JoAnna Luiso
Director
What is your Background?
My career in higher education began by chance after I was offered an opportunity to work as a career advisor at a local college. I accepted the offer, excited to embark on a new career helping students and nearly 17 years later, I have never looked back. In August 2014, I joined the Career & Professional Development Center and I am honored to be part of such an extraordinary team. The most rewarding aspect to my work has been supporting students and alumni, helping them to discover their strengths, showcase their talents, and achieve their professional goals.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, English – The University of Florida
Master of Science, Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution – Nova Southeastern University
Lessons Learned?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes often help us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and enable us to grow as a person. The most important thing is to learn from them and apply this insight to the future.
Favorite Quote:
Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. –Winston Churchill
Tracy Micali
Associate Director
What is your background?
I started my career in higher education as an Admission Counselor at Southern Vermont College. From there I explored career opportunities in both the public and private sectors and returned to higher education in 2005 when I joined the staff in the Office of Human Resources and Development at SNHU. I have been a member of the Career Development Center team since 2014 and find counseling students to be the most challenging and rewarding experience of my career. I have learned as much from my students as they have learned from me. Is that not what higher education is all about: learning and self-discovery?
Lessons Learned?
It is better to embrace change than to resist it. It’s going to happen whether you want it to or not so why not make the most of it?
Education and Certificates
Master of Science, Organizational Leadership, SNHU
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Vermont
Favorite Quote:
Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
Specialties and Interests
Accounting/Finance, Education, InternshipsAcademic Categories
EducationAccounting, Economics, and FinanceJason Whitney
Associate Director
What is your background?
I knew early on that working with students was the right path for me. I had a few great mentors when I was an undergraduate, and their influence led me to my first jobs in higher education. Before starting at SNHU in 2015, I served as an internship coordinator and employer relations specialist for 10 years at UNH working directly with students and employers in the region.
Career lessons learned?
It’s always been about working hard, treating people with kindness and respect, and networking. There are no shortcuts or substitutes for any of them if you want to achieve your goals.
Education and Certificates
Master of Science, College Student Personnel, Western Illinois University, 1996
Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Literature, State University of New York at New Paltz, 1993
Favorite quote
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
Specialties and Interests
Biology, Environmental Science, Communication, Justice Studies, English/Creative WritingAcademic Categories
Marketing and CommunicationLiberal Arts (all other School of Arts & Science Majors)Justice Studies, Law, and PoliticsGame Art and Graphic DesignHospitality BusinessHistoryEnvironmental ScienceEnglish Language, Literature, and Creative WritingBiologyCulinaryEnvironmental ScienceChance Clutter
Associate Director
What is your background?
Like many young adults, I thought I had a good career plan until graduation, and then I realized I wasn’t on the right path for me. During a moment of severe panic, I moved out of my home state of Kansas and ended up in Boston, MA. There I worked in a variety of roles until I stumbled upon career counseling in higher education (almost 10 years ago!), and I’ve been excited to come to work every day since. Having the opportunity to help students and alumni identify their own strengths and abilities or navigate the often challenging areas of one’s career trajectory is an amazing aspect of my job.
Lessons learned?
I am a big believer in “planned happenstance.” There are more than 20,000 different types of jobs in the world, yet most of us only know a few of them. I am now working in the perfect job for me, and I had never (ever) heard of career counseling until I was in my mid-thirties. Being open to opportunities, talking to people, doing that little extra provides you with countless new options you may never have even thought about before. If it wasn’t for a connection I made as a radio producer (and being open to hearing about another career direction), I wouldn’t have found my dream job. You really never know who or what may completely change your world, but you need to be prepared when that moment arrives.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minor in Philosophy; Fort Hays State University
Master of Science in Family Studies and Human Services; Kansas State University
Favorite Quote
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
–Thomas A. Edison
Specialties and Interests
Psychology, Sociology, Di3, InternshipsAcademic Categories
Psychology and SociologyLiberal Arts (all other School of Arts & Science Majors)Justice Studies, Law, and PoliticsHistoryChristina Foster
Campus Career Advisor
What is your background?
