About Us

Career Services Mission:

The Office of Career and Counseling Services at YSU strives to effectively utilize technology in providing programs, resources, and services to achieve the following goals:

• Assisting students and alumni in exploring career and future employment possibilities, making informed decisions regarding career options, and developing plans to achieve academic and career goals.

• Assisting students and alumni in developing and refining the employment search skills required to successfully compete in the job market.

• Fostering positive relationships with employers that will generate a broad range of employment opportunities for YSU students and graduates, and assisting these organizations to effectively access and recruit candidates for employment opportunities in their organizations.

Commitment to Accessibility: We are committed to insuring that all students, employers, alumni, staff and faculty are afforded every opportunity to participate in the services offered by this office.  If due to a disability, you require accommodations to utilize our services, please contact our office and let us know how we may assist you.

Counseling Mission

The mission of the counseling staff in the Office of Career and Counseling Services is to provide professional assessment, counseling, consultation, and referral services to the campus community. To achieve this mission, service delivery is guided by adherence to professional codes of ethics and standards of practice.

Confidentiality: The Office of Career and Counseling Services does not release information to University administrators, faculty, parents, family members, or outside agencies without the client's written consent. All information obtained during counseling is kept confidential, with exceptions provided by Ohio Codes. *Click on the Exemptions to Confidentiality link for information regarding exemptions to the Ohio Codes.

Contact Us

Office Hours

Throughout the year, the Office of Career & Counseling Services is open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.  Evening hours are offered by appointment only during the Fall and Spring semesters.  NOTE: Evening hours are available for Career Services only. Please call 330-941-3515.

Staff

Gary Boley, Director gmboley@ysu.edu

Gary Boley is the new Director in Career & Counseling  Services at Youngstown State.He has over 20 years experience working in Career Services with multiple schools and he brings a broad perspective on operations and programming to the office. Gary was the Director of Career Services at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, a land grant public urban institution before joining us. Gary also has experience working in de-centralized career centers such as business, where he was the Director of Corporate Relations at Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business. He also served as the Director of Career Services at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering before being rescued by the Buckeyes and relocated to the city Coach Jim Tressel now calls home. Gary began his professional life in career services at Virginia Tech University.He now spends his off hours as a helicopter parent and on occasion attempting to reverse the aging process at the new & beautiful Andrews Recreation & Wellness Center on campus.

Joanne Gallagher, Coordinator jlgallagher@ysu.edu

Joanne began her employment at YSU in 1985 as an academic advisor in the College of Education. She served in that capacity for fourteen years prior to joining the C & CS staff in 1999 as Career Services Coordinator. Joanne also teaches on a limited service basis in the Psychology Department at YSU. She has had several articles published in the American Association for Employment in Education''s Job Search Handbook for Educators and is currently serving as co-editor of that publication.

Academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Science in Education degree in Counseling. Joanne is licensed as a Professional Counselor (PC) by the State of Ohio and also holds national counselor certification (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Joanne works extensively with students and alumni from the Beeghly College of Education and the College of Fine & Performing Arts, as well as science, mathematics, and computer science and information systems majors in the STEM College. She also oversees the on-going development of the office''s Career Information Center.

Susan George, Administrative Assistant slgeorge01@ysu.edu

Susan has been on staff with Youngstown State University since 2003. Prior to coming to C&CS in the Spring of 2008, she worked at WYSU-FM, the public radio service of YSU, and Upward Bound.

Academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a minor in Economics from Youngstown State University.

Susan works extensively with employers to schedule on-campus recruiting visits. She also plans and schedules job expos and career fair events.

Diane Hritz, Coordinator ddhritz@ysu.edu

Diane has been a Career Services Coordinator at Youngstown State University since 1988.  She has also taught at both Youngstown State University and at Kent State University (Trumbull, Salem, and East Liverpool branches) since 1987.  Prior to coming to YSU, Diane served as Human Resources Director at the Joseph Home Company and was Placement Director at Harding Business College, a division of Career Com.

She has been published in Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice. She also received The Distinguished Service Award at Youngstown State University in 2007.  Academic credentials include a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science degree, both of which were earned from Youngstown State University.

Diane works extensively with students and alumni from the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services.

Christina Hardy, Coordinator chardy@ysu.edu

Christina is a Career Planning Coordinator who works in collaboration with the Center for Student Progress to help insure the success of first and second year students and undecided majors in achieving their career goals. She also works with students and alumni from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, CLASS. Christina works extensively with personality and career assessments for undecided and changing career students as well as career and job search strategies, resume development, and interviewing skills for CLASS majors.

Academic credentials include a Master of Arts degree in Transpersonal Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, CA, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to coming to Youngstown State University in September 2003, Christina worked for 6 years in the administration of a graduate school in San Francisco, CA as Strategic Planning Assistant to the Vice-President and, prior to this position, as Program Coordinator for the department of Philosophy and Religion at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Christina holds the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certification (Jun. 2007) and Qualification (Jan. 2005).

Anne Lally, Counselor alally@ysu.edu

Anne began her employment with YSU in 1988 and has been working as the University Mental Health Counselor since 2000. She has also taught at Youngstown State University and Lorain Community Collage since 1996. Anne is both a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Licensed Social Worker.

Academic Credentials include a Master of Science in Education degree in both School and Community Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science degree, both of which were earned at Youngstown State University. She has also received the Distinguished Service Award at YSU in 2003.

In addition to her duties as the Mental Health Counselor, Anne also presently serves on two boards: The Mahoning County Mental Health Board and the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Community Advisory Board. Anne served on the Board for the Boys and Girls Club from 2003-2006.

Pam Schmalzried, Secretary pkschmalzried@ysu.edu

Pam began her employment as Secretary in Career Services in January 2002. Prior to coming to YSU, she was employed with Forum Health for more than eleven years.

Pam is a graduate of YSU, having earned an Associate of Science degree in Secretarial Studies. In her role as Secretary, she oversees the front office customer service area.

Leigh Ann Waring, Coordinator lawaring@ysu.edu

Leigh Ann joined the C&CS staff as a Coordinator in March 2005.  She entered the Career Services field in 1996 as an intern at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  Prior to coming to Youngstown State University, Leigh Ann worked in Career Services at Kent State University, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, and ITT Technical Institute.

Academic credentials include a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel/Higher Education Administration from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Leigh Ann works primarily with students and alumni from the Williamson College of Business Administration and with engineering and technology majors from the College of Science Technology Engineering Mathematics, STEM.   She also plays a major role in the office's employer development activities.