a M.Ed in Counseling with a focus in mental health from the University of Puget Sound. I am also open with my identity within the LGBTQIA+ community and welcome everyone from varying identities/backgrounds into my office space as well.
During my free time from advising and teaching EXLN 401: Career Launch, I am a movie connoisseur and an avid board game collector. I cannot wait to meet you!
What was your first, or an early work experience that impacted your career path?
When I was in undergrad, I was having a pretty rough time trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life career wise. I was hyper focused towards working in the medical field — I didn’t consider any other possibilities at the time.
During my second semester I ended up taking a peer leader course where I was shown all of the different opportunities for student leadership on campus, and it helped me feel more connected to campus itself.
The following semester, I was a student success leader who co-facilitated a first-year course with a faculty member focusing on the big transition to university for students.
It was a time I was extremely outside of my comfort zone in student involvement, yet continued to do it throughout my time in undergrad. Looking back, that experience shaped how I viewed higher education and how I wanted to continue being able to support students in their own journey.
What did you learn in your major field of study that you currently use in your work?
Communication styles and developmental theories! How I interact with people and make myself present is very important in how I am able to do my work and form meaningful connections with others.
What is your favorite location/event/hidden gem/thing about Tacoma?
I love anywhere that I can be around the water. Coming from the Midwest where it’s flat and I was surrounded by farm land, it is a nice change of scenery. I honestly don’t know if I will ever get used to the beauty of the PNW.
Student Employment Coordinator
I’m Indigo, the Student Employment Coordinator. As part of the Student Employment team, I review students’ Work-Study Employment Applications, make referrals to interview for open positions, and follow up on student employment needs. My goal is to support students and supervisors on campus to have a successful, engaging, and meaningful experience in on-campus employment, from interviewing and hiring all the way through the end of the job.
When I’m not greeting students or planning events, you might find me swimming with the Bernardo’s All Stars team, going on walks and looking for friendly neighborhood cats, or lamenting the lack of Dunkin Donuts in Washington.
What was your first, or an early work experience that impacted your career path?
When I was in college at Puget Sound, I did a summer internship at Degrees of Change, where one of my projects was to refresh their promotional email drafts ahead of Fall. I learned that I could apply my “English major skills” to many different types of workplaces, and not only the commonly-expected careers (such as teaching or freelance-writing).
What did you learn in your major field of study that you currently use in your work?
One of the most valuable things I learned from being an English major was how to give people kind and actionable feedback. While I learned about it in the context of peer-editing essays, it also applies broadly to working with people and supporting them.
What is your favorite location/event/hidden gem/thing about Tacoma?
I love taking the T-line, especially since the Hilltop extension was completed in 2023!
Associate Director of Student Employment Programs, Training, and Development
I’m Elizabeth, a Puget Sound alumna! At Puget Sound, student staff members’ important work and valued contributions are essential to institutional success. I advocate for valuable student employment opportunities and experiences across campus — so that student staff members have the chance to develop skills and work habits that are valued by employers.
When not consulting with supervisors or supporting student employment team projects, I hike, camp, and act as team manager for my family of BMX racers.
What was your first, or an early job or work experience that impacted your career path?
One of my early jobs was as a pizza delivery driver. It was independent responsibility and I found that I really appreciated the connection with people when I could provide them with something they enjoyed.
I also learned about team work dynamics, what I liked in a work environment, and that part of my job satisfaction would always come from how I could help others or contribute to someone’s sense of well-being or happiness.
What did you learn in your major field of study that you currently use in your work?
My major was music and I learned that there are many ways to create or interpret something.
Of course there are still ‘rules’ and it always requires an investment of effort, but embracing your own style and interpretation with confidence is what makes the most lovely and interesting music.
This idea holds true throughout other aspects of my life. In my work training and consulting with supervisors, and in my work with students, I try to listen and help the person identify a path and actions that are true to their style and goals.
What is your favorite location/event/hidden gem/thing about Tacoma?
