Yorlenis Cardenas Beitia
Graduate Assistant, Career Readiness & Engagement
Role: Career Everywhere, Programming, and Alumni Relations.
In my role at the Center for Career Readiness & Life Skills, I support projects across Career Everywhere, Programming, and Alumni Relations. My responsibilities include coordinating the Career Champion programming calendar, planning and facilitating Career Champion events, supporting the development of career readiness modules and materials for the website, maintaining the Career Champion directory, and conducting outreach efforts.
I am currently a master’s student in Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies at El Instituto, where my research explores the intersections of Latinx identities, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration. As a first-generation, queer woman of color, I am committed to contributing inclusive and accessible career services for all students, with dedication to supporting those from marginalized backgrounds.
About You:
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Things I Enjoy: Cooking, arts and crafts, working out, spending time with friends.
Advice to Students: Understand that your timeline might be different from others. Give yourself grace, because you’re on your own journey, and there isn’t a set deadline for achieving things. Also, take advantage of your resources. You’re not alone, and there are plenty of people who want to help you succeed.
Education
BA in Anthropology, Skidmore College.
Favorite Project(s):
Creating multimedia narratives like “La Comida de mi Abuela”, a poetic film that explores grieving, love for cooking, and the role of elders in keeping traditions.
Leading and organizing the “Estamos Aquí” Photography Exhibition that showcases the work and stories of Latino immigrants working at the Saratoga Racetrack.
Previous Role(s):
Immigrant Services Specialist, LifeWorks Community Action, Saratoga Springs NY
Library Assistant, Lucy Scribner Library, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
Bree Carroll
Marketing and Communications Graduate Assistant
As a Graduate Assistant at UConn’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, I support the marketing team in the planning, promotion, and content of career fairs and campus-wide events, while helping to ensure students are informed about and engaged with the Center’s wide range of resources. I also oversee our undergraduate marketing and creative interns, manage and contribute to social media strategy across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and assist with the creation and review of blog posts and other social media/digital content.
I’m passionate about creative content, marketing, and sports media, with a specific goal of advancing equity, promotion, monetization, and visibility in women’s sports and for female athletes. My ultimate career aspiration is to work within organizations like the NBA, WNBA, NFL, or ESPN to cover sports that I love as well as champion growth and representation in the industry.
During my undergraduate career, I served as a marketing and creative intern for UConn Athletics, where I helped plan student-centered promotions and events, and created social media content for the official UConn Students social media accounts. I was also a board member of UCTV Sports, producing multimedia content for all of UConn’s athletic teams—particularly basketball and football—including filming sideline and behind-the-scenes coverage at both home and away games and events, such as Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden or the NCAA Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 in Spokane, Washington. I also traveled and partnered with Nike Women’s Sportswear to film and create content in their SOHO headquarters and at the Shark Beauty Champions Classic basketball tournament.
Currently, I’m pursuing my master’s degree in Sports Management through UConn’s Neag School of Education. I am excited to help students achieve their goals and grow both personally and professionally by connecting them with meaningful resources, creative content, experiences, and opportunities that support them and their future careers.
Bio
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Things I enjoy: I enjoy watching and playing sports, cooking/baking, traveling, hanging out with friends, going to the gym, listening to music, and dancing.
Advice to students: Rejection is redirection. Certain fields like marketing and the sports and media industry can be very competitive, but don’t let that discourage you. If you’re passionate about what you do, keep applying, working hard, networking, and reaching out and eventually the opportunities will come your way. Have confidence and believe in yourself!
Education
University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
Bachelor of Communications, Minor in Personal Brand Entrepreneurship
Favorite Project: Being the first intern in marketing and creative for the Top Dogs program and getting the opportunity to help promote, build, grow, and improve the program to make student experiences at athletic events more memorable and enjoyable.
Olufemi Fagun
Graduate Assistant, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (He/Him/His)
In my role at the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, I focus on planning, creating, and implementing programs and events that explore how students’ identities influence their career development. I organize employer and alumni panels, workshops, webinars, presentations, and networking events. I also write blog posts and create social content on inclusive workplace practices, and I help build learning modules and courses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In addition to programming, I provide one-on-one career coaching to students.
