Team

Robert has 20 years of experience working in the field of college career engagement. In his current role, Robert provides strategic and operational leadership in support of our mission to increase access to career engagement by all UT Austin students, scholars and alumni, as well as our campus and employer community members.

What do you love most about your work?
Beyond my core interest in helping students explore their options and prepare for their futures, I love our office’s reimagination of career engagement as students and the career landscape evolve. I also love our focus on interdisciplinary and all-sector career engagement as we work to transcend majors and career interests for all students and alumni and spotlight the strengths that come from various backgrounds.

Adria Villarreal has over 15 years of experience in higher education mental health and career development. She earned a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Texas Woman’s University and is a Licensed Psychologist. Her previous experience focused on providing mental health services to college students, coordinating clinical training for graduate psychology students, and facilitating mental health awareness programs for campus communities. In her role at Texas Career Engagement, Adria leads a team of career counselors who provide a wide range of individual and group career counseling and education to undergraduates, with a focus on career exploration. Adria also conducts career education workshops, teaches a career exploration course, and oversees the career counseling training program. Current professional interests and specializations include the intersection of career development and mental health, vocational psychology, and graduate student training.

What do you love most about your work?

Adria enjoys connecting with students and helping them develop self-awareness, resilience and confidence as they create their futures. She loves helping students identify their strengths and feel empowered to make their best career and life decisions.

Hannah Marie Zurko is a Senior Career Initiatives Coordinator for the Career Education team in Texas Career Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to earning a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy, with a focus in Higher Education, Hannah holds a Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts from Grinnell College in Iowa. Prior to working in higher education, Hannah has over seven years of experience as a program manager and educator in non-profit arts organizations – including leading nationally recognized teen arts education programs and contributing to Mindpop and Austin Independent School District’s Creative Learning Initiative. Particular areas of focus include utilizing creativity in career development, implementing high impact career initiatives, building collaborative campus-wide partnerships, and managing the life cycle of multiple projects across the career management and counseling teams.

What do you love most about your work?

Hannah enjoys most the opportunity to fostering a welcoming environment for students in spaces that might otherwise feel intimidating, improving access to information and resources, and helping students identify and realize their goals; as everyone deserves to feel valued, realize their goals, and to define their own measure of success.

hzurko@austin.utexas.edu

Daphne Wolfe is the Assistant Director, Career Management with four years of experience working within Higher Education. She earned her Master of Education from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University in Political Science. Daphne helps all students at the University of Texas at Austin explore career and major options while taking into consideration a student’s values and how that connects to their career decisions. She strives to make a stressful decision-making process into an enjoyable one by helping students explore different options, learn more about themselves and make informed decisions. Daphne enjoys learning about a student’s story and helps them envision where that story could go in the future.

Allie is a Career Outreach Specialist & Program Director with Texas Career Engagement. With extensive experience in career development and advising, she is passionate about empowering students to explore their interests and achieve their goals. In her role, she leads one-on-one career coaching appointments, creates career development workshops for campus partners, & manages a peer coaching and mentorship student program. She is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences.

What do you love most about your work?

Allie values Texas Career Engagement’s unique mission of providing access to career education to all students. She enjoys using that framework to learn each student’s story and help them access information to support their success. It is important to her that all students feel encouraged, empowered, and informed to make the best decisions for themselves.

Kyra Duffey is currently a Senior Career Counselor at Texas Career Engagement and has been working in higher education with a focus on career development since 2019. She received her Master of Education degree in Counselor Education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas Tech University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University. Currently, Kyra is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and a National Certified Counselor. In Kyra’s role as a Career Counselor, she provides career counseling through a solution-focused therapeutic approach to undergraduate students on various aspects of their career development journey where her focus each appointment is always meeting a student where they are at.  

What do you love most about your work?

Kyra enjoys working in higher education in career services where she is able to get multiple opportunities to counsel students in their career development needs. She finds it a joy helping students along their career development journeys, and helping them arrive at what success looks like for them not just as a college student, but overall, as an individual as well.

Audrey Hawkersmith is a Career Education Specialist at Texas Career Engagement.  She earned both her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lee University.  In Audrey’s position as a Career Education Specialist, she has the opportunity to assist undergraduate students anywhere along their career journey through individual career coaching appointments and facilitating space for students to connect through career communities.  Audrey seeks to engage each student from a strengths-based perspective to help students build confidence in themselves and their next step as they navigate the complexities of career decisions.

What do you love most about your work?