One thing that I love about Tacoma is how many ways that you can be outside and engage with nature and, especially, water.
We have water on so many sides, from Commencement Bay, around Point Defiance and out to Chambers Bay. I love to walk along the water, hike to an overlook with water views, or even just walk to the end of my street to watch the sun set over the water.
Director of Career and Employment Services
My name is Lisa (she/her) and I’m excited to be part of the Logger community, leading the amazing Career and Employment Services team!
My goal is to ensure that all students are able to “learn by doing” and that we can help you cultivate connections and make the best decision for yourself regarding next steps beyond Puget Sound.
My previous work experience includes leading teams in both university career services and in corporate recruiting. One of my favorite parts of career-coaching work is helping people achieve those “aha” moments of career clarity.
Personally, being a psychology major and a first-generation college student who entered college with absolutely zero direction, I can relate to the struggles some of you might have with finding your path. I’m open to meeting with individual students, and very happy to speak to your group or organization.
When I’m not at work, I spend a lot of time with my family and exploring our new home in the PNW.
What was your first, or an early work experience that impacted your career path?
Being a first-generation college student, no one in my family knew much about campus life. When the RA introduced herself, we were all like, “What’s an RA?”
Well, I quickly got comfortable with campus life, joined some groups, and became an RA my second semester of sophomore year.
I really loved helping new students get acclimated to campus and make connections. I enjoyed putting on floor/hall events and also found the crisis-intervention part of the job interesting. I spent the next few years in that role, moved on after graduation to be a Hall Director at a couple of schools, and from there got connected with a position in Career Services.
Admittedly, I didn’t spend any time while I was a student doing “career exploration.” Instead, I found something I really enjoyed — being an RA — and then had the realization… “You can do this for a living?!” And the rest is history.
What did you learn in your major field of study that you currently use in your work?
As an undergraduate psychology major, I also had minors in industrial/organizational behavior and in business. Classes like “sociology of work” and “bureaucracy of organizations” were really interesting to me and helped frame my thinking around how people behave at work and their motivations surrounding employment.
My master’s degree is in social work with a focus on administration and community practice. That degree had courses related to program evaluation, helping skills, identity formation, and supervision/finance that were all very practical and are still useful to me today.
What is your favorite location/event/hidden gem/thing about Tacoma?
Since I’m a Tacoma newbie, I don’t really have a favorite yet, but I’m open to hearing everyone else’s thoughts — feel free to send me an email with yours!
Data and Systems Support Specialist
Hello! My name is Michal (she/her). I provide data and systems support for Career & Employment Services, working with Student Employment and Career Advising to support meaningful opportunities for students’ career development.
When not working on systems support, I spend time going for walks, reading a book, or grabbing a coffee.
What was your first, or an early work experience that impacted your career path?
The summer before college I worked for a painting company. It involved working on a team with other painters, hands-on work like prepping rooms for paint, and even climbing the occasional ladder or riding up a bucket lift to paint trim on a five story building. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.
I continued to dabble in other jobs as a student – from babysitting to being a hostess at the Old Spaghetti Factory to office work. Every job taught me something a little different that I have used throughout my post-college career in higher education.
What did you learn in your major field of study that you currently use in your work?
I studied communications, with a focus in journalism. I use skills such as research, asking good questions, and listening in my work all the time.
What is your favorite location/event/hidden gem/thing about Tacoma?
When I find myself in downtown Tacoma, a fun spot to go for a walk is the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. It crosses over I-705 and lets you travel by foot from downtown near the Washington State History Museum to the Museum of Glass and Thea Foss Waterway. The bridge features glass art installations by local glass artist Dale Chihuly.
Operations and Events Coordinator
Hello! My name is Maddison and I’m the Operations and Events Coordinator in CES. I’m very excited to be working with students and supporting them in their career journey through meaningful and purposeful help. This ranges from assisting in navigating available resources to coordinating campus events.
When I’m not at the office, you can find me browsing bookstores or taking photos with my film camera.
Career Advisor
Bio coming soon!
