JD Van Alstyne (he/him)
Graduate Career Advisor
Education & Experience:
MBA, Sustainable Business Practices Specialization, University of Oregon
BA, Business Administration, University of Oregon
Before joining Mohr Career services in 2022, I held leadership positions in the nonprofit and food/beverage industries; notably, as the executive director of Nourish International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the personal and professional success of student leaders pursuing careers in social impact.
What’s the main focus of your work at Mohr Career Services?
As the Graduate Career Advisor, I focus on supporting MBA and MSF students. In addition to individual advising throughout the year, I facilitate workshops during MBA orientation and I teach FIN 607 in the summer and fall, a 2-credit seminar series on Professional Development for MSF students.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You won’t know what you like until you try it.
Share something about you that people might find surprising
I’m a triple-duck (two degrees from UO and now an employee), but I credit Hip Hop music for the bulk of my education. I wouldn’t be who I am without it. Shout out to People Under the Stairs, Dilated Peoples, Black Star, and many others.
What advice would you give to students so they can optimize their Lundquist experience?
Don’t go through your time in school focused solely on your classes and grades. Less than 1/3 of recruiters look at GPA when evaluating early career candidates. So, as soon as you can, find ways to DO the thing(s) you think you’d like to explore before committing your life to it. Join a club and eventually take on a leadership position, find a part-time job or internship, find an interesting role in ASUO, start a business, etc… The most valuable thing you can do for yourself (and something that will help you stand out as you apply for jobs post-grad) is to gain practical experience.
Laura von Stockhausen (she/her)
Career Advisor
Education/Certification
Hi there! I’m a fellow Duck originally from the Bay Area who studied History, English, and Geography here at the University of Oregon. After a lifetime as an athlete and avid sports fan I fell in love with coaching during my time as an undergrad, and ultimately pursued my Masters Degree in Sports Coaching from the University of Stirling in Scotland! I was able to leverage my education and background into a career in coaching and sports marketing before pivoting back to the University in the Fall of 2018.
What’s the main focus of your work at Mohr Career Services?
As a Career Advisor I get to help students, clubs, and the greater Lundquist community with everything from quick tips and resources, to thoughtful relationship building career strategy conversations. Plus with my background and love of sports, it doesn’t hurt that many of our Ducks are especially interested in the sports space!
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Worry less about answering the question, “What do you want to do for a living?” and think more about question, “What kind of problems do you want to help solve?”. This can be a much more strategic way to narrow down your interests and think about the value you offer.
Share something about you that people might find surprising
I participated in three internships even after graduating with a Master’s Degree. I found these opportunities a great way to test and understand the problems the sports industry were facing, and how my personal skillset and interests could help solve these problems. Not too mention it definitely helped me figure out what I don’t enjoy doing!
What advice would you give to students so they can optimize their Lundquist experience?
Get involved early and stay involved! On-campus leadership and involvement are some of the best ways to stand out to future employers while gaining valuable experience and building great connections. Plus, I think you’ll find most on-campus organizations are enthusiastically looking for more ducks to step-up!
Claire Wu (She/Her)
Associate Director, Career Strategy
Education/Certification
I’m the first in my family to earn a college degree. I completed my college education in Taipei, Taiwan with concentrations in health behavioral science and health policy. My Master of Public Health (MPH) focusing on healthcare management is from Emory University in Atlanta GA. You are right; my career goal was not to become a career coach/advisor.
Fifteen years after I completed my MPH, I became a Designing Your Life certified career coach. What motivated me to invest in this training is that in the 21st century, career development is to build a meaningful life which is much more complex than just getting a (high-paying) job. This approach has brought positive outcomes among the wide range of students and seasoned working professionals I’ve coached.
What’s the main focus of your work at Mohr Career Services?
I lead a team of career coaches/advisors at Mohr Career Services. We have 5 seasoned career coaches/advisors who have worked in career/leadership coaching for between 5 and 19 years. In the US, working professionals can spend up to $250 for a 30-minutes meeting with a career coach. At Lundquist, career coaching is included in your education. Book an appointment today!
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My grandmother who wanted to go to school but didn’t because of her gender and because of the time she lived in told me “Find your dream and live it.”
Share something about you that people might find surprising
The first two years of my career as a career coach/advisor was a rough transition. I asked myself every day whether it was a right decision. What helped me through those two years was my wonderful mentor who supported me and asked me critical questions that allowed me to reflect and expand my comfort zone. The feedback from the students and alumni I worked with during those two years helped me understand what meaningful work is. Looking back, I’m glad that I had given it enough time to discover the values of that transition. I’m forever grateful for my mentor whom I’m still in touch with.
What advice would you give to students so they can optimize their Lundquist experience?
Try every service Lundquist offers at least once a year, such as Mohr Career Services, Braddock Tutoring, Professional Edges, Lundquist Student Clubs, etc. If the services are helpful to you, keep utilizing them.
Jessica Best (she/her)
Director, Career Strategy
Education/Certification:
I am a Double-Duck, having earned my bachelor’s degree in English from the UO. Neither of my parents went to college from high school and I transferred to the UO, so I identify as a first-gen traditional college student. I felt like asking for help was somehow “cheating,” which may be why I am drawn to a profession in which I help students navigate hidden processes like career development and search.
I also earned my masters in post-secondary and adult education with a graduate certificate in training and development from PSU. In other words, I’m a learning nerd.
What’s the main focus of your work at Mohr Career Services?
I oversee our efforts to prepare students to pursue meaningful work. This includes our 1:1 advising, as well as our curricular and co-curricular efforts like Lundquist Career Fundamentals. I love working with students–from first-year to MBAs–to identify what “meaningful work” means to them. I particularly enjoy helping them craft their unique value proposition and communicating it through networking and interviews.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Focus on building trusting relationships, and the rest will sort itself out.