Audrey finds joy in providing a space for students to ask questions, discover new information, and access resources available to empower each student on their unique career journey.  She values Texas Career Engagement’s interdisciplinary approach because it acknowledges that no two career pathways are the same and demonstrates TCE’s commitment to serve the whole student.

Katie is a Career Education Specialist at Texas Career Engagement. Katie has over seven years of experience working in Higher Education. Before joining Texas Career Engagement, Katie has worked in career coaching, recruitment, employee relations, global experiential learning, evaluation and assessment, and academic advising. Katie earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of Arizona’s College of Educational Policy & Practice and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Hawai’i.

What do you love most about your work?

Katie is passionate about providing career education by translating complicated hiring jargon into actionable steps. Katie strives to create an environment where differences are celebrated, and individuals feel valued and seen. Katie loves to support students as they foster meaningful career pathways.

Casey Ptacek is a Career Outreach Specialist at Texas Career Engagement. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas State University, and a Master of Science in Higher Education Student Affairs from Fort Hays State University. Casey’s goal as a Career Education Specialist is to help each student find a career path unique to them. She believes every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their interests and passions, even when it might not align with their major. She keeps these ideas at the forefront of her work, as she conducts individual coaching sessions and leads career communities.

What do you love most about your work?
Casey appreciates TCE’s commitment to meet students wherever they are on their career journey and help them grow into career ready professionals. She can relate to the confusion and challenges surrounding career journeys and knows that the resources TCE offers are extremely beneficial in alleviating some of those stressors. She is happy to be in a role that ensures all students have a voice in their journey and are confident in the futures they envision.

Summer serves as Director of Employer Engagement and provides strategic direction to build relationships with campus partners, employers, and the community to expand internship and employment opportunities, locally and globally, for students and alumni. Summer is the incoming Director of Professional Development for the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE), is an active member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and past president of San Antonio Colleges and Universities Career Centers Association (SACUCCA) where she led efforts to help employers build their talent pipelines in the region.

Summer earned an M.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies from Texas State University, and a B.A. degree in English and Communication Arts from St. Mary’s University. Summer is a certified etiquette consultant.

What do you love most about your work?

Summer believes that every student is just one opportunity away from great success, and she takes great pride in serving on a team that helps to create those opportunities every day for the talent at UT.

summer.salazar@austin.utexas.edu

Diane has a long association with higher education and UT Austin in particular. A native of Austin, she earned her bachelor’s degree at the Butler School of Music, and she still performs in choral music programs and enjoys supporting the students there. After receiving graduate degrees in wind conducting and flute performance from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, she was a music professor for 12 years at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, where she taught band, flute, music theory, music appreciation, chamber music, and conducting. Diane is enjoying her current role as job moderator for HireUTexas, learning from her wonderful colleagues at Texas Career Engagement, and she looks forward to forging new relationships across the UT campus.

B.M., Music Education, The University of Texas at Austin
M.M., Wind Conducting, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati
D.M.A., Wind Conducting, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati

What do you love most about your work?

Diane specializes in facilitating connections between employers, staff colleagues, and students as she works to assist access to the highest quality jobs and internship opportunities for our students and alumni.

HireUTexas@austin.utexas.edu

Letty works with an amazing team of people who are dedicated and passionate about helping Longhorns find career opportunities and internships. She has an undergraduate background in Sociology and over ten years of experience in social work, as well as in research and social policy. She also holds a graduate degree from The Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin.

What do you love most about your work?
I love being on a team that works to provide students with meaningful opportunities so they can begin their careers with promise.

Angela Nelson is the Assistant Director for Employer Engagement. In this role she advises employers on best practices and creative solutions to navigate recruiting top talent across the entire campus. Angela received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with the Business Honors Academy and degrees in Management and Marketing. She has spent 5 years working as a corporate recruiter for tech startups in Austin, where her responsibilities included university recruitment and programming for early career associates. Her work brought her to TCE, and she uses her background as an employer to enhance the campus recruiting experience for all parties. She hopes to help students and employers to genuinely connect and identify opportunities to learn and grow together.

What do you love most about your work?

Students and new grads bring a noticeable excitement and energy to an organization! I love connecting our campus with employers in creative ways and playing a role in the journey for everyone to find the right match for them. 

Annie Maxfield has been helping graduate students and postdocs pursue their career of choice for more than 13 years. She established graduate career services at Duke and UCLA before joining the team at UT Austin in 2019. Nationally, she served as the president of the Graduate Career Consortium, a professional organization dedicated to career and professional development for PhDs. She is also one of the lead creators of ImaginePhD, a career exploration and planning tool for humanities and social science PhDs. She has worked on multiple grant-led initiatives with scholarly organizations such as the Association of American Universities, The Modern Language Association and the American Historical Association to transform doctoral education to be more student-centered, diversify career outcomes, and enact systemic change. She considers herself “creative” with cooking and making jewelry, and loves music, art and being outside.

