Melissa Marietta

About Melissa Marietta

As a seasoned higher education professional, I’ve spent over two decades helping students navigate their career journeys and shape purposeful lives. For the past 18 years, I’ve led and contributed to the success of career centers in college settings—developing innovative programming, guiding strategic initiatives, and managing high-performing teams focused on student success. My early foundation in museum education adds a creative and community-oriented lens to my approach.I understand the increasing pressure career centers face to deliver on the promise—ensuring students don’t just graduate, but graduate with a plan. I’ve built systems and programs that drive real outcomes: jobs, internships, grad school acceptances, and meaningful post-college pathways. From outcome-based assessment and employer engagement to experiential learning pipelines, I approach career education as both a strategic imperative and a human-centered mission.I bring deep expertise in departmental and campus-wide strategic planning, budget and operations management, staff development, and outcome-based assessment. Whether building cross-functional partnerships or implementing new advising models, I lead with a collaborative mindset and a commitment to equity, engagement, and impact.Beyond my professional role, I explore the power of storytelling to connect, reflect, and grow. I write personal essays on identity, connection, and meaning—published on my site, Finding the Me in We, and on Medium.If you’re passionate about advancing student development, career education, or building more human-centered systems in higher ed, I’d love to connect.

Experience

1. Executive Director, Maurice Horowitch Career Center

   Hamilton College

   Jul 2023 — Present · Clinton, NY, US

   I lead a dynamic, student-focused team dedicated to advancing career readiness, professional development, and post-graduate success. As part of the institution’s broader mission, I help guide the vision and strategy of the career center—ensuring our programs empower students to clarify, pursue, and achieve meaningful career goals.Key contributions include: • Leading a talented staff committed to student development through career exploration, leadership development, self-assessment, and industry engagement. • Fostering a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and collaboration—prioritizing high-touch, high-impact services for diverse student populations. • Using data to guide strategic decisions, evaluate programming, and better understand the evolving needs of the students we serve. • Supporting campus-wide initiatives aligned with experiential learning, equity, and outcomes-driven advising. • Strengthening employer engagement efforts and building pipelines to internships, jobs, and graduate/professional school opportunities. • Collaborating with institutional partners to align career education with academic goals and long-term student success.

Education

• SUNY Oneonta

  MA, History Museum Studies

  2001 — 2003

• Mount Holyoke College

  BA, American Studies

  1996 — 2000

Skills

• Workshops
• Social Media
• Event Planning
• Career Development
• Staff Development
• Resume Writing
• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Student Engagement
• Non-Profits
• Teamwork
• Event Management
• Museums
• Academic Advising
• Education
• Blogging
• Student Development
• Research
• Interviews
• Leadership Development
• Public Speaking
• Management
• Program Development
• Higher Education
• Nonprofits
• Community Outreach
• Teaching
• Time Management
• Career Counseling
• Leadership