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 of the Career Development Center. He serves as the liaison to the Craig School of Business and interim liaison to the College of Science and Mathematics. 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 BusinessLyles College of EngineeringKathy Dunbar
Assistant Director for College Relations
Kathy Dunbar has been involved in Academic Advising for the past 27 years. She’s served at Multnomah University in Portland, OR, and Fresno Pacific University as both an Academic Counselor and Assistant Registrar. She joined Fresno State as an Academic Counselor in November 2007 and became an Assistant Director for the advising center. She brings years of advising experience to her new role in the Career Development Center as our Assistant Director for College Relations.
Education
Bachelor’s degree – Fresno State – Health Administration
Master’s degree – Multnomah Biblical Seminary – Pastoral Studies Emphasis in Women’s Ministry
Specialties and Interests
College of Science and MathematicsUndeclaredAudrey 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 and currently serves as the career liaison to Biology majors and international students.
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 ServicesBiologyInternational StudentsClaudia Ceja
University Internship Coordinator
Claudia Ceja joined the Career Development Center as the University Internship Coordinator in May 2022, and currently serves as the interim career liaison to Psychology majors. 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
InternshipsPsychologyJody 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. She currently serves as the career liaison to the Kremen School of Education and Human Development, the Undeclared, and interim liaison to the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
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 DevelopmentUndeclaredNora 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, and interim liaison to the Lyles College of Engineering. 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
- Thursdays: 1 to 4 pm
Specialties and Interests
College of Health and Human ServicesClaudia Lopez
Career Advisor
Claudia Lopez is the Career Advisor and liaison to the College of Arts and Humanities and interim liaison to the College of Social Sciences. 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.
Specialties and Interests
Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and TechnologyOn-Campus Student EmploymentPerla Perez-Maciel
Career Counselor
Perla Perez-Maciel has more than 24 years of experience in higher education, during which she has provided extensive academic and career counseling services across various fields. She has been a part of Fresno State since 2004 and serves as the liaison to both the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Social Sciences. Perla is a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the Mountain Pacific Association of Colleges and Employers (MPACE).
In recognition of her excellence, she received the Outstanding Advisor Award for the 2019-2020 academic year. Perla is passionate about helping students discover their identities, understand the opportunities available with their majors, and leverage their talents, skills, and abilities in their areas of interest.
Education
Perla earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Social Work from California State University, Fresno, an enriching journey that fueled her passion for helping others!