Building Skills, Finding Futures
Career development starts on the first day of classes at the University of South Dakota, not just in a student's final year.
That is the mindset guiding Ashlin Schoenfelder, director of the recently founded Center for Career & Life Design (CCLD) at USD.
“The center has career development services to support students every step of the way, from their freshman year all the way to graduate school and as alumni,” said Schoenfelder. “We help students grow professionally and personally during their time on campus and beyond.”
Opened in spring of 2024, the CCLD is USD’s new central hub for current students and USD alumni to access resources and assistance in building their futures beyond the classroom.
To meet the career needs of Coyotes across the board, the center brings five full-time professional staff together in one department, including two full-time career coaches, a student veteran resources coordinator and an employer relations recruiter.
The CCLD first came to fruition after a yearlong planning process spearheaded by Assistant Vice President for Career Services & Student Success Susan Hackemer.
“The CCLD offers students comprehensive career services at every stage of their time at USD,” said Hackemer. “Decisions about what to do with your life are not easy. We can teach students tools that increase self-understanding and make them better prepared to look for a first job or a first career that fits their interests, skills and future plans.”
The center offers a variety of resources, including one-on-one student appointments for career coaching, access to the Coyote Careers platform, monthly career development events and workshops, access to a wide network of employer connections, alumni mentoring and even courses for credit that cover everything from job searching in the 21st century to career exploration and planning.
Walk-ins, of course, are welcome.
And much like the name suggests, the CCLD is not only for developing successful careers, but for designing meaningful lives as well.
Life design is an approach to personal development and career wayfinding that looks beyond traditional measures of career success and considers instead a holistic vision of goals based on personal values and life desires.
“We are looking beyond traditional career counseling,” said Schoenfelder. “We are focusing on what is best for students in the moment, but looking at their futures as well. What motivates them, what gives them energy, what makes them happy as a person.”
To get a jump start on integrating life design principles into the CCLD’s mission and practices, the staff attended a five-day intensive training through Stanford University’s Life Design Lab, a leading institute in life design techniques and curriculum.
Staff from the CCLD were able to attend thanks in part to a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the Coyote Career Kickstart program, which provides qualifying students from rural high schools with unique first-year experiences and mentorship opportunities.
The Coyote Career Kickstart program also directly funds CCLD staff and student services.
“Two of our career coaches and our employer relations recruiter are funded by the grant,” said Schoenfelder. “The program is more than just another group to join; it supports students with career design tools, professional practice opportunities, and an employment network for those who want to work while they are in college. Through the program, students will design a self-reflective career journey, connect with alumni, and learn how to develop and leverage their experience and skills for internship and job searches.”
The center not only serves individual students and alumni in finding their track into the professional world but also functions as the leading voice in guiding career development approaches and methodologies for the entire USD community.
Schools, departments and individuals from any USD program can look to the CCLD to provide clear direction in objectives, messaging and other resources to help their own students and graduates navigate the journey of lifelong growth.
One of the main resources available to the USD community is Coyote Careers, a comprehensive online platform available to all students and graduates to find information on employers, browse and apply for open jobs, explore career events and even discover resources for interview preparation, resume building and more.
Coyote Careers currently houses information from over 4,000 employers across the U.S.
“Expanding current employer relationships and building new ones gives us important insights into workforce development needs,” said Hackemer. “We can pass our familiarity with industry trends along to students, but also to others across campus who can use that information for adjustments to curriculum and teaching practices.”
Further enhancing their impact and presence throughout the USD community, the CCLD partners with many campus organizations, including the Opportunity Center, the Student Government Association and the Gallagher International Center.
For Coyotes who are preparing for interviews or other important professional functions but do not feel their wardrobe is up to the task, the CCLD can help dress to impress at Charlie’s Career Closet, which provides new and gently used professional and business casual attire to USD students free of charge. Students are eligible to receive up to 10 free items per semester and can receive assistance from the Career Closet staff in choosing the right pieces to embody success in their professional endeavors.
“Since the closet started, we have provided 984 students with free professional wear,” said Schoenfelder. “As part of the CCLD, we can promote this free resource when we meet with students and at the same time, provide career coaching to students while they are shopping.”
Alongside existing programs like Charlie’s Career Closet and the Coyote Career Kickstart program, the CCLD is adding novel resources to the career and life design playbook. One of their newest projects is an alumni mentorship program created in partnership with the USD Foundation and Alumni Association.
Graduates from USD can be found around the globe, serving their communities and utilizing their education in every field and workforce. By partnering with this wide-ranging network, the CCLD hopes to provide yet another unique opportunity for the USD community in discovering lifelong support and learning.
“The alumni mentorship program will be a wonderful way to connect students with alumni,” said Schoenfelder. “It is also a new way for alumni to give back to USD and our students.”
In fall of 2024, the South Dakota Board of Regents approved funding to renovate space in the Muenster University Center (MUC) to house the CCLD.
Schoenfelder hopes that a dedicated space in a high-visibility location will drive new levels of student engagement with the CCLD.
Design work will take place through spring of 2025; the center currently plans to open their new facilities for the fall 2025 semester.
Alongside staff offices, personnel hope that the new facilities will provide multiple spaces to assist students, employers and community members, including private coaching rooms, swing space for visiting employers and smart studios for students to conduct virtual interviews for graduate schools and career opportunities.
“We’re very excited for a new office space,” said Schoenfelder. “Everything happens at the MUC. It is simply a great place for us to have any student be able to walk in our doors. We hope it will be a place students feel comfortable to come chat about their life and career goals, and the space will be accessible for all students whether they can come in person or visit us virtually.”
With an expanded staff now on board and new spaces coming soon, the CCLD is working hard to ensure that every student has access to the tools, support and information they need to find their own path, no matter what trajectory their passions and education take.
As the center grows, Hackemer looks forward to the CCLD becoming a front-of-mind resource across campus and for Coyotes everywhere.
“We want to teach people skills they can use not only during the school year, but for the rest of a lifetime.”
You May Also Like
USD Music Students Claim Top Prizes in State Competitions
USD music students were among the top prizewinners at two competitions hosted by the South Dakota Music Teachers Association (SDMTA) at Black Hills State University on November 8th.
University of South Dakota Advances Ge Detector Development with Home-Grown Crystals
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and the State of South Dakota, the University of South Dakota is pioneering the advancement of germanium (Ge) detector technology using crystals grown and refined in-house.
A USD Melody: Alumna Lauren Paul's Rise in the World of Opera
Lauren Paul’s journey to professional opera began with a love for classical music inspired by her late father. At USD, Paul honed her skills through rehearsals, performances and expert mentorship. Now a rising star in the opera world, Paul credits USD with preparing her for success in this competitive field.
