Joan Catherine Viksjo
Athens,Alabama
Summary
Dedicated career advisor with experience serving a beautiful diversity of students in both medical education and higher education. Special populations include MS1 through MS4 students; TRiO program participants, those overcoming learning difficulties; students on probation or suspension, parenting students, prospective and incoming freshmen, and graduate students. Proficient in various learning and career assessments, including the Careers in Medicine/AAMC program; the MBTI; the Learning & Study Strategies Inventory, the Student Self-Directed Search, the Strong Interest Inventory, and Focus II. First generation professional committed to fostering student success.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Coordinator, The Non-Traditional Occupations (NTO) Program, The Career Hub
Milwaukee Area Technical College
01.2021 - 09.2023
- Provided career services for students enrolled in programs considered to be non-traditional for their gender to ensure persistence to graduation, employment readiness and workplace success
- Developed and conducted NTO specific events such as NTO Career Conversations, panel presentations with employers and workshops on the job search process
- Assisted the Manager with daily operations of the grant to ensure compliance
- Updated and publicized program materials and events in collaboration with Marketing
- Collaborated with the CareerHub team on various career development initiatives, including Job Fairs, resume reviews and job search workshops
- Participated on the Single Parent Learner Committee and the National Apprenticeship Week Committee
- Key Accomplishment: Created MATC’s first NTO Faculty/Staff Single-Parent Colloquium aimed at developing campus-wide resources for parenting students
Learning Specialist/Tutor Coordinator, Office of Student Affairs
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
06.2017 - 01.2019
- Provided career advising and assessment to MS1 and MS2 students through workshops using the CiM Program resources
- Assisted students who have been suspended and/or dismissed to address next-step career plans
- Provided individual academic advisement and study skills support for first- and second-year students; interpreted the MBTI and the 'Learning & Study Strategies Inventory, 2nd Edition'
- Directed the Peer Tutoring Program in compliance with accreditation guidelines of the College & Reading Learning Association (CRLA); applied for and received re-accreditation of WVSOM’s Peer Tutoring program by the CRLA for the next three years
- Collaborated with teammates to develop and implement the summer 'SAIL' program for remediating students ('Self-Aware Integrated Learning')
- Collaborated with teammates to develop and implement a new summer literary program for incoming students; critiqued student essays on Being Mortal in eMedley
- Maintained accurate documentation on each student’s progress
- Provided academic support for MS2’s preparing for COMSAE and COMLEX; met with third-years via Skype to discuss specific COMLEX II prep strategies
- Key Accomplishments: With faculty guidance, wrote a successful state-funded grant to develop and implement a new career development program for all first-year medical students; components of the program included a new 'Medical Career Development' course; a paid four-year subscription for each student to the American Association of Medical College’s 'Careers in Medicine' online resource program, and multiple workshops and Career Conversations on various medical specialties led by faculty-physicians
Student Services Specialist/TANF, Office of Student Affairs
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
05.2016 - 05.2017
- Provided individual academic advising and career counseling for TANF recipients; collaborated with colleagues to develop a new TANF application, logo and marketing materials for the community
- Assisted students with course selection and registration
- Conducted small-group workshops on study skills and active learning
- Maintained accurate case notes in compliance with federal grant guidelines; tracked and analyzed quarterly data in Excel
- Met with County caseworkers to discuss each student's academic progress
Assistant Director, Office of Academic & Career Development, Office of Student Affairs
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
09.2009 - 10.2012
- Developed and taught a new 'Medical Career Development' course (with an online component) for all students as one part of a new four-pillar career development program
- Created and ran workshops aimed at assisting students in specialty selection
- Provided study skills development and support for first and second-year medical students; conducted workshops on learning styles and study strategies
- Administered the Learning & Study Strategies Inventory, 2nd Edition, to all first-year students and to second-years as-needed; followed-up with each student individually to develop an action plan for improvement in areas such as time management, test-taking strategies and reading comprehension
- Key Accomplishments: Developed and implemented MUSOM’s first 'Doctor for a Day' program for Marshall University’s Upward Bound/TRiO students hosted by third-year medical students and faculty-physicians
- Resurrected and monitored the MUSOM tutoring program for first and second-year students; hired new Peer Tutors for both classes; created training materials; evaluated small-group tutoring sessions every other Saturday morning
Director, Student Support Services/TRiO – U.S. Department of Education
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
02.2006 - 07.2009
- Directed this academic support service for 215 at-risk, first generation students, funded by a $326,653 Title IV Grant of the Higher Education Act of 1965; prepared and monitored the budget, project performance and Annual Performance Reports
- Provided academic advising for a caseload of 200 students; administered and interpreted the Strong Interest Inventory and the MBTI individually and in groups
- Managed the Peer Tutoring program, including hiring, supervising and evaluating Peer Tutors
