Mary Willis
Executive Director
Mary Willis has been serving as the Director of the Career Development Center since January 2021. She joined Fresno State in 2015 as the Internship Coordinator for the Jordan College and, in 2017, moved to the Career Development Center as the University Internship Coordinator.
Mary’s career in higher education began as a Career Counselor at Fresno City College in 1993. For nine years, she served as the Director of Career Resources at Fresno Pacific University and then was the Founding Director of Career Services at UC Merced.
Mary is passionate about guiding students in making informed career decisions and developing strategic career action plans, which include participation in internships. She also greatly enjoys working with both industry and campus partners to enhance students’ career readiness and increase their access to opportunities. Mary is also the instructor for Fresno State’s university-wide internship course – INTD 194i, which is open to all majors and intended for students whose departments don’t offer an internship course or students who want to participate in an internship outside of their major.
Betsy Hays
Faculty Director of Career Readiness
Prof. Betsy Hays is the Faculty Director of Career Readiness, which is a new position designed to support faculty and departments in infusing career awareness and career readiness into their curriculum and department programs.
Prof. Hays has been teaching at Fresno State since Fall 1999 in the Media, Communications and Journalism (MCJ) Department, where she ran its internship program for 10 years. In addition to her work with the Career Development Center, she teaches public relations and advertising classes and is part of the MCJ faculty.
Adrian Ramirez
Associate Director
Dr. Adrian Ramirez is the Associate Director and liaison to the Craig School of Business. He joined Fresno State in 2006 as a Career Counselor, and in 2011, served as Project Director for a university grant (Title V- Hispanic Serving Institution). In 2016, Dr. Ramirez moved to his current role where he supports students with their career development and professional goals.
Education
Dr. Ramirez began his college career as a transfer student from Fresno City College. He is a three-time graduate from Fresno State, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing option; Master of Business Administration; and Doctorate of Education.
Specialties and Interests
Craig School of BusinessAudrey Munoz
Administrative Support Coordinator
Audrey Munoz has worked on campus for 5 years starting in the College of Health and Human Services. She served as an Administrative Support Assistant in the Department of Social Work, Public Health and Physical Therapy. In December 2019, she joined the Career Development Center as the Administrative Support Coordinator where she handles the budget for the department as well as the Money Management Center. Audrey is also the Coordinator for the Fresno State Clothing Closet, which is housed in the Career Development Center, and a member of the Fresno State Staff Assembly Executive Committee.
Education
Audrey received her Bachelor of Forensic Behavioral Sciences degree from Fresno State.
Damian Lay
Employer Connection Specialist
Damian Lay is the Employer Connections Specialist at the Career Development Center. He joined Fresno State in 2020.
Damian’s career in higher education began at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to his experience working in student affairs and career services, he also worked in education consulting in Beijing, China for five years.
Damian works with employers big and small to promote their opportunities to Fresno State students. In addition to connecting with employers, he oversees marketing and event planning efforts for the Career Development Center.
Education
Damian received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Specialties and Interests
Employer ServicesClaudia Ceja
University Internship Coordinator
Claudia Ceja joined the Career Development Center as the University Internship Coordinator in May 2022. She previously worked on campus for 8 years in the Social Work Department as the Administrative Support Assistant for the internship office, and in the Kremen School of education for 10 years as an Office Assistant, Job Developer and Teacher Internship Support Assistant.
Education
Claudia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Fresno State.
Specialties and Interests
InternshipsJody Burum
Senior Career Counselor
Jody Burum has over 20 years of experience in Student Affairs providing various levels of counseling (career, vocational, personal, academic, credential, and transfer) and has taught college courses on student success and career development. Her experience spans from centralized Career Centers, Disability Resources Centers, Extended Opportunity Programs & Services and college advising.
As an advocate, she offers tools to not only succeed academically but to thrive as a professional. Jody specializes in complex career decision-making and believes in the importance of lifelong career development. In Spring 2017, she was awarded the 2016-2017 Outstanding Advisor Award.
Education
Jody earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Fresno State, and a Master of Arts in Education: Counseling and Guidance from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is a Certified Strong Interest Inventory Practitioner, Certified Career Services Provider and Global Career Development Facilitator.
Specialties and Interests
Kremen School of Education and Human Development & UndeclaredNora Diaz-Vasquez
Career Counselor
Nora Diaz-Vasquez has over 15 years of experience in the field of career counseling. She joined Fresno State in 2013 and currently serves as a Career Counselor and liaison to the College of Health and Human Services. She is also an advisor for the Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA).
As a Certified Career Services Provider (CSP), Nora serves as a resource for students and alumni as they work toward achieving their personal, academic, and career goals. In Spring 2018, she was awarded the 2017-2018 Outstanding Advisor Award.
Education
Nora earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – International Business option, and a Master of Science in Counseling – Counseling and Student Services option from Fresno State.
CHHS Career Services Walk-in Hours – ONLY AVAILABLE DURING FALL & SPRING SEMESTERS
Location: University Student Union (USU) Room 306
- Tuesdays: 10 am to 12 pm
- Thursdays: 1 to 4 pm
Students, please check in at the main entrance and ask for Nora
Specialties and Interests
College of Health and Human ServicesJ. Daniel Gomez Martinez
Career Counselor
J. Daniel Gomez Martinez has over 10 years of experience in Student Affairs/Services, providing support to students in university admissions, financial aid, undocumented/Dream and Special Programs student advising, first-generation student programming, and career services.
Currently, he serves as a Career Counselor and Liaison to both the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) and Lyles College of Engineering (LCOE). He specializes in career counseling involving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career pathways. Daniel also supports the Men and Men of Color Student Success initiative and partners with the services and resources for Veteran and Military-Affiliated students. In Spring 2023, he was awarded the 2022-2023 Outstanding Advisor Award.
Education
Daniel received both a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Master of Science in Counseling – Student Affairs & College Counseling from Fresno State.
CSM Career Services Walk-Ins – ONLY AVAILABLE DURING FALL & SPRING SEMESTERS
- Thursday afternoons (1:30pm-4:30pm) @ University Student Union Room 306 (3rd floor right in front of the elevator doors).
LCOE Professional & Career Development Services – ONLY AVAILABLE DURING FALL & SPRING SEMESTERS
- Friday afternoons (1:30pm-4:30pm) @ East Engineering Room 356
Specialties and Interests
College of Science and Mathematics & Lyles College of EngineeringClaudia Lopez
Career Advisor
Claudia Lopez is the Career Advisor and Liaison to the College of Arts and Humanities and the Jordan College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology. During her college career, Claudia worked on the campuses of Fresno City College and Fresno State as a student employee in various departments and enjoyed many valuable internship experiences. Upon graduation, Claudia was employed by the United State Department of Agriculture, USDA committed to ensuring food quality and availability from field to fork.
After serving the USDA, Claudia explored a career pivot, returning to Fresno State as a human resource professional in the Office of Faculty Affairs supporting and advising faculty members in personnel matters.
Claudia is dedicated to empowering others through sharing resources, networking, and celebrating community. Claudia’s heart is to guide students in self-discovery that will inspire vision to possible career pathways.
Education
Claudia has earned three Associate of Arts degrees in Office Administration & Human Resources, Para Education, and Adaptive Horticulture from Fresno City College, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Science from Fresno State.