Autumn Collins Named as Career Services Director
August 9, 2023 - Dorene DiNaro
Autumn Collins has been selected to serve as the new director for Career Services following a competitive national search. Collins has been with the department for the past 15 years and will replace long-time director, Dr. Jenna Crabb, who was recently promoted to executive director for Student Resources.
Crabb said Collins has contributed immensely to Career Services and the university throughout her time at UNM and is excited to watch her continue her tenure as the next Career Services director. “Her passion for what we do, her enthusiasm for helping students, her collaborative spirit, and her leadership experience are amazing assets to Career Services, Student Affairs, and our university,” Crabb said. “She is a culturally responsible professional who takes initiative with amazing energy and ideas to get things done.”
Dr. Eric Scott, vice president for Student Affairs, recognized Collins’ direct experiences in career development at UNM as a benefit to the campus community. “Autumn’s vision towards continued innovation make her the ideal successor to the strong foundations that have been established by Dr. Crabb,” he said.
Collins is a State of New Mexico Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, has completed over 60 hours toward her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology, and holds a master's degree in Counseling from New Mexico Highlands University and a master's degree in Secondary Education from Pepperdine University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan while playing Division I volleyball.
Serving as the department’s career counseling manager for the past seven years, Collins has supervised career development facilitators, career counselors, and interns. As director, she will be responsible for administration of all aspects of the department, as well as oversight of clinical supervision. Crabb believes Collins’ clinical counseling experience will provide a holistic and wellness model of career development for UNM students in alignment with the direction and strategic framework for Student Affairs and UNM 2040.
Career Services serves all students, faculty, and staff in the development of career education, identification, decision-making, and employment opportunities. Collins will bring a collaborative approach to the role—much like her predecessor—and has a passion for building relationships across our campuses, and a drive for creating ways to improve how the department supports students with their career development.
“Students have an expectation when they come to UNM that is beyond their degree: finding a great career,” Collins said. “We serve as the bridge between students' academic training and finding careers that fit that training. We bring employers and students together to find those matches.”
The department facilitates hundreds of career workshops across campus each semester to help students with everything from resume building, interviewing skills, tips and tricks for graduate school applications, and how to transition from college to career.
“Career Services is the primary resource for both individual consultation and programmatic offerings for students seeking career advice, development and opportunities,” Scott said. “Students should consider alignment between academic and professional paths early and often for the best chance at success.”
Collins believes it takes the whole university to support students in pursuing their professional dreams and views her role as part of that collective responsibility. "We have such a wonderful staff and the work we do in Career Services is so rewarding,” Collins said. “We have the honor and privilege to witness and support students as they pursue their professional dreams.”
Each fall, the department hosts degree-specific career fairs. This year, the Engineering and Science Job and Internship Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13; followed by the Business and Accounting Job and Internship Fair on Thursday, Sept. 28, and the Graduate and Professional School Fair on Thursday, Oct. 5.
In the spring semesters, Career Services welcomes over 120 employers to campus during their Career Expo—many of them ready to hire. In April, they host their Educator’s Job Fair. Job seekers can attend resume writing and career fair preparation workshops leading up to the day of the events. Visit Career Services website to learn more.
