Our Staff

Lisa Bowden has worked at University Career Services for many years.  With Lisa’s experience feel free to contact her for any questions or concerns you may have. Lisa loves spending time with her family, she also likes to take long relaxing walks, and she takes pride in growing her vegetable gardens during the summer and fall seasons.  Her favorite season of the year is summer, and she enjoys vacationing at the beach.

Blakely Williamson has worked at University Career Services since 2004. She received her bachelor's degree in Communications from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2002. In her spare time, Blakely enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling.

Teresa Holt has been with University Career Services since June 1984.  Currently, she assists the counselors and employers with posting job vacancies and performing resume referral searches from the UCS website.  When she is away from UNC-Chapel Hill, she enjoys spending time with her large extended family, pursuing projects on her farm, trying new recipes, and singing.

Angel Miller joined University Career Services in June 2024. She moved to North Carolina from Indiana, but is originally from Michigan. She is married with a 12-year-old stepson, a 19-month-old son, and a fur daughter (Boxer). She enjoys camping, hiking, the mountains, and beach alike (pretty much anything that involves the outdoors).

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and an associate's in Business Marketing. She comes from a Director of Operations role and has experience in higher education and hospitality. In her words, "I live and breath by organized chaos. I have a passion for supporting others and helping them to meet their goals."

Julie Gaudet, originally from the Boston area, began her career in Human Resources and had the opportunity to work across diverse industries including banking, IT and healthcare. Her most recent HR role was as Director of Human Resources for Nantucket Nectars. Upon relocating to Chapel Hill, Julie transitioned to higher education and has since held leadership roles within UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School’s MBA, Master of Accounting, and Executive MBA programs for over two decades. She holds a BA in English from Boston College. Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and actively supporting the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district through mentoring programs. Julie is deeply committed to supporting students and employers, empowering them to excel and attain their academic and professional goals.

Kelsey is passionate about helping others discover their purpose and making meaning out of life experiences. Shes lived all over the world, including Pennsylvania, Oregon, France, Spain, California and South Carolina. She loves traveling and getting familiar with new cultures, people, and ways of being. Her true passion is working in the education field and helping students discover their purpose while in school and beyond. She has a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Journalism and Spanish and a master's degree from Clemson University in Counselor's Education. She has work experience in Admissions, Student Affairs, and is now excited to venture into the Career Services space as a leader and liaison to students at UNC Chapel. Her goal is to build relationships with staff and faculty across campus to increase the number of students obtaining experiential learning opportunities and serve as an educator on the importance of out-of-classroom experiences. She has a heart for serving underrepresented populations and enjoy creating opportunities for all students to realize their talents and find success. In her free time, she loves exploring and trying new things - whether it's an activity, food, or city (but especially food). She also enjoys being outdoors, photography, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Monica joins the UNC Career Center with a robust background in employer engagement and career services. Previously she served as Employer Engagement Coordinator at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. She holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Master’s in Digital Media Communication from Bellarmine University. She began her tenure in career services as a work study student and continues to have affinity for the work. She’s excited to continue to work with employers to advocate for underrepresented populations with the hope to one day become a director of a career center.

Outside of her professional commitments, Monica enjoys traveling with friends, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and spending time outdoors with her dog, Scooby Doo.

The Assistant Director of Employer Engagement at University Career Services builds relationships with employers across industries focused on: 1) Internet/Software/Hi-Tech, 2) Banking/Financial Services, and 3) Healthcare/Biotech/Pharma. In addition, he identifies potential micro-internship projects from his Industry Portfolio companies, engages UNC Alumni to support employer-involved experiential learning initiatives for students, and serves as the liaison to designated departments serving STEM majors for the purposes of increasing employers in high-impact practices in the classroom.

