Our Mission

The Career Center develops programs and services to provide Columbia College Chicago students with self-knowledge, experience, and connections to the industry in order to develop career confidence, enhance their employability and pursue meaningful career-related experiences.

By fostering and maintaining partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and employers, the Career Center creates a community of advocates that support students’ interests, passions, and values to help navigate the path from college to career.

Did you know that 91% of our students are employed 1 year after graduation and 67% are working in their field of study? Find out more here.

Staff

La'Shon Cannon-RobinsonStudent Employment Coordinator

LaShon Cannon-Robinson is the Student Employment Coordinator at the Career Center. She serves as a liaison for students and staff regarding on-campus employment. She proactively helps students with job search strategies--servicing student employees' needs from beginning to end. LaShon also assists with payroll concerns and issues regarding student employees. In addition, La'Shon manages the Career Center’s front desk student employees.

LaShon’s higher education experience spans 15 years, starting in Financial Aid administration. She is dedicated to helping students be successful despite the challenges they face. Outside of work, LaShon enjoys writing and being a Mom to her three children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and English from Eastern Illinois University.

Laura DanielsAssistant Director of Internships and Career Advising

Laura Daniels

Laura Daniels is the Assistant Director of Internships and Career Advising at the Career Center. As a part of her role, she advises cinema and television students. Previously, she was the External Relations Coordinator for the Interactive Arts and Media Department, where she increased industry relations and student participation in conferences such as the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and SXSW in Austin. Prior to coming to Columbia, Laura held a variety of positions in the television industry, including working for NBC Universal as an NBC Page, for A&E in development, and on production for My Strange Addiction.

Originally from Wisconsin, Laura spent three years working in New York City before moving to Chicago in 2012.

Justin FinkelmanDesign and Interactive Arts & Media Advisor

Justin Finkelman
Justin advises students in Design and Interactive Arts & Media.

Meet Justin Finkelman, an accomplished artist and entrepreneur with a passion for creativity and innovation. Justin studied art at the University of Michigan, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While in college, he started building his own clothing brand and eventually opened a custom apparel business in the North-West suburbs of Chicago. For over a decade, he provided schools, small businesses, private labels, and individuals with customized clothing, demonstrating his expertise in design, marketing, and customer service.

After successfully running his business, Justin decided to sell it to pursue his passion for 3D artistry in the gaming industry and web 3. He became a successful freelancer, working on a range of projects for different clients in various industries, gaining valuable insights and experience along the way. Justin advises students in Design and Interactive Arts & Media.

Justin's work can be found at: https://finktheartist.artstation.com/

Gonzalo GuzmanInternship and Career Advisor, Fashion, Photography, and Art/Art History

Gonzalo Guzman
Gonzalo Guzman is a queer Latinx photographer and writer with almost a decade of experience working in the commercial photo industry. He has held roles across all departments working with photographers, producers, stylists and agents giving him a holistic view of the many opportunities available to graduating students. 
Gonzalo currently serves on American Photographic Artists National Diversity Committee and is a member of Diversify Photo. With both organizations he works to create opportunities for emerging and mid-career photographers from traditionally marginalized communities to find careers and community within the photo industry. 
 
Gonzalo is a 2014 graduate from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography. In his personal practice he explores the experience of the Latinx community and how they have shaped the cultural landscape of America. His work has been published in the Chicago Reader, Block Club Chicago, WTTW, and Eater. 

Jennifer HalperinInternship and Career Advisor, Communication, English, and Creative Writing

Jennifer Halperin

Jennifer advises students in Communication, English, and Creative Writing.

Jennifer Halperin was a long-time newspaper reporter and editor before joining Columbia's staff in 2007.  She is eager to help anyone with internship and job searches, or with making connections in their field.

Darlene JacksonCreative Industry Liaison, Performing Arts, B&E, Music & Fashion

Darlene Jackson

Darlene advises students on portfolios within the Performing Arts, B&E, Music & Fashion departments.

Darlene Jackson, MS, is a Creative Industry Liaison with the Career Center of Columbia College. She is a respected voice in Chicago’s creative community. Named “Chicago’s House Music Queen” by Chicago Magazine, Darlene aka DJ Lady D, is an internationally traveled DJ, producer, and music publisher who launched her independent record label and marketing brand, D’lectable, in 2004. She first acted professionally in The Marva Collins Story (with Cicely Tyson and Morgan Freeman) and as a renowned DJ has been a featured subject in numerous print, television, and film outlets including the music documentaries Girl, The Godfather of Disco, and Slipcue. In 2016’s Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died (Dahl/Hoekstra), she was one of the featured subjects.