- Developed and conducted group workshops on learning skills development and assessment aimed at fostering student self-confidence, a love of learning and academic competencies across the lifespan; worked with students individually to uncover sources of their learning difficulties
- Presented multicultural sensitivity training workshops for faculty and staff
- Developed and coordinated Tech's first three Alumni Career Networking Luncheons
- Collaborated with Career Services to improve Tech's delivery of career services for students and alumni through sponsoring the purchase of VAULT and the Strong Interest Inventories
- Key Accomplishments: Collaborated with staff and key internal stakeholders to write a new TRiO grant, successfully funded by the U.S
- Department of Education, for the 2008 grant cycle competition
- Completed grant-writing workshops in Washington, D.C
- Funded by the U.S
- Department of Education
- Wrote a Social Justice grant for WVU Tech, August 2006, funded by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Counselor, Student Support Services/TRiO – U.S. Department of Education
Iona University
01.2002 - 04.2005
- Co-managed this federally-funded program for 160 at-risk, first generation students aimed at fostering students' academic, personal and career success across the lifespan; maintained proper documentation on all students' files in compliance with federal guidelines; prepared monthly reports tracking students' grades, evaluating project performance, and monitoring program expenses
- Interviewed prospective students and met with their parents/guardians; verified program eligibility and followed-up on missing documentation
- Provided individual and group career counseling; administered and interpreted career assessment and learning styles inventories
- Developed and taught study skills and career exploration workshops
- Monitored students' academic progress; developed early intervention strategies for students on academic probation; helped students identify appropriate and realistic majors and minors given their interests, skills, values and goals
- Wrote the Tutor Training Guidebook; developed Tutor Training Workshops
- Conducted presentations at Admissions Open Houses and Summer Success Seminars
- Key Accomplishments: Promoted to the newly-created position of Assistant Director, Student Support Services, Spring 2004
- Collaborated with colleagues and the Director of Student Support Services to write a new federally-funded TRiO grant for the next grant cycle competition
- Due to institutional restructuring issues and circumstances beyond the control of our department, this grant was not renewed by the U.S
- Department of Education, and the Student Support Services program, unfortunately, closed
Career Counselor, Cooperative Education & Career Services
Pace University, Lubin Graduate Center
03.1990 - 08.2001
- Provided career counseling, assessment and placement services for graduate students and alumni for four of the five schools of the University
- Administered and interpreted the Strong Interest Inventory and the MBTI
- Directed the Campus Recruiting Program; coordinated interview schedules with our Pleasantville and NYC campuses; hosted employer luncheons
- Visited employers to market our services
- Collaborated with teammates to create and implement 'Evenings of Networking' for alumni and the public; worked with Deans and faculty to develop and implement Career Forums
Education
ABD in The Ed.D Program - Higher Education Administration, Leadership Studies Track
Marshall University Graduate School of Education & Professional Development
South Charleston, WV05.2022
M.Ed. - Psychological Counseling, Career Development Track
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, NY05.1987
M.A. - Organizational Psychology, Human Resources Management Track
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, NY05.1985
Skills
- Google Suite
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Blackboard
- DegreeWorks
- EAB Navigate
- Canva
- Zoom
- Grant research & writing
Selected Conferences And Presentations
- Attended the 2023 Ohio State University Collaborative ACCESS Conference for Single Parent Learners, 05/10-12, Columbus
- 'Toward Characterizing and Conceptualizing American College Access Programs: A White Paper', Accepted for presentation, Southern Regional Conference for Educational Administrators (SRCEA), 11/14, Atlanta, GA
- 'Building a Multi-Faceted Career Development Program for Medical Students: Fostering Meaning & Mission Across the Lifespan', Accepted for presentation, Association of American Medical Colleges Professional Development Conference, 06/13, San Diego, CA
- 'Improving the Feedback Process & Medical Student Performance: An Exploratory Study', 23rd Annual Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Conference, 06/03/11, Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio
Certification And Training
MBTI Certified Practitioner, Steps I and II Instruments, New York, NY, 11/17
Timeline
Coordinator, The Non-Traditional Occupations (NTO) Program, The Career Hub
Milwaukee Area Technical College
01.2021 - 09.2023
Learning Specialist/Tutor Coordinator, Office of Student Affairs
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
06.2017 - 01.2019
Student Services Specialist/TANF, Office of Student Affairs
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
05.2016 - 05.2017
Assistant Director, Office of Academic & Career Development, Office of Student Affairs
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
09.2009 - 10.2012
Director, Student Support Services/TRiO – U.S. Department of Education
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
02.2006 - 07.2009
Counselor, Student Support Services/TRiO – U.S. Department of Education
Iona University
01.2002 - 04.2005
Career Counselor, Cooperative Education & Career Services
Pace University, Lubin Graduate Center
03.1990 - 08.2001
M.Ed. - Psychological Counseling, Career Development Track
Teachers College, Columbia University
M.A. - Organizational Psychology, Human Resources Management Track
Teachers College, Columbia University
ABD in The Ed.D Program - Higher Education Administration, Leadership Studies Track
Marshall University Graduate School of Education & Professional Development
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