What do you love most about your work?
I get to work with and learn from the most intellectually creative people in the world, every single day.

Colleen Gleeson has over 10 years of university career services experience working with students at all academic levels. She spent three years working with graduate students studying public policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where she also worked with employer partners across sector, industry, and policy area to engage with graduate students across campus. Prior to her time at UT, she served as director of career development at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. Colleen enjoys working with graduate students and postdocs to identify new and exciting career paths, internships, and other experiential opportunities. Areas of expertise include graduate career exploration and industry job search prep, including resume and cover letter support, mock interviews and navigating federal job applications.

Loren Cressler brings a broad perspective to working with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars on career exploration and professional development. Since completing his PhD in English at UT Austin, Loren has worked as a writing advisor for medical school and residency applicants with an ed-tech startup and taught literature and writing at Seattle University. He also worked as an in-house recruiter for both technical and non-technical positions at Google Cloud.

During his graduate studies, Loren taught courses in English and Rhetoric and spent five years as a writing consultant at the University Writing Center, where he was a member of the inaugural cohort of consultants in graduate writing support. He has published articles about Early Modern English Drama and reviewed theatrical performances for a range of scholarly publications. Prior to graduate school, Loren attended The University of Kansas and spent a year teaching conversational English in Germany on a Fulbright grant. In his spare time, Loren enjoys spending time with his beloved pets, fostering animals in need, and taking in the riches of the Live Music Capital of the World.

Kirsten provides practical, hands-on career education and advising for advanced degree students, including folks who are seeking to change or advance in their careers. She graduated from UT-Austin with a PhD in American Studies in 2016, where she taught writing and American Studies courses to students across disciplines. Since then, she’s built a career in marketing, with an emphasis on creating high-impact, data-driven programs. Most recently, Kirsten worked as a Segment Marketing Manager in a B2B SaaS scale-up. Prior to that, she was the Marketing and Data Analytics Manager at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), where she was instrumental in launching both a strategic recruiting program and a new cascade journal, PNAS Nexus. In her spare time, Kirsten is an avid two-stepper, clothing designer, and hiker. An inveterate problem-solver, she loves helping students figure out how to get unstuck and create plans to achieve their career goals.

Alyssa Studer leads and manages CONNECT, an experiential learning program that matches
advanced degree student consultants with nonprofit and for-profit organizations for project-
based research, data analytics and program evaluation support. Alyssa’s journey at UT-Austin
began at the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, where, in conjunction with
local funding partners, UT-Austin faculty and staff, she designed and piloted the CONNECT
program and later, scaled its impact. Previous to her time at UT, Alyssa served as a Central
Texas Data Contractor for the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and as a high school
chemistry teacher, soccer and cross-country coach in Fort Worth and Austin Independent
School Districts. Originally, from Wisconsin, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin –
Madison with degrees in Botany and Environmental Studies and was a member of the 2014
Teach For America – Dallas/Fort Worth Corps. In her spare time, enjoys spending time with her
husband and two sassy (but adorable!) dogs, playing, coaching and watching soccer, and
exploring new outdoor spaces so she can keep up with her plant identification skills.

Connor Behrmann has worked professionally in opera houses and artist management for over a decade and is excited to be sharing his knowledge of the arts industry with the graduate students at UT Austin. Originally from upper East Tennessee, he has worked in professional development and outreach in Chattanooga, TN; Asheville, NC; and most recently at the University of Florida in Gainesville. His most notable performances include Dandini in Rossini’s La Cenerentola in Orvietto, Italy; Emporer Rudolph II and Isaac in the NOA award-winning film debut of Dr. Paul Richards’ The Golem of Prague; and as a featured soloist in the recorded works of spiritual arranger Dr. Roland Carter, Lift Every Voice and Sing, Vol. 2.

Connor is currently pursuing a DMA in Opera Performance from the UT Austin Butler School of Music with a Graduate Portfolio in Arts and Cultural Management and Entrepreneurship from the LBJ School of Public Affairs. He received his MM in Voice Performance from the University of Florida and his BM in Voice Performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

What do you love most about your work?

Building relationships with employers and students. I find it extremely fulfilling to connect my fellow artists and academics with the employers who are searching for their unique skillsets. It requires empathy and an open mind to meaningfully connect people, and these relationships go on to bolster the entire community.

