Career Consultants

Ryan began his career at Pitt in 2004 in career services; prior to working at Pitt, he was a mental health counselor and a high school teacher and coach.  In addition to his duties as Associate Director for Career Consulting, Ryan enjoys working with undecided students.

Ryan holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, and makes amazing queso!!

Carol specializes in working with student populations including:

• Undergraduate students
• Transfer students
• Alumni
• Veterans
• Adult Students
• First Generation Students

Carol provides expertise in career development with these majors and certificates:

• Psychology
• Public Service/Non-profit management certificate
• Administration of Justice/Legal Studies/Law, Criminal Justice, and Society
• Health Services
• Natural Sciences
• Media and Professional Communications
• Urban Studies

Carol recently completed a Federal Advising Certificate which enables her to assist students in finding one of the almost 2 million jobs the government has to offer.

Fall and Spring Semesters – Make an appointment on Handshake for Monday-Friday or visit Carol during her drop-in hours on Thursday, 1pm – 3pm in the Career Center, 2nd Floor, WPU!

Summer Semester – Make a virtual appointment on Handshake for Monday-Friday or virtually drop-in during her virtual drop-in hours on Thursdays 1pm – 3pm by signing in on the Career Center website,  careers.pitt.edu.

About Carol

Carol began working at the Career Center in July 2018. She earned her B.A. in Graphic Design from American University and her M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University, where she worked as a career counselor for 4 years serving undergraduate/graduate students and alumni. Carol teaches two one credit classes, including internship for students in the public service major as well as a career development class for CGS students.

Prior to joining the Pitt staff, Carol engaged in several careers including ownership and operation of Color Me Mine, a paint-your-own ceramic studio and as an art director and graphic designer at the Carnegie Museums. She is a certified administer of the MBTI personality assessment and a trained facilitator in salary negotiation through the American Association of University Women (AACW). She is a member of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU), National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the Career Leadership Collective (CLC).

Born in Johannesburg South Africa, Ingrid journeyed to the United States initially as an international student and has since lived in Venezuela and Canada before settling in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Ingrid joined the Career Staff in 2022 bringing with her experience in Intercultural and Global Development, Performing Arts, Career Education and Development, Academic Advising and Academic Coaching.

Ingrid holds a M.A. in Counseling & Development, Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University, and a M.A. in Piano Performance from the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. During the Covid-19 Pandemic she completed an IMMA accredited certification as Positive Psychology Practitioner and Mindfulness Coach.

Ingrid serves as the Career Consultant and Departmental Point of Contact for:
Swanson School of Engineering

• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences

• Astronomy
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies
• Geology
• Neuroscience
• Physics

Ingrid also serves as coordinator for Pitt’s Career Champion Program

Alexander (Alex) Ball graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. In December of 2018, Alex was offered the role of Internship Associate with the university’s career center. In February of 2023, he transitioned into the role of the Pre-Law & Social Sciences Career Consultant. He was a member of the Diversity + You team, facilitated the Panther Leadership Academy during the 2020 school year, and developed a “Mock Interview Day” program to help students practice their interview skills with recruiters in a more relaxed, welcoming environment. Alex has a B.A. in Marketing from Penn State University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Alex is available to help any students considering Law School in their future or have interests related to the social science field.

Alyssa started with the Career Center in March 2014 working specifically with undecided students. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Westminster College and her M.S. in Professional Counseling from Carlow University. Her background includes mental health counseling and both social and clinical research.

Alyssa offers personality and career assessments to help with the career exploration process.  Alyssa is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory.

Saya Jackson joined the Career Center in November 2023 to serve students in the fields of computing, informatics, and analytics. He is enthusiastic about collaborating with learners as they navigate their career transitions so that they don’t lose their vision, compromise their values, or silence their authentic voice.

He comes with over a decade of experience working as a human capacity development professional including five years of supporting the professional development of software developers at an international software company. He has also served as a research supervisor, lecturer, and a learning designer.

He was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and has lived and worked in several African countries including South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Nigeria.

Saya is a certified mental health coach and holds undergraduate and master’s qualifications in applied and Life Sciences as well as post-graduate certification in global entrepreneurship.

Saya works with the following majors:

Computational Biology
Computational Social Science
Computer Science
Data Science
Digital Narrative and Interactive Design
Information Science
Physics and Quantum Computing

Born in Cochabamba-Bolivia journeyed to the United States initially as an international student-athlete to play tennis, and has since lived in Kentucky and Washington State before settling in the Pittsburgh Area. Raquel began working at the Career Center in October 2022. She earned her B.B.A. in General Business and her M.S. in Exercise & Sports Science with a Sports Administration concentration from Eastern Kentucky University, where she worked as a life skills mentor for 2 years serving undergraduate first year student-athletes.

Prior to joining Pitt, Raquel served as the Life Skills Graduate Intern for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, in Spokane, WA. During her time, she oversaw the career development for all student-athletes as well as coordinating different community building events with SAAC as their WCC Liaison. She also served as academic point person for incoming freshmen of Women’s Tennis, Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Rowing.

Previously to Gonzaga, she served as the Graduate Assistant for the Bratzke Student-Athlete Academic Success Center at Eastern Kentucky University where she oversaw academic progress for Football and Men’s Basketball.

Ashley has been with the Career Center since September 2019 with a focus on assisting students within engineering, biological sciences and chemistry succeed. She graduated from Carlow University with a Masters in Student Affairs, though she has additional coursework related to counseling psychology. Ashley was born in Washington, PA and attended Washington & Jefferson College where she received her BA in Sociology. Her previous background is in mental health and education. She has a passion for advocacy, professional development, sustainability, and helping students to grow and thrive at Pitt and beyond.

When not at Pitt she can be found reading, gaming, playing Dungeons & Dragons or spending time with her two curious cats!

Ashley serves as the Career Consultant and Departmental Point of Contact for the following majors:

Swanson School of Engineering
Bioengineering
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering

Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Bioinformatics
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Computational Biology
Ecology & Evolution
Microbiology
Molecular Biology

Erin started working at the Career Center in November 2018. Prior to that, she worked at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education. Erin comes to the Career Center with four year in Higher Education as well as experience as an elementary teacher. She grew up in Meadville, PA but has also lived in Winchester, Virginia and Columbus, Ohio before moving to Pittsburgh in 2014. Erin earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Westminster College and her MEd in Higher Education Management at the University of Pittsburgh.

Erin’s passions includes advocating for a healthy work/life balance as well as physical activity. In her spare time you can find Erin at a yoga studio or researching local history.

Erin works with the following majors…

Africana Studies
Anthropology
Applied Developmental Psychology
Architectural Studies
Communication
Economics
Education
English
Exercise Science
Film and Media Studies
Foreign Language
Health & Physical Activity
History of Art & Architecture
Linguistics
Museum Studies
Music
Public and Professional Writing
Religious Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Theater Arts