The Student Branding Blog has a diverse set of contributors, ranging from students to graduates to career counselors. Students, of all ages, listen to their peers and from experienced professionals, and this blog gives you the best of each. We do accept guest contributions on occasion.
Editor-In-Chief
Melissa Kong – Monday
Melissa is an Assistant Brand Manager at Time Inc. Home Entertainment where she manages brand extension projects for numerous publications including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, People, and Entertainment Weekly. She also works on new product development for Time Inc. brands and external partnerships. Previously, Melissa has worked in consumer marketing for Fortune Magazine. In college she was a Viral Marketing Intern for the CBS Evening News and an Editorial Intern for Time for Kids and Sports Illustrated for Kids. Melissa majored in Psychology at Hamilton College and currently resides in New York City. She has a passion for magazines, writing, traveling and of course, the Yankees. To find out more, read her blog, follow her on Twitter and connect on LinkedIn.
Career Advisers
Bret Simmons – Monday
Bret is an Assistant Professor of Management in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), where he teaches courses in organizational behavior, leadership, and personal branding to both undergraduate and MBA students. He has a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University. Bret practices personal branding at his website Positive Organizational Behavior where he blogs about leadership, followership, and personal branding. His purpose is “to change your mind about the value of partnering with others to build healthy, responsible organizations where everyone can thrive.” You can also find Bret on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin, so be sure to connect!
Mike Severy – Tuesday
Mike is the Director of Student Life at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Managing an office responsible for student organizations and major campus programs, his role at UNCP is to help students create and find the meaningful experiences in their lives. He views his work through the lens of student leadership development believing that students are developed over time through a series of meaningful experiences. Mike started his higher education career in admissions and financial aid and has experience in Greek Life, residence life, intramurals, orientation, outdoor programs, programming and leadership development. He received his Master’s degree in Student Development from Appalachian State University (NC), and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Psychology, from Central Michigan University. You can connect with Mike on Twitter (@MikeSevery).
Kelly Cuene – Wednesday
Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Previously, she worked with liberal arts students in career services and multicultural affairs at Lawrence University. Kelly is a 2007 graduate of the Higher Education/Student Personnel Administration masters program at New York University, where she worked in both student leadership programming and career services. In 2003 she completed her undergraduate work at UW-Madison, where she majored in Political Science and Women’s Studies and was active in several campus organizations dedicated to social justice. When she’s not at work, Kelly enjoys volunteering, running, attempting DIY projects in her new home, hiking and cheering for the Green Bay Packers, her hometown team. Connect with Kelly on Twitter (@kellycuene), LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.
Dan Klamm – Thursday
Dan is the Outreach & Marketing Coordinator for Syracuse University Career Services. In this role, he is in charge of marketing and promotions, as well as overall student engagement, for career-related events and services on campus. In addition, Dan meets with students one-on-one to help them strengthen their resumes, prepare for interviews, and present themselves in a way that will help them realize their career ambitions. He is a 2008 graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, with dual majors in advertising and sociology. During college, he served on the executive board of his fraternity (Phi Kappa Psi), worked as a campus tour guide, and was named the 2007 Syracuse University Homecoming King. Now, outside of work, Dan continues to stay active in the Syracuse University and greater Syracuse community. To learn more about Dan and some of the things he is doing to engage students, check out his LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.
Karen Obringer – Thursday
Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. She has a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Recreation and Tourism and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Bowling Green State University (GO Falcons!). Her 10+ years professional-experience ranges from working at camps, schools, a church, college campuses, and other non-profits. Although these may seem unrelated she attests that she still uses both her degrees and life experiences from all jobs in her current career. When she isn’t working or volunteering at one of four local non-profits, she enjoys singing in two choruses and spending time with her family and black lab, Othello. You can connect with Karen through Twitter, LinkedIn, or IPFW’s Blog.
