As the Associate Vice President for Career Development, Kathleen has more than twenty five years of progressive experience in career services in higher education. She is an effective leader and creative programmer; able to create, develop, and implement programs supporting office vision and strategic planning. She is dedicated to strategic visioning and management, collaborative partnerships and faculty engagement. Kathleen has a solid understanding of career development, student development, and organizational and leadership theories.
Kathleen holds a Master's of Science in Student Personnel Services from Miami University of Ohio and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Akron. Kathleen began her tenure in university career services at Ashland College, now Ashland University. Her career services work included positions at Knox College (IL), Marietta College (OH), Grinnell College (IA), and The University of Akron (OH). Immediately prior to her appointment as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Executive Director of Career Development, now Associate Vice President for Career Development, at William and Mary, she served as the director for Career Exploration and Development at Denison University in Granville, OH.
Kathleen has authored chapters in several different publications and served as an academic advisor and adjunct faculty member at Marietta College teaching career planning, leadership development and communication. Most recently, Kathleen was named as the Faculty Lead for Strategic Planning for the Emerging Leader session at the Management Leadership Institute through the National Association of Colleges and Employers, where she instructs on strategic planning for emerging leaders.
Currently, Powell is the President of the NACE 2016-17 Board of Directors. In this role, Powell provides strategic leadership to the association as it addresses several key initiatives, including career readiness and student outcomes. Since 1998, she has shared her leadership and vision with NACE. During that time, she has served on the Board of Directors as a Director-College and as Vice President-College, and on numerous NACE committees and task forces, including the Leadership Advancement Program Committee (co-chair), Diversity Advancement Committee, Future Trends Committee, Conference Program Committee, First-Destination Survey Team, and Principles for Professional Practice Committee.
Kathleen has served as the President of the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers (Midwest ACE) and President of the Illinois Small College Placement Association. Kathleen is the recipient of the Founders Distinguished Service Award and J.W. Paquette Award for Superior Leadership Award (Midwest ACE), Charles Sumner Harrison Award and Teacher Appreciation Award, Sigma Kappa, (Marietta College). In addition, Kathleen holds a Management Leadership Certificate for Career Services Professionals.