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Staff Bio's

Kathryn Van Ness, Director

What do you do at the Career Center? Leader of an exceptionally innovative team.  Create and execute strategies to help  UCI students with career focus, experience outside the classroom, and the school to work or grad school transitions.
Where are you originally from? Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? An Olympic figure skater or swimmer
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Teenage dental assistant
Favorite Vacation Spot: Lake Como, Italy or Nozawa, Japan
What’s your dream job? My job/career and I am not kidding!
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Surfing in the ocean in the morning and skiing at Big Bear in the afternoon on the same day!

Linda Drake, Associate Director / Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center?  Oversee the career development function of the center.
Where are you originally from?  I’m a native Southern Californian, raised in LA.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?  High school physical education
teacher.
Weirdest job you’ve ever had:  I was a server in a Cafeteria and one night I remember serving spinach that contained green worms.
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Any place sunny and warm where I can walk.
What’s your dream job?  Professional ice cream taster
1 thing that every UCI student should experience:  I am a devoted Wahoo’s patron and believe every student should experience Wahoos at least once.

Bob Gomez , Associate Director / Career Counselor

 

Kathy Dotson , Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center?  Meet with students, teach workshops, coordinate Career Fest, liaison with Biological Sciences Department, Physical Sciences Department and Athletic DepartmentWhere are you originally from? Southern California; I've lived here my whole life except a summer in Colorado (for summer job).
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? Something in the medical field (but couldn’t stand the site of blood)
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Waitress at a Dude Ranch for the summer in Colorado
Favorite Vacation Spot: Costa Rica
What’s your dream job? Movie Location Scout
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Enjoying the peace of Aldrich Park on a stressful day!

Allison Keller, Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center? Advise students in all aspects of the career development process from self-assessment to exploring careers to preparing for the internship and job search. Liaison to the School of Humanities.
Where are you originally from? Hmm…I was born in Minneapolis, MN but have lived in Chicago, IL; Princeton, NJ; Santa Rosa, CA; Valencia, CA; Columbus, OH; Stanford, CA; Bloomington, IN; South Bend, IN; and most recently Annapolis, MD
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? Dancer, actress, or marine biologist
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Tour guide at the Olentangy Indian Caverns in Delaware, Ohio
Favorite Vacation Spot: Maui
What’s your dream job? To be a full time student (without the stress of exams, essays, and major restrictions)
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: I believe all Californians should experience one cold winter in the east or midwest…it will help you always appreciate the ideal weather in California

Christine Kelly, Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center? I’m the Graduate Career Counselor.
Where are you originally from? That’s a hard question to answer—I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, then lived in Lorrain, Ohio (which I don’t remember, but there are photos of me there), then in Huntington, New York (which I do remember) and then to Costa Mesa, CA. I was in Costa Mesa from the age of 11 until I left for my Ph.D. program at age 25.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? An artist.
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Working the “graveyard” shift in a day care center. I got a lot of studying done.
Favorite Vacation Spot: I went to the Bahamas for my 15th wedding anniversary and I loved it. The water is warm, the sand white and the water is an amazing mixture of shades of turquoise and you can see right to the bottom.
What’s your dream job? Artist
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Something you think you could never do. You should leave college a different person than you were when you entered. And enjoy your free time—you’ll never have more control over how you spend your time then you do now—Yes Really!!!!

Andrea Knies , Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center? Career Center YouTube Videos, Workshops, Individual Appointments, Drop in Advising
Where are you originally from? Ireland, Indiana (Pop 1200)
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? I wanted to be Casey Kasem (The original Ryan Seacrest for you young’ens)
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Waitress in a 5 Star Restaurant…in a Retirement Community
Favorite Vacation Spot: Amsterdam
What’s your dream job? Giving historic home tours…it’s my retirement plan
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: See a real live snail in the wild! Hey, we don’t have these in Indiana!

Stacie Oshima, Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center?  Talk with students to help guide them in making a decision about which major or career to pursue. 
Where are you originally from?  Fountain Valley, CA
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?  A career counselor.  No, not really.  I didn't even know what that was when I was a kid.  I didn't even know what I wanted to do when I graduated college, because I didn't visit my college's career center!
Weirdest job you’ve ever had:  Doing public relations for the company that represented the low rider car shows.  I never knew that cars could move like that!
Favorite Vacation Spot:  St. Paul de Vence, a small cobble-stone village atop a hill in Provence.
What’s your dream job? Personal Chef  
1 thing that every UCI student should experience:  Every UCI student should pull ONE all-nighter (even if you don't have an exam the next day). 

