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Sociology Major Leads to Career in Higher Education Career Services

Posted by: Melissa Page | June 24, 2013 | No Comment |

Ray Easterlin is a 1977 graduate of the College of Charleston and has worked in career services in higher education for the past 30 years.  Read more about his career path and expert advice below.

Ray advising a current student, Sophia Benner, who also happens to be a 2009 Political Science graduate from CofC.  Small world!

Ray advising a current student, Sophia Benner, who also happens to be a 2009 Political Science graduate from CofC. Small world!

What have you been doing since you graduated?
After graduation, I completed a Masters degree in Higher Education/Student Personnel Services from the University of South Carolina and later a Doctorate in Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University.  I have worked in career services in higher education for the past 30 years.  I provide comprehensive career advising to undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni.  Services includes everything from building career awareness and direction to assisting with getting an internship or going to graduate school or getting a professional job after graduation.  In addition, I actively collaborate with numerous internal and external partners to establish an active employer network .

What is your current position?
Director, Architecture Career Services at the University of Texas at Austin and I have a private practice as a Career Coach.  Prior to my current position I was the Director of Natural Sciences Career Services and Health Professions Advising at UT-Austin.  I have been at UT for 16 years.  CofC gave me the foundation to go on to graduate school and complete graduate degrees that have enabled me to pursue a profession that I thoroughly enjoy and care deeply about.  Helping people with their career planning, job search and career advancement is a very satisfying field.  As an undergraduate, I worried about my ability to find a profession that I could devote my life to and I feel very fortunate that I found one.  I also appreciate that Boyce Cox, the Director of Career Services when I graduated, suggested the idea that I consider the idea of going to graduate school in Higher Education/Student Personnel Services when I told him of my interest in career counseling at the college level.  It was a program I was not aware of at the time.

What advice would you offer to new students at the College of Charleston who are thinking of declaring a major in Sociology?
Majoring in Sociology was a great experience for learning about society and human social activity.  The sociology classes were my foundation for getting a liberal arts education.  I would encourage any interested student to pursue this major.  It will be a valuable educational experience no matter what endeavor a student may pursue after graduation.

What advice would you offer to students graduating from the College of Charleston with a degree in Sociology? 
Plan ahead and get actively engaged in an activity that interests you.  Consider getting involved in experiential activities during school such as volunteer, service learning and internship opportunities.  Consider taking a leadership position in an activity of interest.  Explore the possibility of doing research or participate in study abroad.  Get to know your faculty and staff.  They have a wealth of knowledge and can provide valuable information and assistance as you progress through college (and beyond).  In addition to the academic coursework, these experiences will help you to learn more about yourself and will start to provide ideas and a network of contacts for future activities and career information.  Also, visit your Career Center early in your college career.  The Career Center is led by an experienced and knowledgeable Director, Denny Ciganovic, and a wide variety of services are offered that benefit the students with their career planning.

What was your most memorable learning experience in Sociology? 
Being exposed to a different way of looking at issues in society and gaining a broader and better informed perspective.

How has your experience in Sociology at the College of Charleston helped you in your career?
The education I received at the College helped me to better understand both individuals and groups and to more effectively work with a diverse group of people in higher education.

What unexpected benefits have you derived from a degree in Sociology?
As the years have gone by, I have appreciated more and more that my undergraduate degree was in Sociology and in the Liberal Arts.  I also appreciate gaining the perspective to be able to think objectively and critically about social issues that affect all of us.

What class did you most enjoy while earning your degree at the College of Charleston?
It is difficult to select just one class, but I will say the Sociological Perspectives on Religion course.  Taking this class gave me a different perspective and appreciation of different religions and relgious beliefs.  It led me to continue to read and learn more about the major world religions.

What class was the most applicable to your everyday life now that you’ve graduated?
I am not sure which individual class was most applicable.  I think the value came from the cumulative effect from taking all of the major courses.  I appreciate gaining the sociological perspective on human behavior and society-at-large that begins with an Introduction to Sociology and continues as an underlying theme throughout the Sociology curriculum.

What made you choose the College of Charleston over other schools? 
I chose the CofC because I was interested in staying in the Charleston area where I grew-up and playing on the tennis team.  After completing my degree and going to graduate school, I started moving to new areas and working in career services in higher education.  I have worked at universities in four different states and have moved in order to gain more responsibility so I can continue to learn, progress and make a greater contribution to the students, alumni and university.  I have also had the chance to travel more extensively including doing a sabbatical in Singapore at the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and the National University of Singapore.

How has a degree from the College of Charleston improved your ability to network? 
It has helped me to better understand and communicate with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

 

under: Alumni Spotlight

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