CPD - Key Persons

Beth White

Job Titles:
  • Coach
  • Director
  • Senior Associate
Beth White serves as the Senior Associate Director and Career Coach at Emory University. She has been a part of the Career and Professional Development staff since 1993. In her role, she provides career counseling to undergraduate students in the college as well as recent graduates/alums. She also leads career panels and networking events related to her career clusters. Beth earned a Master of Science (M.S) in Student Affairs in Higher Education with a concentration in Human Development from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in Communications from Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, VA. Before graduate school, Beth worked in College Admissions for a few years. Her greatest joy is seeing students move forward in their career development throughout their four years, and finally finding career resolution by graduation, as well as reconnecting with alumni whom she knew as students. Education M.S, Miami University B.A., Virginia Wesleyan College

Carol Riddock

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director of Pre
  • Director of Pre - Law Advising and Associate Director Career Coach
Carol Riddock is the Associate Director of Pre-Law Advising at Emory University and Career Coach for the Law career community. In her role, she manages the programs and services of the Pre-Law Advising Office, serving all current pre-law students and alumni, and also provides general career counseling. As Emory's Pre-Law Coach, she also serves as the Staff Advisor for pre-law student organizations, including Emory's Mock Trial team. Carol graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Political Science. After graduation, she attended law school at UCI Law in Chicago, IL where she focused on different areas of public interest law. Carol moved to North Carolina to work for Legal Aid of North Carolina to assist their efforts in fair housing investigations. She later returned to Georgia where she practiced as a Public Defender and a private immigration/criminal law attorney. Carol also worked at Emory Law School as Associate Director of Admission assisting prospective students in navigating the application process for law school. Education LL.M., Emory University School of Law J.D., University of Chicago Illinois School of Law

Don Cornwell

Job Titles:
  • Director of Professional Development
  • Career Consultant
  • Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina
  • Director of Career and Professional Development
  • Education
  • Member of the Career and Professional Development Staff at Emory University
Don Cornwell has been a member of the Career and Professional Development staff at Emory University since 1998. Currently, in his role as Director, Mr. Cornwell leads the supervision of the career coaching staff, coordinating experiential learning opportunities assisting in the area of cultivating recruiting relationships as well as working one on one with Emory students and alumni as a Career Consultant. He earned a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Student Personnel Services with a concentration in Counselor Education from The University of South Carolina (1997) and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS), with a concentration in Human Development and Psychological Counseling from Appalachian State University (1990). Education M.Ed., University of South Carolina BS, Appalachian State University

Edith Simms

Job Titles:
  • Program Coordinator

Emory Alumni Association

Emory Connects

Jessica Harrington

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications

Kendra Owens

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Associate Director
  • Coach
Kendra Owens is an Associate Director and Career Coach in Career and Professional Development. Her role focuses on leading the CPD fellows' program, co-leading Pathways initiatives including career treks and networking nights, coaching the nonprofit, education, and advocacy career community, and supporting the career development needs of academic departments and affinity groups. Kendra has worked at Emory University since 2016. Launching her tenure as an intern supporting career development at both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses, she focused primarily on 1st and 2nd year undeclared students. In her time at Emory, she has transitioned to coaching 1st through 4th year students, developed a rotational fellowship program for career and professional development, organized the strategic direction of career coach programming, and collaborated with student and Emory community organizations around career and professional development. Kendra was also nominated and completed Emory's Aspiring Leaders Program. Kendra has experience outside of higher education in the nonprofit sector. She worked as a philanthropic strategist for a nonprofit consulting company and served as Program Director for a local nonprofit focused on career development in secondary schools in Metro Atlanta. She is a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Alabama A&M University. Education M.S, Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Argosy University B.A., Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Alabama A&M University

Marshall Tucker

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Certified Coach
Marshall is a nationally certified coach based in Atlanta, GA. He specializes in career and life coaching, facilitation and training, and mindfulness-based practice. He currently serves as a professional coach at Two Roads Resources and an assistant director of career services and career coach at Emory University. Marshall earned a Master of Science degree in Positive Psychology from Life University, Atlanta, GA (one of only a handful of regionally accredited graduate degree programs in Positive Psychology in the U.S.). He has completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from the University of Georgia, with a concentration in Economics. He has 10 years of experience spanning the banking and IT sectors, serving in such roles as a personal banker, project manager, operational analyst, IT trainer, and chief technology officer. In 2013, he embraced the new role of professional coach. He is passionate about working with individuals looking to find more meaning from their life. He strives to help a full spectrum of clients understand how to see life's circumstances in the present and help them move beyond the obstacles holding them back. Education M.S, Psychology, Life University B.B.A., Business Administration, Economics, University of Georgia

Micah Tucker

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Coach
  • Assistant Director in Career and Professional Development
Micah Tucker is an assistant director in Career and Professional Development. His role as Career Coach focuses on the Policy, Government, and International Affairs career community. Joining the team in Fall 2023, he plans to continue building the capacity of Emory students by providing useful and relevant resources for their professional development and aspirations as global citizens in the workforce. Micah has worked at Emory University since 2021. He started in the Center for Civic and Community Engagement in Campus Life, coordinating K-12 outreach programs to provide college students with volunteer opportunities in metro Atlanta K-12 schools. His passion for building community and capacity has connected him to belonging and community justice initiatives, such as co-chairing the Emory Black Employee Network. Micah has experience outside of higher education in K-12 education. He is a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Spanish from Middle Tennessee State University (2012) and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University (2020). He taught Spanish near/in his hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, and he taught Spanish and English Language Arts in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, he mentors new teachers through the non-profit organization Edifying Teachers. Education M.Ed., Educational Leadership, Georgia State University BS, Spanish, Middle Tennessee State University

Nydia Araya

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
  • Coach
  • Education
  • Inclusion Coordinator, Assistant Director of Academic Advising
  • Senior Career Coach
Nydia Araya joins Emory with a track record of success! With experience providing career counseling and resume writing services for private career services firms, coding boot camps, startup organizations, and nationally recognized universities, Nydia has placed professionals at companies such as Salesforce, Deloitte, Spotify, Tractor Supply, Wayfair, and Mattel Inc. Nydia Araya's journey is deeply rooted in her experiences as a product of an immigrant family, a first-generation college graduate, and as first in her family to earn a master's degree. Nydia earned her master's degree in higher education administration from the University of New Orleans and her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in latin american studies from Loyola University New Orleans. She is passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly providing resources to educate immigrant and first-generation students on professionalism, financial literacy, education, and career pathways to build generational wealth. Nydia's professional experience includes serving in various roles such as Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, Assistant Director of Academic Advising, Senior Career Coach/ Resume Writer, and Career Coach, Web Development. Through these roles, Nydia has developed a comprehensive skill set and a deep understanding of career development, advising, and coaching across diverse industries. She is well-equipped to support students in landing internships and full-time opportunities in STEM. Education M. Ed, University of New Orleans BS, Psychology, Minor in Latin American Studies, Loyola University New Orleans

Rey Murat

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
Renoal "Rey" Murat recently joined the Career and Professional Development team in August 2021. He currently specializes in the Environment and Sustainability (Green) Career Community, as well as a few Creative Career Community areas (Film and Media, Advertising, PR, Social Media, and Marketing/Brand Management). He has over five years of experience in the career services field in both career development (as a career coach) and the employer relations/recruitment areas. Overall, he has 10+ years of experience in the Higher Education industry under various units such as Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Advancement. He is a first-generation college graduate with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University (2016), and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Media/Communication Studies from Florida State University (2012). Education M.S., Florida International University B.A., Florida State University

Tricia Herold

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager of Operations