Prior to working in the Career Development Center at SNHU, I worked for a small non-profit that worked with the non-profit colleges and universities in the state of NH promoting service learning. During that time, I discovered my passion for event planning in an educational setting, but I had a strong desire to be working with and for students. I started my time with SNHU in 2013 as the Administrative Assistant for the Career Development Center and spent two years in that position before moving into Employer Relations. In my current role, I am the Assistant Director of Employer Relations, and work closely with employers to cultivate job and internship opportunities and on campus events for our student population. I also advise students within CETA around their career goals and aspirations, but welcome the opportunity to meet with any students that I might be able to assist. While I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, shopping, and visiting the beach.
Lessons learned?
While money may be important to pay the bills, I have found that happiness in my career is the most important thing to my success. Enjoying what I do, and the people I work with makes my job feel less like work.
Education and Certificates
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts, UNH Manchester
Master of Science in Higher Education Administration, Southern New Hampshire University
Favorite quote
“Everything happens for a reason” – Anonymous
Academic Categories
Business Administration and International BusinessAudience
EmployersAlumniStudentsZachariah Hicks
Campus Career Advisor
What is your Background? My career and professional experience within the field of higher education has spanned several different areas and roles, with the central focus being on supporting the work that drives student development. This has included working on new initiatives and programming designed to serve areas of recruitment/retention, athletic administration, academic advising, international and DEI programming, and for the past decade career development.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Sociology – Wheaton College (MA)
Lessons Learned? Be true to yourself; know what you stand for and what you don’t. Being able to bring your authentic self to work will ground you and provide you with clarity and purpose in your work, while allowing others to value you for who you are as a professional and person. Pride yourself in your willingness to ask questions and your ability to take feedback and criticism, it’s the only way to truly grow and learn. Cultivate perseverance and maintain a blue collar mindset, requiring inspiration is for amateurs and is temporary; consistency gets you what you want. Be kind and have fun, you aren’t your job.
Favorite Quote: “It is never too late to be what you might have been” – George Elliot
Academic Categories
Business Administration and International BusinessAffinity Groups
International StudentsAudience
Faculty & StaffEmployersAlumniStudentsKristina Rieger
Career Advisor
What is your background?
My journey in higher education started here at SNHU when I was Graduate Assistant in the Learning Center. From there, I served as the Business Tutoring Coordinator and Assistant Director in the Wolak Learning Center for several years while also having the opportunity to teach various courses. I have spent the past few years as a Senior Career Development Strategist at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA and am excited to now be rejoining the SNHU community as a Campus Career Advisor!
Education
Master of Science, Sport Management, SNHU
Bachelor of Science, Sport Management, Daniel Webster College
Lessons Learned?
Try it! Try the things that make you nervous. Try the things that make you excited. Try the things that push you out of your comfort zone. You never know what you might discover in the process.
Favorite Quote
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller
Academic Categories
Math and Data AnalyticsBusiness Administration and International BusinessInformation TechnologyAudience
Faculty & StaffEmployersAlumniStudentsJoy Richards
Employer Relations Specialist
What is your Background?
During my undergraduate studies, I was unsure of what I wanted to do and what I was passionate about. I knew I loved building relationships and the environment of higher education. I took opportunities to gain a variety of experience to find what I was passionate about, my goal was to learn and soak up all of the knowledge I could! Through this path of discovery I gained experience working in Higher Education within Human Resources, events, and career. It took a move back to NH to find the SNHU community, where I am able to work within my passion and build relationships with local employers and work on career focused events!
Education:
BS Business Administration, Project Management (Liberty University), Candidate 2024 MS Psychology, Industrial and Organizational (SNHU)
Lessons Learned?
Say yes to new things, even if they scare you; learning a new skill, taking part in a big presentation, being part of a project. Embrace opportunity to grow and learn!
Favorite Quote:
“We’re all rough drafts of the people we are still becoming.” -Bob Goff
Specialties and Interests
Employer Relations, Event ManagementAudience
Faculty & StaffEmployersJennifer Marasco
Operations Manager
What is your background?
I started my career with SNHU in July 2016 as a Student Success Coordinator for our Global Campus. It was here that I acclimated myself to the University and all that it has to offer. Having worked in the on-line environment for two years, I wanted to shift gears and experience the brick and mortar side of SNHU. I was fortunate enough to be hired for the position of Employer Relations and Recruiting Coordinator within the Career Development Center in July 2018. In July of 2019 I became the Operations Coordinator, taking over the day to day operations of our office, as well as assisting with Employer Relations.
Lessons learned?
Take the leap and don’t let your fear of failure hold you back.
Education
BS in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, Bridgewater State University
Favorite Quote
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”