James Barricelli is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Career Development & Executive Director of the UNC Career Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he leads student-centered career initiatives campus-wide. He joined UNC in late 2023, after serving as Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Career Center. At Georgia Tech, he led major transformations—restructuring the office, launching a strategic three-year plan, implementing a career education model, and introducing programs like a First‑Generation Shadow Program and the Career Alliance.
At UNC, Barricelli has already spearheaded a rebranding of University Career Services into the UNC Career Center and has overseen substantial growth in services and engagement. Under his leadership, the team launched initiatives like the Career Hub, a faculty-staff Career Champions Program, and greatly expanded student coaching and employer outreach programs.
With over 16 years of experience in higher education and career services, James has directed recruitment and employer relations teams at Wake Forest University, UNC Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and George Mason University. He also held leadership roles in professional organizations such as ACPA and the Virginia Association of College and Employers.
He earned a B.A. in History from Utica College of Syracuse University and an M.A. in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