Araceli Rossi, Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center?  Career Counseling, Co-direct Career Peer Consultant Program, Prelaw Advising, Conduct workshops, Consult staff as to where and what to eat
Where are you originally from?  Born in the Philippines
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?  Vocalist/Singer
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Worked in a garden shop on a military base:  Loaded bags of manure, etc. Yuk!, drove a fork lift moving pallets around.  Not really weird.
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Barcelona, Spain
What’s your dream job? International Food Critic  
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Get out of your comfort zone and experience something new, like try eating food you’ve never eaten before or do a marathon…Not!

Lorri Sonnendecker, Career Counselor

What do you do at the Career Center?  Guide students through the process of choosing their majors and careers, assist them in the job search through interviewing techniques and resume writing.  Also, I serve as a consultant/co-advisor for the UCDC and Sacramento Summer Internship Programs
Where are you originally from?  Cleveland, OH
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?  A Tour Guide/Flight Attendant
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Not too weird – just discouraging…I worked in telemarketing for a small one-hour photoshop soliciting people to come in and take pictures with the Easter Bunny.  I only lasted there a week and called my boss from a payphone to tell him I was no longer interested in the job.
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Maui, Hawaii
What’s your dream job? It’s a toss-up between being a Secret Shopper or a Travel Critic
1 thing that every UCI student should experience:  I think that every UCI student should experience the friendly staff and cozy atmosphere of the UCI Career Center.  No seriously, every student should try to make at least one new friend each quarter.

Chris Chavez, Program Coordinator

What do you do at the Career Center?  Supervise Student Resource Assistants, Co-Coordinate Gradschool Fair & Work-Study and Campus Job Fair, Manage Alumni Compass Service, Back-up on ZOTLINK…(still developing new position).
Where are you originally from? The OC.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? Mail Man Driver…LOL
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Telemarketer (you see some weird people there).
Favorite Vacation Spot: Europe (Italy)
What’s your dream job? Actor/Model
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: I was in a fraternity at UCI and it was one of the greatest experiences I ever had.

Daphne Felicitas, Career Counselor / Internship Coordinator

What do you do at the Career Center? I advise students on how to navigate the internship search process through advising and workshops. I also help employers develop quality internship programs. I’m also responsible for the training and leadership development of all our staff.
Where are you originally from? San Diego, CA
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? Wanted to work in musical theater :)
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: Worked for a telemarketing company that sold computer software to help young children learn how to read.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Depending on what time of the year---New York or Hawaii!
What’s your dream job? To develop the leadership potential in our youth
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Get involved on campus!

Michelle Foley, Recruiting Coordinator

What do you do at the Career Center?I arrange events for employers offering internships and/or full time opportunities for UCI students.
Where are you originally from? Born in Adrian, raised in Florida
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? Accountant
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: I was a clerk in a tourist toy store on Sanibel Island.  Everything in the place beeped, talked, barked or whatever.  On top of that the manager played 50’s music all day! 
Favorite Vacation Spot: Puerto Rico
What’s your dream job? Right where I am
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Bungee jumping!!!!!!!

Sheila Fortman-Craun, LOR / Office Manager

What do you do at the Career Center?  Say "no" to any financial requests and try to keep busy so I stay out of trouble 
Where are you originally from?  Chicago, IL 
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?  Quarterback - NFL 
Weirdest job you’ve ever had:  Working in the Operating Room at UCIMC - 3-11 pm shift - gets real quiet & creepy! 
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Anywhere with a beach & sun 
What’s your dream job?  Talk show host - like Ellen D. 
1 thing that every UCI student should experience:  Go abroad - there is life outside of Orange County and it can be life changing - trust me!

Danika Wong , Marketing Coordinator

What do you do at the Career Center? I oversee all of the marketing to students, employers, and the community.  I try to come up with new and innovative ways to get our message out there and people at our events.
Where are you originally from? Huntington Beach
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a marine biologist and swim with otters
Weirdest job you’ve ever had: I guess a shoe saleswoman, but I only did that for a month
Favorite Vacation Spot: Paris!
What’s your dream job? World renowned DJ and/or pastry chef
1 thing that every UCI student should experience: Have lunch on the grass in Aldrich park.

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