Meet the Staff
Your Career Guides
The Professional Career-Readiness Center is here to help you — before and after graduation — with career mapping, job searches, professional documents, brand management, interviewing skills and much more!
Staff members can help you to develop your educational and career paths so that you reach your professional goals. Our staff is safe zone certified - providing services that are inclusive of all students and alumni.
Location: Student Center - Lower Level
Email: CareerDev@pointpark.edu
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Dean Jolin, Director, Professional Career-Readiness Center
As the Director of Career-Readiness, Dean is primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Professional Career-Readiness Center (PCRC). Dean is also focused on building and maintaining strong corporate and business relationships with employers to enhance employment opportunities for students while enrolled in an academic program and post-graduation. This includes Point Park’s Internship and Co-Op programs in addition to part-time, temporary, or full-time employment opportunities.
Dean has worked in career development for the past 10 years and in higher education for a total of 20 years. He is dedicated to working with the PCRC team to make sure students are setting goals to achieve their dreams and have the accessibility to connect with the Career-Readiness Center early on to explore career paths, track experiences, build a network, develop a resume or portfolio, and be ready to launch when opportunities become available.
Contact Info:
- Office: Student Center - Lower Level, B07
- Email: djolin@PointPark.edu
- Phone: 412-392-3890
Michael Clarke, Program Manager - Experiential Learning
Mike is the Program Manager - Experiential Learning at Point Park University. As the Program Manager, he works with students to identify internship, co-op, and other experiential learning opportunities that relate to a student's major and career-readiness goals. He develops and facilitates career-readiness programming; including information specific to experiential learning opportunities.
Mike has extensive experience working for over 20 years in secondary education, higher education, and adult education. While at Point Park University, Mike has been involved with workshops and events to specifically inform students about Career Readiness topics - including being the host of the Candid Career Conversations Webinar that is available on the PPU - Professional Career Readiness YouTube channel. The best part of the job, according to Mike, is to help students reach their goals including internships, co-ops, and post graduation employment or promotion.
If you have specific questions about the internship or co-op process, please contact Mike at mclarke@pointpark.edu.
Contact Info:
- Office: Student Center - Lower Level, B05
- Email: mclarke@PointPark.edu
- Phone: 412-392-3883
Kenneth Anderson, Coordinator - Employer Recruitment and Student Engagement
As the Coordinator - Employer Recruitment and Student Engagement, Kenny is responsible for creating attractive, innovative, and appealing career-related events to bring Point Park students and industry professionals together. Events such as workshops, career fairs, panels, and more are important in bridging the gap between employers and students and facilitating long lasting professional connections. Kenny is also a major component in keeping employer stakeholders connected to the university and with the Professional Career-Readiness Center through the handshake platform.
Kenny found a passion for working in career development and higher education after completing a year-long internship in the Career & Professional Development Center at PennWest University (California University of Pennsylvania campus) through his Master’s of Counseling Psychology program at Chatham University. He believes that a great work ethic starts with a strong mind, body, and soul through self-exploration. Kenny brings a prideful background that, he hopes, creates positivity for everyone and has always had a passion for making a difference in someone’s life, no matter how big or small. Engaging students in careers is a tough challenge alone, but Kenny has enjoyed seeing the positive impact he has on students through his career-readiness events.
Kenny looks forward to the endless possibilities of engagement and promotional efforts to facilitate professional connections for Point Park students and graduates. Kenny invites the Point Park community and employers to connect with him on LinkedIn.
Contact Info:
- Office: Student Center - Lower Level, B06
- Email: kanderson1@PointPark.edu
- Phone: 412-392-3981
Monica Ritter, Career Counselor
Monica regularly connects with students, faculty, alumni and industry professionals to build networks to help students thrive in pursuit of their career goals. Her background in career development and recruiting and passion for creative expression informs her work with students and alumni to identify and contribute their unique strengths through experiential and employment opportunities.
As the inaugural recipient of the Point Park University Student Employment Supervisor of the Year award, Monica helps students develop essential career readiness skills through hands-on employment mentorship, individual career advisement and class involvement in capstones, showcases, and performances. She is a member of the Western PA Career Services Association (WestPACS) and is certified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory. Her approach in career advising and development is conversational, collaborative and encourages exploration and understanding of current trends and professional standards.
Monica looks forward to the opportunity to provide partnership and assistance and invites students and alumni to schedule an appointment with her on Handshake.
Contact Info:
- Office: Student Center - Lower Level, B04
- Email: mritter@PointPark.edu
- Phone: 412-392-8169
Ken Lawson, Career Counselor
As a Career Counselor, Ken aims to help students and alums achieve their career goals. He can assist with all aspects of career readiness, including career exploration, career planning, job searches, graduate school applications, resume writing, and effective interviewing. In addition to individual career advisement, Ken is open to collaborating on tailored workshops and presentations to meet your needs best.
Ken has over nine years of Higher Education experience working in Career Services, Residence Life, and Academic Advisement. His approach to Career Counseling is holistic, practical, and goal-focused. He encourages students to look deeper at their whole selves to fully understand the breadth of their skills, knowledge, and passions to achieve their current and future goals.
Ken looks forward to assisting you on your career journey and invites you to schedule an appointment with him on Handshake.
Contact Info:
- Office: Student Center - Lower Level, B04
- Email: klawson@PointPark.edu
- Phone: 412-392-3910
Chris Rippee, Neurodivergent Career Counselor
With a background in social work, Chris is a career counselor at JFCS Career Services with more than six years of experience providing holistic employment support to neurodivergent young adults and individuals with mental health challenges.
In his current role, Chris has partnered with Point Park University to deliver targeted on-campus career support and one-on-one coaching to neurodivergent students, students with mental health conditions, and alumni seeking mental health-informed career guidance. He empowers these individuals by leveraging his expertise to help them navigate their unique challenges.
Chris holds a Master's of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, he is a certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer who has done consulting work with Pittsburgh-based tech companies to promote neurodiversity awareness and foster better hiring and talent development practices.
Chris looks forward to assisting you on your career journey and invites you to schedule an appointment with him on Handshake or via email. Chris has on-campus appointments available on Tuesdays, but is available for virtual appointments on other days of the week.
Contact Info:
- Office: Student Center - Lower Level
- Email: crippee@PointPark.edu & crippee@jfcspgh.org
- Phone: 412-392-8156