About Us

Career Services provides UM-Dearborn students help with career exploration and planning, job preparation, and job search skill development. They facilitate connections between students, employers, and the community by providing a wide range of events and guidance that help students achieve their Career Best!

Programs and Services:

• Career planning , coaching and exploration
• Resumes, cover letters, and mock interviews
• Walk-in career support with professionally trained career peers
• Internet assessments to help you decide on your major and career path
• Online assessments to explore your strengths, interests and skills
• In-class workshops and presentations
• Panel discussions
• National Society of Leadership and Success

Career Services is committed to inclusion

In visiting Career Services you will find a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. We provide resources and services to students of all backgrounds, and we encourage you to utilize the services and programs that would be helpful in identifying your strengths and abilities.  We encourage you to review the information for various student communities and speak with a Career Counselor to help address any questions or concerns.

Laurel Draudt, Career Services Director
Laurel Draudt has been working in the higher education industry for the past 20 years and has a passion for helping students develop and reach their academic and career goals. Having served students, alumni and employers and collaborated with faculty and colleagues at multiple R1 universities, she also brings programming, development and strategy insights from a small liberal arts perspective. Her experience spans from Schools of Law, Pharmacy, and Education to most recently directing a Business Institute with a focus on professional development and experiential learning which included an academic curriculum and internship requirement. Each institution and role has offered a wealth of knowledge that allows for a holistic approach in working with colleagues and advising students. Laurel earned her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marietta College in Spanish.

Mai Qazzaz, Assistant Director of Career Services
Mai Qazzaz specializes in employer relations on campus. Mai works on getting employers to participate in the different recruiting events on campus like career fairs, info sessions, workshops, promo tables and more that will lead to hiring UM-Dearborn students & alumni. Some of the major recruiting events are Ford Day, GE Day, the Fall and Spring Career Fairs, Education Career Fair, Health & Human Services Career Fair, and the Federal & Non-profit Career Fair. Mai works with different campus community like the Office of Financial Aid to help with work-study program on-campus & off-campus with non-profit organizations, the START Office on co-sponsoring the Health Professions Schools Information Fair, and participating in the Office of Admissions fairs.

Jennifer Macleod, Senior Professional Development Program
Jennifer Macleod is a Career and Employment Readiness Manager at Career Services.  Her focus is on career readiness and student support, as well as program development and cross-campus collaboration at UM-Dearborn.  She is the advisor for the National Society of Leadership and Success program, a career coach, and facilitates career-centered and personal development workshops.  Jennifer graduated with her MA in Educational Leadership with a focus in Higher Education Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University.  At Eastern Michigan, she worked with at-risk student populations as a teacher and success coach for three years.  She is optimistic, passionate about personal growth, and enjoys learning from each person she meets. She strives to be a positive resource and guide for her students by staying student-focused. Jennifer feels college is a place to grow, where individuals can strengthen their mind, explore passions, develop transferable skills, gain an understanding of personal values, and prepare for a future career.

Zainab Radi, Career Coach
Zainab Radi is a dedicated Career Coach at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, driven by her passion to assist students and alumni in their professional journeys while helping them achieve their full potential. With a strong commitment to empowering individuals to fulfill their aspirations, she is honored to be a part of the Wolverine community, offering essential guidance, resources, and support for those pursuing rewarding careers. Simultaneously, Zainab is actively pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy, underscoring her dedication to enhancing the educational experience and future prospects of UM-Dearborn students. Alongside her academic journey, she remains steadfast in her mission to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of UM-Dearborn students and the broader community.

Devin Johannis, Career Coach and Professional Development Manager         

Devin is helping students with career coaching and he is also leading the Talent Gateway Program. He recently graduated from the University of Michigan with his Masters in Higher Education with a concentration on Student Access and Success. Devin has worked in a variety of student affairs positions including academic advising, recruitment and admissions, and higher education research. Prior to receiving his master’s degree, Devin received a BFA in Furniture Design from IUPUI and served as the Director of Design and Engineering at a bespoke furniture company for two years.  

Rasika: Lead Career Peer

Rasika is a Graduate Student pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics. Her professional goals include continuous self-improvement and getting better at what she does while forming stronger professional and personal connections.  She aspires to contribute to the peer community at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Rasika became a Career Peer because she likes engaging with people. Being a Career Peer perfectly aligns with her aspirations - enhancing her networking skills, developing meaningful relationships, personal fulfillment, and working with amazing colleagues! As a Career Peer, she is here to help her fellow peers! She thinks working together creates a positive synergy and she truly believes “even illness becomes wellness, when I is replaced by WE”.  

Fun facts about Rasika: She loves exploring new interests, cooking, and reading! 

Aleeya: Career Peer

Aleeya is an Undergraduate Pre-Business student!  Her professional goals revolve around entrepreneurship - aspiring to create and manage her own business. Aleeya became a Career Peer because she faced the exact issues that Career Services assists with; especially with Resume support! Seeking on-campus employment was tough, and finding support from Career Services was helpful and so becoming a career peer has given her the opportunity to raise awareness about Career Services’ resources and urge others to seek assistance so that they don't face similar challenges. Aleeya feels being a Career Peer has expanded her network - building relationships with people in different majors and backgrounds. At UM-Dearborn Aleeya loves the unwavering go-blue spirit and campus community - "Once a wolverine, always a wolverine"

Fun facts about Aleeya: Baking (a form of self-care and self-expression for her), daily workouts, attending business-related events, staying engaged with her student organization involvements (FMA, AMA, and SCA). 

Azra: Career Peer

Azra is an Undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Journalism. Her career aspiration is to become a Lawyer.  Azra finds peace and happiness if she can make a positive impact on somebody or something. Through the Career Peer role, she enjoys providing students with resources and tips to support their career journey. Azra loves being involved with her peers throughout these important stages of becoming career-ready.

Fun facts about Azra: Cook, eat, watch a movie, and listen to songs.

Brianna: Undergraduate Intern / Career Peer

Brianna is an undergraduate student studying Behavioral Science with a minor in Psychology.  She aspires to lead teams through versatile management with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Brianna aims to promote career readiness among underserved populations, including minorities, formerly incarcerated individuals, LGBTQ+ communities, and women. Her favorite thing about UM-Dearborn is the rich diversity among students and staff. Brianna says, “The variety of voices fosters a welcoming environment where I continuously learn and grow”.  Her undergraduate research examines the effects of criminal records on students in higher education; aiming to educate the campus and the community on improving support for individuals with past convictions.

Fun facts about Brianna: She enjoys reading books on philosophy, learning languages like Spanish and Latin, and engaging in creative projects and crafting. She also loves spending time with loved ones and being outdoors!

Eay-Mey: Career Peer

Eay-Mey is an Undergraduate student studying psychology. Her professional goals right now are to focus on developing the skills necessary to effectively work with people in a professional environment. She became a Career Peer because she liked the idea of being able to work with students on campus, as a way of becoming more connected with the UM-Dearborn community. 

Fun facts about Eay-Mey: reading, writing, gaming, and across multiple households she has 7 dogs and 3 cats.