Elizabethtown College Career Development Center Launches Career Champion Program

The Elizabethtown College Career Development Center recently launched the Career Champion Program, a professional development initiative aimed at equipping Etown faculty and staff with the tools to support career readiness for students.

Using thoughtfully designed tools, resources, and strategies, faculty and staff will learn how to incorporate career readiness into their everyday interactions with students to bridge the gap between current academic experiences and future career opportunities.

“The Career Champion Program recognizes the important role of faculty and staff in career conversations,” Elizabethtown College Senior Director of the Career Development Center Maureen Brown said. “The program gives our campus partners current information, practical tools, and a stronger connection to the Career Development Center so they can feel confident supporting students in those moments.”

Launched this fall with an inaugural cohort made up of six faculty and staff from the College’s School of Sciences and Health, the CDC has plans to disseminate the program campus-wide in the spring.

Program participants will take part in one-day, stand-alone sessions that outline the Career Champion curriculum, including detailed presentations on foundational career services, experiential learning, and career readiness competencies. After completing their training, Career Champions will be designated as an informed campus partner, receiving a certificate and recognition on the CDC website.

Members of the cohort met for an inaugural session on Oct. 1. Participants took part in interactive sessions with opportunities for discussion and knowledge application. A recruiter for WellSpan Health provided an employer perspective on what organizations are looking for in potential employees, as well as how faculty can better prepare students for today’s hiring process.

“Career readiness does not happen in one office; it develops throughout a student’s entire Etown experience,” Brown said. “By creating a network of Career Champions across campus, we can help more students recognize the skills they are developing, connect their experiences to future opportunities, and feel supported as they navigate what comes after college.”

Future sessions will be held in the fall, spring, and summer of each year, with the next session scheduled for May 2027. Etown faculty and staff interested in becoming a Career Champion are encouraged to complete an interest form.