David Spicer is a PhD student in UT Austin’s Higher Education Leadership and Policy program. His research explores issues in higher education law, including affirmative action and free expression. Before coming to UT Austin, David was a middle-school English teacher in Southwest Louisiana. His time in the classroom, including as a student teacher in Cleveland and New York City, grounds his interest in education policy. His internships with DC Public Schools, Louisiana Board of Regents, and the US Department of Education motivate his passion to conduct action-oriented research that could be leveraged by government entities.

David holds a M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from Western Governors University and a B.S. in Political Science, with a minor in American Studies, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and served as student body president. His passion for career education stems from serving as a two-term director for MIT’s Fall Career Fair, one of the largest student-run career fairs in the nation.

Judy is a Master’s student at the School of Information, with a specific focus on the Data Analysis track. She completed her undergrad in Technology Application and Human Resource Development back in Taiwan. With nearly four years of experience in the HR sector within the technology and e-commerce industry, Judy aims to use data analysis methods to enhance the impact of HR professionals, contributing to organizational success and unlocking employee potential.

Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Judy has lived in Taipei, Shanghai, Kyoto, and now Austin. She enjoys connecting with people and building meaningful connections.

What do you love most about your work?

I am determined to connect with different student groups and departments to assist those in need. As an international student, it is also my passion to advocate for the international student community and support their career development.

Hannah is from the UK and earned an M.A. in Design History from the Royal College of Art. Her M.A. thesis explored LGBTQ+ nightclub spaces in 1980s London; this work channelled her interests towards the potential of oral history in storytelling. After completing her MA, she went to work in an oral history archive in London, which focused on recording the social history of London’s East End. Hannah is now a PhD student whose doctoral work investigates the processes, experiences, and infrastructures of documentation and memorialization to understand how oral history, documentary and digital archives shape cultural memory and the proactive role archives have in media industries. As a budding filmmaker, Hannah is very interested in making experimental documentary films and storytelling practices, which she uses in her doctoral research. At TCE, Hannah is helping to expand the Alumni at Work page, looking for new and creative ways to showcase Graduate Alumni’s career stories.

As a Graduate Consultant for First-Generation Programming, Kate works closely with the Office of Career and Life Design (OCLD) team to deliver First Generation programming, events, and content. Her work with OCLD is supported by a PhD Career Pathways Fellowship. 

Currently finishing her PhD in French Studies, Kate brings years of higher education and program management experience. Previous to arriving at UT, she earned a MA in French and Francophone Studies from California State University Long Beach and a BFA in Film Production from Chapman University. She has spent over a decade as an instructor and is nationally recognized for her pedagogy research. Her project management experience comes from previous roles as a  language lab director and founder of large programs, such as a pedagogy workshop series and summer study abroad program. When Kate is not writing, teaching, or managing projects, she enjoys spending time outside, especially swimming and hiking.

Bradley has 11+ years of experience working in college and career success with students.  At University of Texas at Austin he leads and supports experiential learning, micro-credentialing, internship programs, coordinated industries, and career readiness initiatives for students and professional development opportunities for career services staff. His career started at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston as a College Access Advisor to support the post-secondary plans of students and has taught leadership development to undergraduate students for 5+ years.  

Bradley earned his B.B.A. in Management & his M.S. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education at Texas A&M University and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Texas A&M University. Hook ’Em!

What do you love most about your work?

Bradley’s passion is centered around giving students the opportunity to acquire, develop, and learn how to articulate their skills to achieve authentic career success. He believes in the value of higher education to support an individual’s life goals and enjoys strengthening the career and professional development ecosystem at University of Texas at Austin. His objective in life is to positively impact the lives of others by helping them reach their full potential through self-reflection, empowerment, and acceptance for who they are.

Dustin has worked in higher education for more than a decade at universities in Nebraska, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and of course, Texas! Throughout his career, Dustin has held various roles related to admissions, housing, and teaching. He fully realized his passion for career services while managing federal internship programs in D.C. from 2015 to 2018. Dustin was excited to join Texas Career Engagement in Fall 2020, and he has worked on projects related to career competencies, internship courses, and UT’s Home to Texas program, which allows first-year students to return to their hometowns for a summer internship and research experience. He also serves as the campus coordinator for the undergraduate Archer Fellowship Program, in which selected juniors and seniors live, learn, and work in Washington, D.C. for a semester.

What do you love most about your work?