Focus Areas

• Employer Engagement and Industry Advising for Internet/Software/Hi-Tech, Banking/Financial Services, and Healthcare/Biotech/Pharma
• Source projects for the UCS Micro-Internship Program; and Alumni External Stakeholder Engagement Liaison
• Portfolio Manager for STEM majors/departments with focus on identifying those with High-Impact Practices involving Employers

The Assistant Director of Employer Engagement at University Career Services builds relationships with employers across industries focused on: 1) Non-Profits, 2) NGOs, 3) Government/Education, and 4) Related Industries. In addition, they identify potential micro-internship projects from their Industry Portfolio companies, engage UNC Parents/Families to support employer-involved experiential learning initiatives for students, and liaise with designated departments serving Humanities and Social Sciences majors for the purposes of increasing employers in high-impact practices in the classroom.

Focus Areas

• Employer Engagement and Industry Advising for Education, Non-Profits, NGO’s, Government Agencies, and Related Industries
• Source projects for the UCS Micro-Internship Program; build strategic engagements with Parents/Family External Stakeholders
• Portfolio Manager for Humanities and Social Sciences majors/departments with focus on identifying those with High-Impact Practices involving Employers

The Assistant Director of Assessments and Analytics for UCS helps the office operate efficiently and effectively through tracking monthly activities metrics that provide insight on UCS’s Signature KPIs, along with aligning UCS assessment of student and employer engagement activities with the Division of Student Affairs guidelines. In addition, the Assistant Director analyzes student and employer data on Handshake and other databases, collaborates with the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment to submit post-graduate student outcomes data for accreditation and rankings publications, and develops visual reports on various data to share with departmental stakeholders.

Focus Areas

• First Destination Survey Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting
• Student Affairs Division Liaison for UCS Office-wide Assessments, Analysis, and Reporting
• Data Collection and Reporting for Professional Associations, School Rankings Publications, and Program Reviews

Elyse Molewyk is the Events and Marketing Coordinator at University Career Services. She is responsible for coordinating in-person and virtual career fairs, organizing fee-based marketing services for employers, managing the UCS website, designing graphics for UCS social media, all in addition to various other communications-related projects.

Elyse grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wheaton College in May 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys spending a ridiculous amount of time in indie bookstores, walking on the beach, writing fiction, and drawing.

Focus Areas

• Event Coordinator for UCS Standalone and Consortium Fairs
• Graphic Designer, Website Manager, and Communications Specialist for UCS Events
• Employer Liaison for Fee-Based Employer and Recruiter Services

The Job Location and Development (JLD) Coordinator for UCS fulfills an important access and equity need for UNC Students and serves three primary roles: 1) developing relationships with off-campus employers interested in hiring UNC students for paid jobs (primarily part-time); 2) giving presentations to student groups and increasing participation in meaningful part‐time employment with off-campus employers; and 3) serving as a member of the University Career Services (UCS) external relations team designing strategies to increase employment‐related opportunities for students. In addition, the position is tasked with connecting UNC students with employers who can provide professional part‐time job opportunities to: 1) support students earning potential during their studies; 2) support students attainment of pre-professional jobs/skills aligned with their academic majors and career goals.

Focus Areas

• JLD Program design, administration, and promotion to students desiring paid off-campus Part-Time Jobs that align with academic majors and career goals
• Promotes student enrollment in the UCS Professional Internship Experience Certificate; and provides analysis and reporting on the Part-Time Jobs market
• Portfolio Manager for Supervisors of On-Campus and Off-Campus Part-Time student employees to ensure the development of NACE Career Readiness Competencies

The Director of Career Education is the primary UCS representative leading career education initiatives, and outcomes; in addition to, an advisor, advocate, catalyst for change, and Career Education resources focused on creating accessible and engaging career content, programming, and activities.

Chiquita Griffin is an experienced higher education professional with a distinguished career spanning over 10 years, dedicated to the field of career and professional development. Chiquita has successfully worked with a diverse demographic of students and professionals, empowering them to achieve their career aspirations.

Prior to UNC, Chiquita served as Director of Professional and Intellectual Engagement at Lehigh University. Chiquita excels in program development, leveraging a deep understanding of industry trends and student needs to create impactful learning experiences. Her past roles involved not only designing but also delivering dynamic career development programs that equipped students with essential skills such as resume writing, interview techniques, and professional networking strategies.

