Assistant vice president for the Student Professional Development Center, Brooke Buffington, will be leaving her position in mid-April to become the associate vice president for career and professional development at Mary Baldwin University in Virginia.
Buffington, who started her career at Elon nine years ago as an associate director of career services in the Love School of Business is described by senior vice president for Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt as “a great contributor to the Elon community.”
Buffington added to the Elon community through her contributions to the Boldly Elon Strategic Plan. The plan includes initiatives to grow Elon’s name brand, expand nursing and engineering programs and create a diverse and inclusive community.
“That’s a 10 year plan the institution is currently in the middle of,” Buffington said. “Focusing on continuing to move Elon forward from a student engagement, student focused standpoint and national awareness about our work and our excellence.”
Buffington highlighted Elon’s priority to student engagement and commitment to student focused improvements and changes. She said she is proud of the work the SPDC has done in expanding their outreach programs outside of the main SPDC office in Moseley to satellite offices in the Love School of Business and the School of Communications. She has also helped expand career events to take on a more boutique approach such as hosting career events within the schools themselves. According to Buffington, this has helped the SPDC get closer to students and understand how best to support them as they look for higher education or career opportunities.
Assistant Vice President for the SPDC Brooke Buffington in SPDC’s main office on Feb. 12. Buffington will be leaving Elon University in April.
“We found that students like more boutique events that are focused on their areas of study and their industries of interest,” Buffington said. “We’ve expanded our events to be able to meet students where they’re at in their schools, with industries and graduate schools that they’re interested in, that align with their areas of study.”
For Buffington’s replacement, Piatt is forming a committee to find someone who has experience in career service and can be a communicator for Elon.
“We are in the process of forming a search committee comprised of faculty and staff from across the campus,” Piatt said. “We will be looking for a strategic leader with significant experience in career services and employer relations.”
As Buffington moves on to other career opportunities, she said she hopes to remain student focused and continue her work of helping students achieve their goals.
“That’s always what my goal is, how can I make the greatest impact to help students figure out their dreams and pursue them,” Buffington said.