Nancy Bilmes

Director (she/her)

In my role, I lead the Center for Career Development on a day-to-day basis, supervising staff, managing and developing programs and services, and troubleshooting opportunities that arise.  In the past 28 years, I’ve had the opportunity to manage, innovate, strategize, and work directly with students.  Although I’ve held many roles during my tenure at the Career Center, the consistent theme in all the work I’ve done is that it benefits UConn students!  As an undergraduate at Ithaca College, I remember quite clearly being confused about my future and unsure about what I would do upon graduation which makes my work in the Career Center personal and meaningful. I hope that the work I’ve done over the years has helped students like me who had or are having a difficult time making decisions about their future.

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Bio

Hometown: Avon, CT

Things I enjoy: My happy place is being on a lake, whether sitting on the beach reading a book, floating, and/or paddleboarding. I enjoy learning sign language and look forward to when I can have conversations with people who are hard of hearing. From a creative standpoint, I make beaded necklaces and earrings and enjoy coming up with new designs to share with family and friends. Over the past several years, I’ve been volunteering for the Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build Committee and have led a team to volunteer for the Build each year. My favorite part of participating in the build this year was learning how to use a chop saw.

Advice to students: Make things happen for you; you’re the only who can! Even if you don’t know what you want to do post-graduation and even if you don’t feel you have a lot of time, go out of your comfort zone, and meet new people and experience new things.  Go to an event and talk to at least one person, come to the Career Center, and get career advice, talk to a faculty member about their research.  Each time you make a decision to do something, however small it may seem, is an opportunity and you don’t know what will come of it.

Education

Central Connecticut State University
Master of Science, Counselor Education with a focus on Higher Education
Favorite Project: Interviewing the CEO of a nonprofit about how she fosters an inclusive climate within the organization.

Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication

Previous Roles – University of Connecticut Career Center

• Associate Director, 2003-2013
• Assistant Director, 2000 – 2003
• Cooperative Education Program Manager, 1996-1999
• Cooperative Education Coordinator, 1994 – 1996