Erica Estes Selected as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Career Services

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Erica Estes

Erica Estes has been selected as the assistant vice chancellor for career services, which is in the Division of Student Affairs. Estes has been serving as interim AVC in the Career Development Center since the end of November.

"Erica has a strong history of leadership in career development here at the U of A and is the right person to lead us into the future," said Jeremy Battjes, associate vice chancellor for finance and administration in the Division of Student Affairs. "She aims to re-envision the Career Development Center beyond a transactional service by embedding career education into the fabric of the institution."

Estes has been with the University Career Development Center for the past 15 years, first as a career counselor for Fulbright College, associate director of career education, director of employer relations for the Fulbright College and, in the past year, as interim executive director. Estes holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the U of A (psychology 1997 and sociology 1999) and worked for many years in human services in Baltimore before returning to the U of A in 2007.  

"I am excited to continue serving the U of A's career education needs as the executive director of the University Career Development Center after working in various roles within the career center for the past 15 years," Estes said. "I am very lucky to have been mentored by the best career educators, to work with and lead an amazing team, to have established many working relationships all across campus and within the workforce community."

Estes said she us excited to begin her position with a National Association of Colleges and Employers consultants' report in hand that outlines ways that campus can re-imagine career education.  

"As Chancellor Robinson stated in his recent email to the campus community, I too, 'emerged from the search process reinvigorated and ready to get to work.' I am focused on weaving the lifelong process of career development into the U of A's overarching educational strategy," Estes said. "I look forward to expanding our campus' traditional understanding of career education so that we are all playing a role in teaching students how to craft a meaningful career and life while they're in school and in the decades beyond graduation." 

Estes said she is looking forward to maintaining her relationships across campus and is excited to collaborate with Academic Affairs, Student Success, all Student Affairs departments, Enrollment Services, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, Office of Industry & Community Engagement, Alumni Association, Division of DEI, U of A Libraries, U of A's Executive Leadership and any other areas interested in student success. 

"Erica has a vision for innovation and student success beyond the day-to-day programs and services offered by Career Development," said Melissa Harwood-Rom, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students. "She has plans to ensure career education is something everyone on campus thinks about intentionally and will infuse throughout the University of Arkansas student experience."