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.