Presson will begin his new duties immediately.
As he begins his new role, Presson says he is motivated by the momentum created by the Office of Career Services in recent years.
“I am excited for the opportunity to guide students through employment/employer driven competencies that will ultimately make Southeast students the most marketable and the most sought-over employees in the state of Missouri, he said. I am excited to find new and unique opportunities for students to interact with employers, allowing Southeast students to learn from leaders.”
Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success at Southeast, said, I look forward to working with Dan Presson in his new capacity as director of Career Services. Dans commitment to Southeast Missouri State University and the region are genuine. As coordinator of Employer Relations, Dan has found new and unique ways to strengthen relationships between faculty, students and employers.
Career Services works closely with the Universitys faculty to develop and empower students to be career ready. It assists students and alumni with major and career exploration, internship strategizing, career planning and graduate school preparation. Throughout the academic year, Career Services offers career workshops, events and career fairs designed to connect students with prospective employers. In addition, the office maintains a range of online career resources including REDHAWKjobs.com, Southeasts online job search service.
This year, Southeast has set a goal of becoming the destination institution for career preparation in Missouri. Presson is expected to provide leadership with this effort, emphasizing career development as a critical process, and advising students to begin early and take ownership of their career decisions.
As director of Career Services, Presson will be responsible for developing and administering career counseling and exploration, professional skills development, job search strategies, rsum preparation, workshops, representation at job and internship fairs and other related services. His duties also will focus on building partnerships with external constituencies to create internships and career opportunities, and with preparation for graduate school. The director of Career Services collaborates with offices across campus to maximize the career development of students. He also is responsible for part-time and full-time job search functions and employer interaction with students, providing the conduit between Southeast academic programs and the workforce community, working with faculty in support of employer-employee outreach efforts. Presson also will work to implement best practices regarding career advising.
Presson has been employed at Southeast since May 2013, having previously served as assistant director of admissions for transfer recruitment and an admissions counselor, both in the Office of Admissions. He previously served as an admissions and financial aid counselor at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
He holds several academic leadership roles, currently serving as chair of Southeasts Professional Staff Council and a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the National Career Development Association and the Computer Science Advisory Board. He also has served on the Southeast Online 2020 Steering Committee and as a committee member of the Academic Advising Council, Prior Learning Assessment and Missouri Association of College Admissions Counselors.
His leadership has extended into the community as well where he serves on the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Work Ready Coalition, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, James Reynolds House Foundation Board, Old Town Cape Design Board, City of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Jackson Industrial Development Company Board and the KRCU Community Advisory Board. He also is president of the Red Star Neighborhood Revival.
He holds a Master of Arts in communication with concentrations in promotions and marketing from Lindenwood University and a Bachelor of Science in mass communication, advertising option, and a minor in territory and sales management from Southeast.