Center for Career and Professional Development Adapts its Services for DBU Patriots

"When COVID-19 first hit, we were a month out from our spring Career & Internship Fair," said Desi Henk, Assistant Vice President, Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD). "Our team had to come up with a plan to move the event completely virtual, which we had never done before, and communicate this with all our students and corporate partners."

Organizations have had to be adaptive and creative in these difficult times to continue providing their much needed services, and this is certainly true of the way universities have traditionally served their student bodies. It has been the distinct mission of DBU's Center for Career & Professional Development to help students find and fulfill God's calling for their life through multiple avenues, including: career counseling; resume reviews; professional development workshops; campus Career Fairs; luncheons featuring industry-leading organizations; experiential learning trips; local community service opportunities; connection to internships, part-time jobs, and full-time positions; and mentoring services.

"Our goal is to make sure that students are career-ready and confident when leaving DBU to step out into their vocational calling as servant leaders," said Henk. "As a two-time graduate of DBU, I know first-hand the significant impact the faculty and staff have on the life of our students. I also know the apprehension of not knowing what you will do after you graduate."

As much of CCPD's services and career preparation opportunities are live and in-person, the pandemic of COVID-19 presented new challenges for the Center. "Fortunately, we already partnered with Handshake, a leading online job search platform for colleges and universities, which allowed us to provide a virtual career fair. We are now meeting via Zoom and connecting students with career coaching, and mentors, while continuing to collaborate with our Community Partners to provide remote/online volunteer opportunities for our students."

With uncertainties surrounding the national pandemic still in the air, the CCPD continues to move forward into the upcoming fall semester with confidence. "I believe that the services we offer in the CCPD will ensure that students are confident in where God is leading them and that they are equipped to pursue their calling. As we serve these students, we are playing a vital role in developing the next generation of servant-leaders."