The Director of Career Services is Cynthia Parker. In addition to overseeing the normal functions of the office and sharing counseling duties, the director is responsible for initiating new programs, developing and coordinating the on-campus and consortium recruiting efforts, and maintaining interdepartmental communication and assistance. She also serves as the pre-med advisor. Cindy came to Colby from 15 years in the banking industry, with experience in commercial lending, sales, training, and recruiting. She has an M.B.A. in finance from Indiana University and majored in English as an undergraduate at Carleton College and Indiana University.

Cate Talbot Ashton, a 1980 Colby graduate, is the Associate Director. Cate works with students individually on career planning and is the pre-law advisor. She also serves as the Career Services Librarian and oversees the website. Cate worked in admissions, academic advising, and career services offices at colleges and universities in Montana and Ohio before returning to Colby in 1987. She holds an M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina.

Penny Spear, Administrative Assistant, serves as Liaison for Campus Recruitment and coordinates all on-campus recruiting, four off-campus consortia programs, and the Graduate and Professional School Fair. She also oversees the eRecruiting system at Colby. She has a degree from Thomas College and is a veteran at Colby, having held previous positions in the Alumni Office and the Chemistry Department.

Joanne Jurdak, Career Services Secretary, maintains the reference files, makes appointments for the staff, oversees the entry of data into various database resources, and provides general assistance. Joanne has a degree from Northern Maine Technical College. She worked in the Development Office at Colby for 10 years prior to joining Career Services.

Kristin Talka, Assistant Director, joins Career Services in July, 2006. She graduated from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania with a major in Psychology in 2000 and will complete her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in the fall of 2006. While a doctoral student at the University of Albany, State University of New York, she worked in the Career Services Office and brings both her small, liberal arts college and career services experience with her to Colby.

Diana Avella brings nearly 25 years of career counseling experience to the Career Services Office. Her MSW degree and experience particularly prepare her to work with students who are undecided about their future.

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© Colby College Office of Career Services 4140 Mayflower Hill Drive Waterville, Maine 04901-8841
Eustis 105 T: 207-872-3343 F: 207-872-3524 E: career@colby.edu