Darlene is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and NARAS. She is a public speaker included on panels for Social Media Week, One City One Book, Millikin University, and has led campaigns for the Chicago Public Library. As a presenter for radio, film, and television, she has written for various media outlets including the Chicago Tribune & Metromix, hosted and produced for Chicago Public Media and Vocalo.org, and worked with NPR and BBC radio shows as a writer and researcher. She also has professional freelance experience in advertising, working with brands such as McDonald's and United Airlines with groups such as Burrell, Gray Direct, Flowers Communications, and Leo Burnett. 

At the Career Center, Darlene works with individuals to uncover their unique assets, identify their skills and plan career strategies that match their passion to their purpose. She curates programming that connects professionals to individuals for opportunities to learn, discover and share knowledge, ideas, and industry best practices. By maintaining relationships that actively create career possibilities in relevant ways, she is a considerable resource to the team.

Tom JoyceInternship and Career Advisor, B&E, Radio, Music, Audio Arts & Acoustics, Science & Mathematics

Tom Joyce

Tom advises students in B&E, Radio, Music, Audio Arts & Acoustics, Science & Mathematics.

Tom Joyce is an Internship and Career Advisor for the Career Center at Columbia College Chicago. In addition to his B.A. in Communications from Columbia College Chicago, he also has a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from North Park University. Prior to his current position, he spent 23 years as a full-time staff member for the Radio Department at Columbia College Chicago, serving as Internship Coordinator, Industry Relations Coordinator, Event Coordinator, Web Master, and Studio Center Coordinator. He is a 1993 graduate of Columbia College Chicago. As a student, he was Sports Director and Alternative Music Director for the school radio station, WCRX-FM. While attending Columbia and thereafter, he worked as a Voiceover Talent and Production Assistant at both All My Features and Connor Communications in Chicago. Throughout his endeavors in the media industry, he has interviewed a wide range of local and national athletes and musicians and has reported on several important events. Born and raised in Chicago, he prides himself on “Putting students in a position to succeed in experiential learning activities, internships, or employment opportunities.”

Anna Ogier-BloomerAssociate Dean of Career Development and Industry Relations

Danielle PetersonInternship and Career Advisor

Danielle Peterson

Danielle is a Bradley University graduate who obtained a B.S. degree in Communications with a concentration in Television Arts. Within her last semester in college, she attended the Hollywood Semester in Los Angeles where she worked as an intern at Dr. Phil Show. Her internship transitioned into a full-time position for the following season. She has also worked for Judge Mathis, HGTV’s Windy City Rehab, and worked on a host of many special projects. Some of those special projects include:  ComplexCon, NBA Allstar Weekend, and music videos.  Her experience has led her into nonprofit roles such as Program Coordinating and Teaching in media related programs. Her passions truly collide when having the opportunity to be resourceful and staying in the business of production and all things media.  

Adam PolakAdministrative Assistant

Adam is a creative problem-solver and supervises the front desk as the Career Center’s Administrative Assistant. Previously, he has worked in the non-profit sphere for six years in organizations with missions focused on uplifting LGBTQ youth and young people of color, particularly those impacted by homelessness and the justice system. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University in both Fine Arts and Sociology with a concentration in Criminology.    

When he’s not at the Career Center, he works as a freelance visual artist and storyteller. His work has been showcased at the Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater, Flatiron Galleries, and Fulton Street Collective. He continues his professional trajectory of merging art and activism with plans to network with and highlight other emerging transgender Chicago artists.

Chakka HendersonInternship and Career Advisor, Cinema and Television Arts

Chakka Henderson

Chakka advises students in Cinema and Television Arts.

Chakka's professional journey started in student affairs, where she worked in residence life and multicultural programs before transitioning to a media career. Before joining Columbia College Chicago, Chakka managed Free Spirit Media's Industry Pathways, where she worked with film, TV, and media industry professionals to provide workforce opportunities to emerging mediamakers from marginalized communities and identities.

As an Internship and Career Advisor for the Career Center at Columbia College Chicago, Chakka provides career readiness and job search coaching for students in Columbia College Chicago's Cinema and Television Arts department.

Chakka received her Master of Education in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland College Park, and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she received Bronze Tablet Honors. When not career coaching or advising, Chakka is a multimedia producer. Her projects include the short film; many short non-fiction video pieces, and the Highwater Podcast, a forum for artists and creatives to share their stories.