I also serve on the Center’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as well as the AI Committee. My work in the field of AI focuses on how emerging tools can enhance career readiness. I explore ways for students to use AI ethically and responsibly to research job roles, develop skills, reflect on their experiences, and improve their application materials.
Bio
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Things I enjoy: When I’m not working, I enjoy watching sports, traveling, volunteering, and cooking delicious Nigerian delicacies.
Advice to students: Be intentional about your career and future goals. The time to start planning is now, not when you leave school. Have fun and do deep work. Be kind to yourself and shoot for the stars. I am rooting for you!
Education
University of Connecticut, Storrs, United States
Master of Arts, Higher Education and Student Affairs
University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Bachelor of Science, Political Science
Favorite Project: Cofounding and being the first president of a student-based organization known as the International Affairs Student Association, our mission was focused on understanding, education, and advocating for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.
Matthew Roberts
Graduate Assistant, Career Readiness & Engagement (He/Him/His)
In my role at the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, I coordinate scheduling presentations, events, and the Career Champion Programming Calendar. I assist in planning and facilitating both in-person and virtual events for Career Champions, students, and alumni. I design and deliver training sessions for staff and learners on programming operations and presentation skills. Additionally, I collaborate on developing and refining career readiness modules, creating and updating presentations, and assisting in the preparations for FYE career assignments.
As a first-generation student I am a strong advocate for career readiness and career exploration. I believe that it is never too early to start to imagine all the possibilities that are out there and really have fun deciding what it is that you are passionate about.
I am pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) as part of the HESA class of 27. I am very excited to work in the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills to help promote the concept of career everywhere and encourage students to really explore their career opportunities.
Bio
Hometown: East Hartford, CT
Things I enjoy: When I’m not working or studying for classes I enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons, I do a lot of online and mobile gaming, I work out at the gym, and I am a major escape room enthusiast.
Advice to students: It is never too early to begin imagining and exploring the possibilities of what your future can be. Even if the idea of a career may seem scary, starting that conversation can help to set you on a path to a career that will not only be best suited for you but one that will be personally fulfilling and exciting as well. Most importantly try to have fun with it and know that you are not expected to have all the answers. Part of the journey is the exploration of who you are and what is right for you.
Education
Westfield State University, Westfield, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature and Education
Favorite Project: Working with the New Student Orientation Office and Academic Advising Office to create an internship opportunity focused on supporting transfer students’ transition to Westfield. These efforts included spearheading opportunities for a transfer student council as well as creating regular newsletters and social media pages for transfer students to connect and receive important information.
Previous Roles
Peer Academic Advisor–Office of Academic Advising & Transfer Transitions, Westfield State University
Orientation Leader– New Student Orientation Office, Westfield State University
Transfer Transitions Intern– Westfield State University
Nicola Wilk
Undergraduate Career Coach | Pronouns: She/They
My role is to assist both undergraduate students and alumni in navigating the world of work. I provide one-on-one consultations about career-related content such as: major or career exploration, career planning resources, review LinkedIn profiles, conducting practice interviews, and more. My goal is to provide students the resources to have a transformative impact on their career and college experience.
Bio
Hometown: Highland, NY
Things I enjoy: I am often described as bubbly and a “yapper” by my closest friends. I enjoy being a reader, some of my favorite authors are Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Joseph Heller. One of my favorite books that I read so far in 2024 is “Notes from Underground”. I am also a huge audiophile; I love listening to both live music and records on vinyl. Curating the right music for writing, reading, and even walking to boosts my mood tenfold.
Advice to students: The world is your oyster, go shuck it!
Education
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Master of Arts, Sociology.
Favorite Experience: Having the privilege of teaching my first First Year Experience course, and developing deeper relationships with my peers and professors.
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Favorite Experience: Being involved in the WHUS Radio Station and leading the student organization Moon Appreciation Club.
Previous Roles
- Substitute Teacher – Highland Central School District, Highland, NY
- FYE Instructor – University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
