Audience

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Kristen Pennington to Director of Professional Pathways in the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) at St. Mary's College of Maryland!
Since joining CCPD as the Employer Relations and Events Coordinator, Kristen has been a driving force in building robust partnerships, developing impactful career programs, and connecting students with meaningful real-world opportunities. Her strategic vision, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to student success have made her an invaluable asset to our team.
In her new role, Kristen will lead the design and delivery of the Professional Pathways curriculum, a cornerstone of the LEAD initiative and Honors College Promise. She will oversee instructional planning, course development, and assessment for our professional development offerings, while leading a team dedicated to fostering student growth through internships, externships, and co-curricular experiences. Kristen will also play a pivotal role in supporting first-year and upper-division students through tailored programming, early interventions, and inclusive strategies to reduce career outcome inequities. As Director, she will champion the award-winning Professional Pathways LEAD courses, a required curriculum that strengthens students' core competencies, brings industry experts to campus, and guides students toward their professional goals through mentoring and innovative initiatives, including a new leadership program.
We are excited to see Kristen step into this expanded leadership role, where she will continue to innovate, mentor, and champion the professional journeys of our students.
A special thank you to Dr. Howland and the search committee members Darah Schillinger '22, Caroline King, and Crystal Dunkin for all of your efforts in the process.
Please join us in congratulating Kristen on this well-deserved promotion!