As a first-generation college student, I experienced many unknowns while earning my bachelor’s degree, but I quickly learned the value of participating in career experiences. I find meaning in building connections between students, employers, faculty, staff, and alumni to make career experiences more accessible for all Longhorns. I love the people I gets to work with while contributing to this mission, and appreciate the energy and creativity of UT students.

dustin.harris@austin.utexas.edu

Susan is a UT Austin alum born and raised in College Station, Texas. In 2022, she graduated from the Moody College of Communication with a major in public relations as well as communication and leadership. Throughout her time at UT, she discovered her passion for career education while helping her peers build their portfolios and engaging with the career center herself. Prior to joining Texas Career Engagement, she honed her communication and marketing skills at a public relations agency in Austin. In her current role, Susan harnesses those skills to promote and help make internships and other valuable career experiences accessible for Longhorns.

What do you love most about your work?

I love that I get to help equip students with the tools they need to embark on their career journeys, all while bringing organization and clarity to the career building process. I’m also excited to work at a place that brought joy and meaning in my life during my undergraduate years.

susan.nam@austin.utexas.edu

Joel is a dedicated graduate student at UT Austin, currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Moody College of Communication. With a strong commitment to enhancing career development and student engagement, Joel supports the Home to Texas and Archer Fellowship programs through his Texas Career Engagement position.

As a graduate assistant, Joel is excited to collaborate with the TCE team and to work closely with students to help them achieve their goals. With a focus on providing guidance and support, Joel aims to play a helpful role in empowering students and ensuring the continued success of these programs.

What do you love most about your work?

I am eager to contribute to student success through the programs I work with. Both programs provide undergraduate students with a unique learning opportunity, and I am excited to play a role in supporting them.

Cassie is currently pursuing her law degree at the University of Texas School of Law. She supports the Archer Fellowship and Home to Texas programs through Texas Career Engagement. She’s a firm believer that what starts at UT does change the world and hopes to improve student outcomes by helping students meet their academic and professional goals as a graduate assistant. As a former Archer Fellow herself, Cassie hopes to connect students with the opportunities that programs like the Archer Fellowship and Home to Texas provide. 
 
What do you love most about your work?

I owe a lot of my professional development to mentors I met here at UT. It’s so rewarding to give back to the UT Austin community by guiding younger students as they navigate their budding careers. 

Julia is a UT Austin alumna originally from San Antonio. She worked at local nonprofits for 15 years, focused on administrative support, event planning, community engagement, and supporting public humanities programs. She was thrilled to return to UT in the fall of 2018 to serve as executive assistant for Texas Career Engagement

What do you love most about your work?

Working with the vibrant UT community gives Julia so much energy. Supporting students to access programs and resources which will benefit them as they continue grow and develop in their career journey, including post-graduation, is especially rewarding.

jaguilar@austin.utexas.edu

Leif Thomas serves as an Administrative Associate at Texas Career Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. A recent UT Austin graduate himself, as a student he served as a Resident Assistant in the University Residence Halls, creating an engaging and welcoming community through many events and programs, as well as serving as a guide to connect students to resources on campus. He is excited to have the opportunity to return to campus and continue to support his fellow Longhorns.

What do you love most about your work?

As a Texas Ex, working in the UT community is a rewarding experience. Leif finds satisfaction in supporting students to access programs and resources that will help them to achieve their goals.

Troy has worked in higher education and consulting for the last decade. His career services experience includes assessment, data management, and reporting for large public institutions. He has led efforts to standardized first destination reporting, build assessment culture, and develop processes to deliver and report data insights to stakeholders. Troy works with a variety of departments across the university to help support the career data collection and insights. He is a member of NACE, SoACE and SIOP. He enjoys learning and introducing new technology and insights to better serve our students and employers.

What do you love most about your work?

Troy’s strengths are strategic and storytelling. He enjoys researching and gathering data that will assist his colleagues make informed decisions in a timely fashion. One of his work hobbies is creating dashboards to display insights that are not only engaging but enhances the users experience with the data. He is happiest when he is creating a user interfacing dashboard that tells the story of the UT student’s career outcomes.

troy.autin@austin.utexas.edu

Piper is a Student Career Associate at UT Austin’s Texas Career Engagement Center and freshman Psychology major from Denton, Texas. In her career, Piper hopes to work with businesses on implementing mental health focuses for employees. A few things Piper loves is nature, running, Taylor Swift, and quality time spent with loved ones. Piper loves supporting her school and attending UT events.

What do you love most about your work? 

I love having the opportunity to be a friendly face right before someone’s interview. I also enjoy being a part of the process of helping people maximize their full potential.