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Human Development and Family Science

Our Graduates: Career Profile

 

Debra Swarner
1986


HDFS Major

 

Additional Education: Eastern University, MA in Counseling with an emphasis on College Student Development

 

Job Title: Coordinator of Career Services

 

Employer: Penn State Lehigh Valley

 

Position Description: Assist students with their career pathway development, leading to internships and careers, Connect employers with recruiting opportunities on campus, Represent Penn State Lehigh Valley at business-related community events, Manage internship opportunities and student status in the internship program, Create and maintain all career publications for students and employers

 

Salary Range : $30,000 - $40,000

 

Previously Held Positions: Debra worked in hotel sales for seven years immediately out of college. One of the pieces that the Senior Seminar faculty noted to her was that the degree could be considered a generally transferable communications degree. Because she worked for four years in Conference Services at Messiah, making the transition to the hotel industry was fairly easy to accommodate. She truly used her education in family studies to work with colleagues at the hotel and with their community partners and clients. However, after that time, she chose to return for education to pursue her dream of working with college students.

 

How HDFS Helped to Prepare Her: “Communications and family design courses helped me to prepare for the work with students. Because parents are becoming a greater part of the educational environment today, understanding family systems helps me to listen to and interact with each individual family. This was particularly relevant when I worked as a Residence Life professional at three different institutions. My Messiah College education truly helped me to prepare for and to succeed in graduate education.

I know that some of my colleagues would not say this, but graduate school felt easy in comparison to undergrad. I know there are reasons for this; however, I appreciated the support of Messiah College faculty as I entered and completed that phase of my life.”

 

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