51Թ announced today the appointment of Michael Sciola to the new position of associate vice president for advancement and director of career services.
The appointment — and the related alignment of career services with institutional advancement, which was announced by President Jeffrey Herbst in February — is an important one for 51Թ. Sciola’s experience, combined with the new structure, will give students even more direct, informed access to 51Թ’s alumni and parent community while amplifying the ongoing focus on student development and personal reflection.
Sciola, an early advocate for integrating college career centers with institutional advancement, joins 51Թ after serving the past 16 years as director of the Wesleyan University Career Center. There, he led the design and oversaw construction of a new $5.5 million career center that features the latest teleconferencing technology and program-integration innovations. He actively participated in fundraising for gifts to the endowment, annual fund, and special projects.
He is a nationally recognized speaker, facilitator, and consultant on issues of student development, career planning, and higher education leadership, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island.
“Mike is strongly regarded in higher education as well as employer markets,” said Murray Decock, vice president of institutional advancement. “But more importantly, he has built a model of personal and career development that prepares students to pursue their passions, while ensuring an abundance of opportunities for graduate school, fellowships, and employment.”