Continuing its commitment to providing the best career preparation and vocational discernment possible for students, Wittenberg University is excited to announce that Brittany House Conrad has joined the COMPASS team as the new executive director of Career Engagement and Professional Development.
House Conrad comes to Wittenberg after serving as the assistant dean of students for advocacy and intervention in the Dean of Students’ Office, Division of Student Development, at the University of Dayton.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brittany to our team at Wittenberg University,” said Casey Gill, vice president for student development and dean of students. “Her demonstrated expertise and talent for program development superseded our expectations when we were looking for the ideal candidate to fill this important role. Without a doubt, Brittany will have an impact on career development and professional outcomes for our students. Her proven ability to effectively lead areas through strategic change makes her a tremendous fit for the Wittenberg community.”
In her new role, House Conrad is excited about “building upon existing opportunities and creating new opportunities that focus on professional development, leadership development, career advancement, vocational exploration, experiential learning, life design, and mentoring.” She also plans to develop further Wittenberg’s external relationships with employers, graduate schools, and alumni.
“Ultimately, I am responsible for creating an area that emphasizes best practice, holistic student development, and prepares Wittenberg students to be successful, happy, and fulfilled during their time at Witt and in their post-graduate lives,” explained House Conrad, who will earn her Ph.D. in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University in April. She previously earned her master of education in higher education administration and student personnel at Kent State University and her B.A. in international studies and Spanish from Baldwin-Wallace College.
Joining a team of professionals that includes Joi Garrett Scales, associate director for career operations and student employment, Tim Bates, assistant director for career engagement and exploration, as well as Heath Queen, special projects coordinator, House Conrad looks forward to supporting the infrastructure of career development that further professionalizes and effectively supports programs, services, and departments.
“We are excited for Brittany to join the Wittenberg community and work to integrate and connect students with experiential learning, networking, mentorship, internship, and post-graduate opportunities,” said Jon Duraj, assistant vice president for student development and senior associate dean of students. “Her role, along with the impactful work of the career development team, will ensure all students access to career, graduate school, and support for their post-graduate outcomes.”
During the interview process, House Conrad said she was impressed with Wittenberg and especially took notice with how “the alumni are so engaged and excited about the University.
“They want to partner with Career Engagement and Professional Development, and they have so much to offer current students,” she said. “I also love how there is such a focus right now on how Wittenberg can innovate. People know that good work is being achieved, but they want to do more than that. It makes this an exciting place to work, and it is an awesome experience as a new employee in a new role!”
Career Development and COMPASS at Wittenberg are already moving in the right direction, and House Conrad wants to keep that momentum moving forward.
“My first major priority is developing a strategic plan for this area that will include vision, outcomes, and goals,” she said. “Wittenberg has a solid foundation and has been doing good work around career services and professional development. A strategic plan will take us to the next level and ensure we are committed to best practices and are being innovative in our approaches. Over time, my goal is for Wittenberg to be an exemplar in career services, professional development, and leadership development.”
In her prior position at the University of Dayton, House Conrad acted as the primary advocate for students on individual and systemic levels, provided holistic individual case management for students utilizing life design principles, and partnered with students in creating success plans and in identifying goals and challenges including career, academic, mental health, and others. She was also responsible for responding to crises and emergencies on behalf of the dean of students’ office, including collaborating with families, public safety, hospitals, and other partners, and leading and recommending process improvements and policy changes, as well as responding to parent, alumni, and community concerns.
“My past experiences have prepared me for this role in a unique way,” she explained. “I have created programs for students with career development, professional development, and leadership development outcomes. I have provided career coaching, vocation exploration, and academic advising to students, and assisted both students and full-time professionals with resumes, cover letters, and job application processes. Some of my time has also been spent within academic affairs, and this has helped me to better understand and appreciate Wittenberg’s new Connections Curriculum. Because of this, I know there are many ways the Career Engagement & Professional Development area can collaborate with faculty and other partners to best serve students. I am so excited by the experiential learning requirements within the Connections Curriculum and the potential opportunities we can offer Witt students through Career Engagement & Professional Development.”
House Conrad also has a background in diversity, Title IX, student involvement, student affairs, and housing and residence life. While attending Bowling Green, she served as a special assistant to the chief diversity and belonging officer in the Division of Diversity and Belonging and the Office of Title IX for two years, assisting with major projects and initiatives for the university and division. Additionally, at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, she served as the director of student involvement in the Division of Student Affairs where she oversaw the college’s comprehensive student engagement co-curriculum and streamlined the co-curriculum into the new Office of Student Involvement. Her career has also included work in residence life, student conduct, and student support. She also served as co-instructor for the Honest Conversations on Race, a seminar course on race for undergraduate students at Hiram College.
For more on Wittenberg’s COMPASS: Sweet Success Center, and the University’s long-standing commitment to providing students with experiential learning and career development support that leads to post-graduate outcomes and lifelong fulfillment, visit www.wittenberg.edu/compass.
