Mallory Safley

About Mallory Safley

A passionate, purpose-driven leader in higher education with over 17 years of experience empowering students to grow personally and professionally. I currently serve as the Director of Career & Professional Development at Dalton State College, where I lead strategic efforts to connect students with meaningful career paths, cultivate employer partnerships, and prepare the next generation of talent for the workforce and beyond.Throughout my career, I’ve been energized by creating student-centered programs, building collaborative relationships across campus and in the community, and helping individuals find clarity in their goals. From leading signature events like Career Week to overseeing job platforms, mentoring staff, and presenting at statewide conferences, I thrive at the intersection of career readiness, equity, and innovation.I also proudly serve as President-Elect for the Georgia Association of Colleges & Employers (GACE), where I work alongside statewide leaders to shape the future of career services and employer engagement across Georgia.Whether I’m coaching a student, guiding a team, or speaking at a conference, my goal remains the same: to make every interaction impactful, every resource accessible, and every opportunity meaningful.Let’s connect — I love collaborating on workforce development initiatives, student success programming, and professional development efforts that create lasting impact.Strengths: Positivity, Consistency, Includer, Achiever, WooMyers Briggs: Extrovert, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging (ESFJ)Specialties:• Communication • Event Planning • Career Advising • Design Marketing • Organization • Creativity • • Team Player • Networking • Data Analyzing • Leadership • Teaching/Coach/Mentor •

Experience

1. Director of Career & Professional Development

   Dalton State College

   Jul 2025 — Present · Dalton, GA, US

   Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Career & Professional Development Center, aligning initiatives with institutional priorities and workforce development trends.• Oversee all career coaching services and programming, ensuring equitable access to job search support, graduate school advising, and career exploration for students.• Design and lead major campus events such as Career Week, job fairs, networking nights, and employer panels, enhancing career readiness and visibility of the center.• Cultivate partnerships with employers, alumni, faculty, and community organizations to expand experiential learning and employment opportunities for students.• Manage the center’s assessment strategy, using data to evaluate outcomes, inform continuous improvement, and report impact to campus leadership.• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a Coordinator of Career & Professional Development, fostering a collaborative and high-performing departmental culture.• Maintain oversight of the Handshake job platform, ensuring database accuracy, employer vetting, and proactive student engagement.• Administer departmental budgeting, resource planning, and fiscal accountability to support long-term sustainability and growth.• Lead marketing and outreach efforts to promote services, including social media campaigns, classroom presentations, and campus-wide communication.• Collaborate with academic deans and faculty to integrate career development into the curriculum and co-curricular experiences.• Represent Dalton State on local, regional, and statewide committees, including the Georgia Association of Colleges & Employers and Junior Achievement of Northwest Georgia.• Promote inclusive, student-centered programming such as the Career Closet and identity-based career development resources to support all learners.

Education

• Kaplan University

  Master of Science (M.S.), College Administration and Leadership

  2012 — 2014

• Itawamba Community College

  Associate of Arts (A.A.), Elementary Education and Teaching

  2002 — 2004

• The University of Southern Mississippi

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Deaf Education

  2004 — 2006