Impacting Student Success

As the new Executive Director of Bauer College’s Rockwell Career Center, Kelly Collins plans to expand the college’s long tradition of connecting students to top employers and empowering a new generation of leaders.

Collins has served the students at Bauer for nearly a decade, first as Senior Director of Graduate and Alumni Career Services and more recently as Interim Executive Director. Through her efforts, the college has increased graduate and MBA placement and internship rates and launched career-focused courses that have contributed to the overall student experience.

“As higher education and job market demand evolves, Kelly has demonstrated her ability to innovate and adapt to keep Bauer career services relevant and highly effective,” Bauer Dean Xianjun Geng said. “I have full confidence that Kelly’s leadership will bring RCC to new heights.”

Collins said she is excited to step into this new leadership position and to evaluate how the RCC team can continue impacting student success at Bauer.

“I think one big thing is really looking at...are we offering services that students want, need and are easily accessible,” she said. “I think the second thing is, how do we continue to build on our focus of student success to really help students feel like, when they’ve graduated, they’re ready and moreover excited to take on that next step in the workplace.”

In the time Collins worked at Bauer, she has not only seen the impact RCC has had on students, but she has felt the impact students have had on her.

“They’ve taught me so much about grit and resilience,” she said. “Our students, many of whom are first-generation and lack familial support, face the daunting challenge of navigating an unfamiliar and often intimidating world.  Yet, they manage to find their way, balancing academic responsibilities and career development.  It’s inspiring to watch them take full advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.  Witnessing their growth and determination has been incredibly rewarding.”

Collins credits much of RCC’s success to the dedicated staff who serve the students at Bauer by providing them with various resources to succeed and preparing them for the next steps in their careers.

To learn more about the ways they help facilitate student success at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, visit Rockwell Career Center.