Lori Bielek - Friday
Lori is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at the University of Delaware Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development. Lori is also responsible for engaging students with on-campus career events and services through in-person interactions as well as through web tools. She maintains the career services web site and spearheads other technology initiatives for the office, such as establishing an active Twitter account (@UDcareers). Lori earned her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2007 where she worked with both Greek life and career services. Prior to that she earned a Web Design Certificate from Boston University. As an undergraduate at the University of Rhode Island, Lori majored in Psychology and Women’s Studies. When not working, you will find her relaxing at home with her husband and dog or reading books on her Kindle. You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn.
Nicole Anderson – Saturday
Nicole is an Assistant Director/Career Counselor for Tufts University Career Services. With fourteen years of experience in college career services, Nicole’s expertise includes career counseling undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni from liberal arts, science, engineering,business, and education. Her career began at the Boston College Career Center conducting career counseling appointments while coordinating diversity career services and managing large scale employer events. Today, Nicole oversees a project team who plan and implement a high volume of career events. The most fulfilling part of her work happens while guiding students through the career development process, where they can appreciate the full reach of their potential. Her favorite appointments include conducting mock interviews and critiquing personal statements for graduate school applicants. Nicole received her BA in Psychology and her MA in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. Nicole loves spending time with her husband, family, and her dog Winnie. Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn.
Joe Bucher – Sunday
Joe has five years of experience working in the career development field. He is currently a career counselor at the San Jose State University Career Center. He enjoys assisting students throughout all phases of the career development process so that they can discover and achieve their career goals. His areas of specialization include: experiential education, resume development, interview preparation, job search strategy, and assessment inventories. In his role, he also serves as the community manager for the Career Center’s social media outlets. Joe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development and a Master’s degree in Counselor Education both from San Jose State University.When he is not working, Joe is passionate about fitness, soccer, football, fantasy sports, reading, writing, and nutrition. Connect with Joe on Twitter or follow samplings of his work via the SJSU Career Center Blog and Facebook fan page.
Students and Graduates
Cassie Holman – Saturday
Cassie is a May 2009 University of Wisconsin-Madison Ag Journalism graduate. Although written journalism called her first, Cassie recently unfolded her passion for public relations during her short stint as a PR consultant for a Madison, Wis. area non-profit. She wrapped up an editorial internship in August and is now looking to dive into the professional field of public relations. Cassie’s interest and curiosity with social media tools are continually expanding, as she connects with fascinating individuals and ideas daily. Find her on Twitter, BrazenCareerist, and LinkedIn.
Shannon Reed – Sunday
Shannon is a senior at Boston University majoring in Advertising in the College of Communication. She has experience working for NBC Universal in New York City as well as PJA Advertising and Marketing in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She loves clean functional digital design. Digital is the future of advertising and marketing and Shannon likes to say involved and on trend. Visit her website or follow her on Twitter.
Kade Dworkin – Student Branding TV Co-Host
Kade has both an undergraduate degree in Marketing and a graduate degree in Information Management from Arizona State University. He currently is an advisor to PharmaCapture and has two patent applications to his credit. His work history includes several internet companies ranging from startups to household names. When not working with a company he’s passionate about, you’ll likely find Kade reading a book or at a white board drawing out his next big innovation. You can connect and communicate with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Amber Rae Lambke – Student Branding TV Co-Host
Amber recounts her college experience as progressive, life-enhancing, entrepreneurial and social. A mid-west gal and 2007 Miami University (Ohio) graduate who served as the Apple Campus Rep for her university, Amber designed her own major to fit the future she envisioned herself having — one that embodied aspects of communication, branding, psychology and technology. Amber is fearless and unapologetic about her beliefs as she eagerly strives for (her definition of) excellence. Excellence to Amber means a balance of focusing on the present moment, knowing what to strive for and ardently pursuing that which evokes ultimate happiness. All in all, Amber hopes to share stories, thoughts and insights that resonate and inspire the passion within you. Currently, Amber is Director of Marketing for a cutting-edge enterprise social networking software company in San Francisco. Previous to this, Amber led digital programs for a start-up marketing agency in Chicago for some of the world’s leading brands including Dove, Frito-Lay, Kimberly-Clark, Kodak and Beam-Global. You can connect with Amber on her blog, SocialAmber.com or on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
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