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Famous as a locus for mints and smiles, the front desk of Benton Hall serves as the center of operations at Career Services. As you may hear from your career adviser, the office is “human-centric,” which means that the needs of students are our priority. A warm welcome upon visiting the office is an important part of the student experience.

Jessie Darrow is the anchor for the office ambassador team. She coordinates events and directs students to industry specialist advisers for their specific needs. 

When asked about the biggest misconception about the front desk, Darrow answers, “Students often think that they need to have everything figured out before scheduling an appointment. The reality is that Career Services will help you along the way, no matter what stage of the process you’re in — one appointment at a time.” 

Office ambassador student interns also help manage the desk, schedule appointments, and offer wayfinding for Benton Hall visitors. They offer an informed perspective to peers and help ease concerns as students plan for their futures. Faces you may recognize are Bridget Boerger ’22, who has been a member of Career Services student staff since 2019. Newer yet equally valued members of the team are Erin Flannery ’23 and Shannon Keefe ’23. 

“The front desk is great from the perspective of a current student, and I feel like I get to help out a lot of my peers who stop in for any given reason and work with the office,” said Flannery.

On top of scheduling, coordinating, and other support, the front desk staff collaborates with advisers to provide what is best for students. Visiting alumni communicate closely with Darrow and her team to ensure that their time on campus is productive.

When you come to a program, information session, or workshop, it should be an enjoyable and seamless experience. That is thanks in large part to the efforts of the front desk staff. Darrow and her team handle room reservations, registration, catering, student concerns, and alumni travel to make the student and alumni experience as reliable and meaningful as possible. 

Next time that you are walking past Benton Hall, feel free to stop in to say “hello” and ask one of the office ambassadors about upcoming career services events. Be sure to check your inbox each Sunday for What’s Going On? — a comprehensive view of events and opportunities from our office.  

“The front desk is a great place to work. If you’re looking for an on-campus job, keep an eye out for postings,” says Darrow, who will be awaiting your next visit alongside her dedicated team.