Chiquita holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University where she also completed her bachelor’s degree.

Jacquelyn Gist is an Assistant Director and Career Coach for all students. Ms. Gist received both her B.A in Philosophy and her MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has been with UCS since 1992. Before coming to UCS,  Ms. Gist worked as a Social Worker with the ARC of Orange County and as the Coordinator of the Inter Faith Council Homeless Shelter. Ms. Gist has served as an elected member of the Carrboro Board of Alderman since 1989.

Lidia joined UCS in July 2024 as Assistant Director of Career Education. Previously, she served as Career Services Coordinator at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She holds a Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies from UNC Chapel Hill—go heels! Outside of work, Lidia loves spending time with her loved ones, traveling, collecting plants, and going on long walks with her furbaby, Flan.

Ariel is a highly accomplished individual with a professional background in vocational counseling, mental health counseling, and entrepreneurship, hailing from the vibrant city of Memphis, Tennessee. With an unwavering commitment to empowering individuals, Ariel currently holds the esteemed position of Career Coach within the esteemed Career Services Department. Having earned her degrees from Fort Valley State University, Ariel's journey towards student engagement and excellence began. Her profound passion for supporting students in achieving their personal, career, and independent goals is evident in her dedication to fostering self-sufficiency and maximizing the opportunities that college offers.

Ariel's professional philosophy is encapsulated by one of her favorite quotes: "Your gifts are necessary. Be yourself. Be legendary." This mindset drives her to inspire greatness in those she works with and encourages them to embrace their unique talents and capabilities.

With a wealth of experience and a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of students, Ariel is a valuable asset in the pursuit of personal and professional growth. Her expertise, combined with her compassionate approach, ensures that she consistently delivers exceptional guidance and support.In summary, Ariel's professional background, unwavering ambition, and belief in the limitless potential of individuals make her an invaluable asset to any endeavor she undertakes. Her passion for student success and commitment to excellence set her apart as a true advocate for personal and career development.

Jamel is passionate about supporting all students' holistic development and achieving their professional and academic goals. He loves to travel, spend time with his friends and family, and do photography in his free time! Jamel has prior experience in college access, career services, first year experience, and admissions. Fun fact about Jamel: he's a first-gen grad and can play 5 instruments!

Caitlin joins the University Career Services team as an Assistant Director of Career Education, supporting the intentional career exploration and empowerment of pre-law and pre-graduate students through workshops, events and individual coaching. Prior to her time as a Tar Heel, Caitlin was a Hoya of Georgetown University where she began as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions and then transitioned to the Graduate Career Center as Assistant Director of Career Management.  Caitlin earned her M.A. in Communication, Culture & Technology at Georgetown University and her B.A. in Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Connecticut. In her free time she is a needlepoint enthusiast who travels to London any chance she gets. 

Carleigh Twillmann is originally from New Jersey and recently relocated to North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the College of Charleston and a Masters of Education degree from Rutgers University. Carleigh started her career as an educator but later transitioned into the field of talent acquisition, where she excelled in helping candidates find careers aligned with their interests, work history, and values. Combining her love of education with her experience in connecting individuals with career opportunities, she joined University Career Services at UNC. Today, Carleigh supports students in their professional development by providing personalized guidance, skill assessments and career workshops. She is passionate about helping students realize their unique abilities, strengths, and values to empower them to achieve success and reach their professional goals. When she is not working, you can find Carleigh trying out new restaurants, painting, or spending time with her friends and family.

Miranda is excited to connect with students who are interested in the Peace Corps! She is a double Tar Heel from Knightdale, North Carolina who is currently earning her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. In college, she studied Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies, worked as an Orientation Leader, and conducted child development research within the School of Education. After graduating from UNC, she served in the Peace Corps in Cayambe, Ecuador, as a Youth and Families Development Volunteer. Miranda enjoys a wide range of hobbies in her free time, including traveling, writing, learning languages, and Thai boxing. Fun fact: Miranda grew up on a farm and enjoys visiting home to see her family’s goats, who are all named after country music stars.