Having announced her resignation in mid-January, Katie Mitchell, director of the Center for Career and Calling, will be leaving her position on Feb. 10.
According to Dean of Students Chris Luekenga, Mitchell’s work at AU has benefitted students in countless ways.
“Her leadership will be greatly missed as she has taken the Career and Calling Center to a new professional place,” said Luekenga. “I am confident that the Lord will bring the right person to take the center to the next level. The graduate assistants are very capable in running the daily office, and I have complete confidence in their abilities.”
Luekenga explained that the transition period of finding another director will not affect the operations and services of the Center for Career and Calling.
“Katie will remain on a consulting contract for us during the transition and will assist in completing tasks that are time-sensitive and be available for consultation,” he said. “The Center for Career and Calling is open and will continue to offer services during the transition time.”
Mitchell, who has been with the Center for Career and Calling for nearly five and a half years, explained that she has enjoyed the rewarding experience of helping students grow in their professional lives.
“I really have loved working here,” said Mitchell. “I love getting to see students progress. Honestly, the most rewarding is when I have a student come in and have no idea what they want to do, but they end up finishing out and I get to see them graduate. When they actually graduate and they’re confident in what they’re doing and they want to share with me, that’s the most fun and the most rewarding part.”
Although she will miss her position at AU, Mitchell explained that she is looking forward to her new job for several reasons.
“I am going to be working at Strada Education Network, which is in downtown Indy,” she said. “It’s a nonprofit with a similar mission to the Center for Career and Calling, but its mission is to create more purposeful pathways between education and employment.”
According to Mitchell, her new position will broaden the range of students she assists.
“I’ll be working across all of the education landscape, not just college or four-year universities, but secondary, post-secondary, apprenticeship programs, college, university and online learning,” she said. “I will be their corporate communications manager. It’s kind of a new area within their company, so that’s one of the things I’m most excited about—it’s kind of like a fresh, clean slate that I get to create on.”
Mitchell explained that she is assisting AU while they search for another director is ongoing.
“They’ve already posted the position so that’s on our website and I think they’re taking applications,” she said. “That process usually takes a couple of months to get through, so I think they’re trying to find a good fit potentially before the semester ends. But that’s the goal—finding someone quickly and in the meantime, I’ll be helping remotely so I won’t be in the office.”
Although she looks forward to a new challenge, Mitchell explained that AU has left a lasting impact on her.
“The Center for Career and Calling has been an awesome place to work at,” she said. “I love the people here and the students. I’ll miss them all.”
Corrinne Huber, a graduate assistant in the Center for Career and Calling, has worked alongside Mitchell for two years.
“I have learned so much through my assistantship these past two years,” said Huber. “I’ve been shown how to manage multiple different events, juggle appointments and coaching and most of all—to believe in myself. I’m very thankful to have Katie in my life as my first post-undergrad boss to lead me in the right direction. Her guidance and opinion mean so much to me.”
Not long after Mitchell’s departure, Huber will also be leaving the Center for Career and Calling due to graduation.
“In the two years that I have been a graduate assistant, I have seen huge changes and growth in appointment numbers, event attendance and so much more,” she said. “My hope is that this will continue after Katie and I depart. I hope the students truly see that we are there to serve them, and want to do that from the bottom of our hearts.”