Share something about you that people might find surprising.
I tried several career paths before finding higher ed career services. As a pastry chef, I once baked and decorated a 5-tier, 3 foot high wedding cake. It was extremely nerve-wracking!
What advice would you give to students so they can optimize their Lundquist experience?
Just try stuff! There are so many opportunities available to you as a student that aren’t available after you graduate. Trying things is really the only way to know whether you’ll like it or not and you might as well try things while the stakes are relatively low.
Keith Dussell
Associate Director, Industry Engagement
Education
- Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), Undergraduate, B.A. Communication with emphasis on Public Relations
- University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA), Graduate, M.S. Project Management
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Certificate, Career and Technical Education
What is the main focus of my work?
As part of the Career Connections Team at Mohr Career Services, I reach out to companies and organizations to connect students with employment and internship opportunities. I work with professors to source speakers for classes, I help Lundquist College Clubs to reach out to alum and recruiters, and I work with our career services team to execute events and offerings at the University.
Best career advice I’ve ever received?
Show up. Go to the career fair. Show up when a speaker comes to campus. Interview for something. Keep an eye out for special events. Show up and show your interest.
Something about myself that people might find surprising
I’ve made a gigantic full circle in my career and travels – I was born in Oregon, grew up near Eugene in Junction City, lived and traveled domestically and internationally elsewhere for 25+ years and now have returned to Eugene.
My advice on how to optimize your Lundquist experience
Explore as much as you can – you are in the perfect spot to find out about all the options you have for a great career – take your time, take it all in and then get ready for an adventure.
Sara Mason
Assistant Director, Industry and Alumni Engagement
Education
I am an alum of the University of Oregon, graduating with a BA in English, with Honors. My mom still feels I should have been a business major.
My parents had not finished college when I applied and landed at University of Oregon. I experienced and identify as a first generation college student. I loved my time at UO and tried to take advantage of as much as possible outside the classroom. I was in plays in the Theater Department, on the English Department Council, the Martin Luther King Day Planning Committee, and was an intern at the Oregon State Legislature, and worked part-time.
My communication and people skills propelled me into sales, fundraising, and the external relations with employers and alums I do now for Mohr. I have worked in the large publicly traded corporations, public (higher education) and non-profit sectors of social justice, affordable housing, and arts and culture.
Degree:
BA, English with Honors, Magna Cum Laude, University of Oregon
Professional Leadership Training:
Peer Leadership Coaching Training, Leadership Academy, University of Oregon 2022
Leadership Academy, University of Oregon, 2021-2022
Leadership Academy, Eugene-Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Community Mobilization and Collective Impact Training, United Way Worldwide
Public Innovators Training, Harwood Institute for Public Innovation
Major Gifts Fundraising, Council for Advancement and Support of Education
What’s the main focus of your work at Mohr Career Services?
I work to build strong and deep relationships with industry through connection and engagement of recruiters and alumni.I work to ensure students gain exposure, education, connections, networks, hands-on learning, and internships. I do this with a student-centered approach. I focus on access and opportunity to empower all students to learn, grow, and thrive in their career. I bring lived experience to my efforts to consult and promote equity, opportunity, and inclusivity. I love collaborating with students to engage our employers and alumni!
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
It’s all about relationships. I get very excited to “get results” and succeed, and I realize, and more and more, that none of this matters if your relationships with co-workers and customers are not warm, real, and connected.
Share something about you that people might find surprising
I am a certified Yoga teacher, and though a pretty extroverted introvert, I love a 5 -10 day silent meditation retreat.
What advice would you give to students so they can optimize their Lundquist experience?
Learn and connect outside the classroom. Even if you don’t “need the money” consider an on or off campus part-time job, volunteer, join and lead in a club or organization. Learn by doing, mood and opportunity follows action. You got this. (oh and HAVE FUN! it goes by too quick)
Josh Pritchett
Client Services Manager
Education
University of Oregon, Lundquist College of Business, BS, Management and Marketing
What is the main focus of my work?
As part of the Office of Industry and Alumni Engagement at Mohr Career Services, I support our team’s effort in providing opportunities for Lundquist College students to engage further with industry by partnering with colleagues, recruiters, alumni, and industry professionals.
Best career advice I’ve ever received?
Stay positive and don’t be afraid to try new things, you never know what you might learn or how you can positively impact others.
Something about myself that people might find surprising
I was born in Eugene, Oregon and grew up here. After graduating from UO, I have lived and worked in Oregon, Nevada, and California, returning to Eugene in 2018. I enjoy sailing and all UO sports! Go Ducks!
My advice on how to optimize your Lundquist experience
Get involved, meet new people, experience new things, and remember to have fun!
Gene Rhee
Executive Director
Education/Certification
I’m a first-gen college student. I graduated with an undergraduate business administration degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC, and an MBA from Chapman University in Orange, CA.
What’s the main focus of your work at Mohr Career Services?
I spend most of my time helping the team stay aligned with our mission of leading the college’s effort to prepare all Lundquist students for career success. I meet with alums and recruiters to help build recruiting relationships with companies. I also meet with donors to raise money to help students reach their career goals.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Have lots of conversations with people and learn from everyone.
Share something about you that people might find surprising
I’ve worked for 10 organizations in 6 industries on 3 continents. Don’t stress out thinking that your first job will pigeonhole you. Your first job will not be your last.
What advice would you give to students so they can optimize their Lundquist experience?
Try out different things that you’re curious about. Don’t just think about it. Do it.
Cherie Knox