Rebecca ReulandAssistant Director of Industry Relations

Rebecca Reuland
Rebecca Reuland is the Assistant Director of Industry Relations for the Career Center at Columbia College Chicago. She has a BFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago, an MA in Photography from Sotheby's Institute of Art in London and is currently pursuing her doctorate in higher education. She is currently on the board of the Chicago chapter of American Photographic Artists. Rebecca worked for a well-renowned architectural photography firm and traveled the US extensively with a large format camera. She also has experience working in museums and archives in Chicago and London. Rebecca has been an arts educator for over a decade serving in various roles such as a teaching artist, mentor, and most recently as an adjunct professor and internship and career advisor. Rebecca enjoys connecting students with industry through portfolio reviews, career fairs, panels, and other employer focused events. 

Valerie RobbinsEmployer Relations Coordinator

Valerie Robbins

Valerie is a talented creative professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Columbia College Chicago. In her role at the Career Center, she maintains Columbia’s online job board, ColumbiaWorks-powered by Handshake. She provides training for students, staff, and faculty who need assistance posting jobs and creating accounts. In addition, Valerie assists with payroll processing for student employees.

She is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University, with a research focus on Intimate Partner Violence in Black Lesbian and Transwomen relationships.

Outside of work, Valerie is a foodie who enjoys watching anime and being surrounded by artistic people. She works to be the best person that she can be and believes in the words of Booker T. Washington: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.

Angela SheridonCreative Industry Liaison, Cinema and Television and Arts, Interactive Arts and Media, Communication

Angela Sheridon

Angela advises students on portfolios within the Cinema and Television and Arts, Interactive Arts and Media, Communication departments.

Originally from the Motor City, Angela began her career at the worldwide ad agency, BBDO Detroit where she worked in the broadcast production department, assisting on television and radio commercials. During her time at the agency, some of the most influential commercial work had been accomplished by some of the world’s most renowned filmmakers.

A few years later, she went on to further her education and moved to Chicago to enter Columbia College Chicago’s film production program. Concurrently, she lined up a job representing visual media artists for commercials, including the creative digital agency Digital Kitchen. She represented directors such as Michel Gondry, Traktor, Jesse Dylan, Chris Applebaum, and Antoine Bardout-Jacquet. It was a very dynamic time in her career, but with her goal of pursuing a role in production, she then moved to LA to work with companies such as Hungry Man, Radical Media, and Tool. 

Achieving her goal on the West Coast, Angela made her way back to the Windy City and was introduced to the business of public relations, rounding out her background in advertising and commercial production. This work brought about her experience in PR for several acclaimed companies, including Backyard, Supply&Demand Integrated, and Harpoon Pictures. 

Angela joined the Career Center at Columbia College Chicago in 2014. As the Employment Coordinator and now a Creative Industry Liaison she's forged connections with the visual and performing arts communities and advocates on behalf of Columbia College talent. She's also led the development of employment recruitment programs that bring together employers, students, and alumni. Having sustained strong, working relationships, throughout her career, she continues to be involved with her widespread network in the on-screen media, commercial, advertising, film, video, digital content, film, and broadcast production industries. She feels that finding relevant opportunities for students and helping to match up employers with Columbia talent has by far been her most gratifying work.

Latiesha WhitseyCommunications and Marketing Specialist

Latiesha Whitsey

Latiesha is the Communications and Marketing Specialist in the Career Center. In this role, Latiesha is responsible for event and campaign support, design oversight, managing social media and the blog, and developing and implementing the communications and marketing strategy for the Career Center.

Latiesha is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has been working as a Social Media Manager since 2020. Latiesha's favorite quote is "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

Eric WordlowAssistant Director - Student Employment

Eric Wordlow

Eric began his career in Student Employment while working as a student employee throughout graduate school. He had an incredible start to his career by being exposed to various facets of student employment. Before joining Columbia in 2015, he worked for a higher education system school that gave him the opportunity to oversee student employment efforts at four schools in seven cities. Eric considers himself a student employee activist, and he stands firmly in the belief that student employment is a solid career development opportunity for students to enhance their personal, professional and creative growth.

As the Assistant Director of Student Employment, Eric oversees student employment programming, advocates for the role of student employment, and develops policies and procedures for students and supervisors.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fisk University and a Masters of Arts from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He remains connected and actively engaged in the Student Employment community in his role as a Student Employment Essential (SEE) Trainer, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators (MASEA).