About Us
Mission
We help students connect their liberal arts experiences to their professional journeys. We empower them to explore the possibilities, develop their professional identities, and connect with opportunities.
Student Career Team
Sophia Kang ’27
(pronouns: she/her)
Title: Student Career AmbassadorMajor: Undeclared
Campus Involvement: IYRT (If You're Reading This), KASA (Korean-American Student Association), Community Engaged Scholar
Favorite Block: American Frontiers
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher.
Megan Krussman ’25
(pronouns: she/her)
Title: Student Career AmbassadorMajor: Organismal Biology and Ecology
Campus Involvement: Club Soccer Team and CC Learning Initiative in the Mountains (CCLIM)
Favorite Block: Biology of Plants
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian.
Temsalet Abraham ’28
(pronouns: she/her)
Title: Student Career AmbassadorMajor: Undeclared
Campus Involvement: Bridge Scholar, Community Engaged Scholar
Favorite Block: Writing Black Lives: The Theory and Literary Tradition of African Americans
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor.
Toby Urell ’25
(pronouns: he/him)
Title: Student Career AmbassadorMajor: Neuroscience
Campus Involvement: Dance Workshop, Priddy Leader
Favorite Block: Physics for the Physical Sciences: Mechanics
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pilot.
Professional Staff
Andrea Culp
(pronouns: she/her)
Director, Public Interest Fellowship Program and Internship Program Lead
719.389.6310
Andrea joined the Career Center in 1997. Andrea has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master's degree in Community Counseling from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The Career Center has changed a great deal over the years, and she has had the pleasure of growing, adapting, and continually challenging herself through several different roles within the office. Andrea wanted to be a child psychologist when she was a kid.
Annie Landis
(pronouns: she/her)
Career Consultant
719.389.6851
Annie joined the Career Center Fall 2024. She grew up in Kansas and went to the University of Kansas where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in English. She also graduated from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs with a Master of Arts in Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs and Higher Education. Before coming to CC, Annie’s professional background in higher education includes experience in academic advising. In her free time, Annie enjoys spending time with her two kiddos, hiking, and reading. As a kid, she wanted to grow up and rehabilitate wounded animals.
Brett Woodard
(pronouns: he/him)
Career Center Director
719.389.6279
A Pennsylvania native, Brett earned a Bachelor's in Journalism and a Master's in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining CC, he was the Associate Director for Experiential Learning and Entrepreneurship at The College of Wooster, where he collaborated with faculty, alumni, and corporate and community partners to help students bridge liberal arts and the professional world through team-based consulting projects and internships. He has worked extensively in Career Development, spanning roles at Appalachian State University, UNC-Greensboro, Elon University and Saint Joseph's University. An avid photographer, Brett regularly has camera gear in tow, whether on campus or a mountain top, and also enjoys graphic design, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. When Brett was growing up, he wanted to be a newscaster, filmmaker, or children's book author and illustrator.
Emma Fairburn
(pronouns: she/her)
Career Consultant
719.389.6245
Emma joined the Career Center in the Summer of 2023. Emma grew up in North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Upon graduation, Emma worked for 2 years as a College Adviser in western North Carolina, where she discovered her love of helping students explore and plan out their goals. In Spring of 2023, Emma graduated from the University of Georgia with a Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration. She is thrilled to be joining the CC Career Center to continue supporting students along their own career journey. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, trying out new hikes, cheering on the Tar Heels and Bulldogs, and spending time with her husband and their cat, Nemo. As a kid, Emma wanted to become a real estate agent.
Leah Brown
(pronouns: she/her)
Career Consultant
719.227.8175
Leah joined the Career Center in September of 2022. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, but has spent the past few years exploring the country living in Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, and Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Whittier College majoring in English and theatre and communication arts and earned her Master of Arts in higher education administration at Boston College. Prior to arriving at CC, she worked in a variety of areas in higher education including admission, residence life, and student activities. She is passionate about working in the career center due to her love of supporting students to see their own potential. In her free time, she loves walking her two dogs Maui and Koa, traveling, and seeing live performances. As a kid, Leah wanted to be an elementary school teacher.
Lisa Schwartz '03, MAT '04
(pronouns: she/her)
Assistant Director, Grants, Research, and Fellowships
719.389.6684
Lisa joined the Career Center in 2022, but has been working in this role at the college since 2017. She is a proud ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï alumna having received a Bachelors of Arts in History in 2003 and Masters of Arts in Teaching for Secondary Social Studies in 2004. Before returning to CC, her professional background in higher education includes various roles in student support, advising, and teacher education at Colorado State University-Pueblo and Pikes Peak Community College. Lisa enjoys aquariums, cats, comic books, and spending time with her family. As a child, she wanted to be a lawyer.
Natalie Cepeda
(pronouns: she/her)
Office Manager
719.389.6893
Natalie joined the Career Center in January 2020. Prior to coming to ºÚÁϳԹÏ, she was the Student Life Coordinator at Columbia College Chicago where she was responsible for planning campus events and collaborating with other departments such as Commencement, Convocation, and New Student Orientation. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and painting. As a child, Natalie really liked fast cars, so she wanted to be a race car driver. This didn't go over well with her parents.
Sarah Fillman
(pronouns: she/her)
Assistant Director, Employer Relations
719.389.6425
Sarah joined the Career Center in Fall of 2024. She is a Nationally Certified Career Services Provider and has her M.A. in Leadership with a specialization in Student Affairs in Higher Education from UCCS. Sarah was formerly working with students and employers as the Pre-Health Career Coach. Originally from Georgia, she has her B.A. in International Relations from Georgia Southern University. In her younger years, she traveled to dozens of countries with a focus on humanitarian work, living in Spain, Argentina, and Japan. Sarah has worked in the field of education since 2010, both teaching and working with K-12 military students and families as an advocate and liaison, as well as facilitating adaptive leadership training for servicemembers. She is a military spouse of 13 years and a mother to three awesome sons. When not working, she is typically watching her boys crush it on the soccer field, hiking, gardening, thrifting or skiing. As a kid, she wanted to be an Olympic swimmer.