Sharon Belden Castonguay
Executive Director, Gordon Career Center
Sharon Belden Castonguay is an adult developmental psychologist and career counselor with over 20 years of experience working with professionals at all levels of their careers. In addition to managing the award-winning Gordon Career Center, she teaches CSPL 205: Success and Failure and CSPL 405: Ideals into Practice as well as Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact on Coursera. With over 1M views, her TEDx talk, The Psychology of Career Decisions, considers themes of identity, culture, and decision making. She has also produced and hosted two podcasts, Careers by Design: The Interviews and First Year Out. Her career advice has been featured in Oprah Daily/ Oprah Magazine, Business Insider, WalletHub, Forbes, Inc., U.S. News, and Apple News. She received her doctorate in human development & psychology from Harvard, where she also served as a teaching fellow for graduate courses in adult development and cross-cultural counseling. She graduated from Smith College and holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Michigan.
Rachel Munafo
Director of Operations
Rachel Munafo is the Director of Operations for the Gordon Career Center. She primarily focuses on engaging students, alumni, parents, and employers with the center’s services, resources, and programs. Additionally, Rachel coordinates and supervises the office’s Peer Career Advisor Program and oversees the center’s team of student workers. Rachel holds a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies (concentration in social science) from Wesleyan University and received her BA from St. Lawrence University, completing a major in history and double-minor in Education and French. During her undergraduate years, Rachel worked as a peer career advisor for her university’s career center where she gained her passion for helping students transition from college to career.
Holly Robinson
Business Career Advisor
Holly Robinson is a Business Career Advisor with 10+ years of experience supporting a diverse range of students and professionals—including undergraduates, MBAs, alumni, and executives—at the Yale School of Management and Schwarzman Scholars. Prior to her work in career education, Holly had a fulfilling career in financial services with Citi and JPMorgan. She is passionate about helping students explore career paths, navigate recruiting, and achieve their professional goals.
Career Pathways
ConsultingEntrepreneurship & Start-upsFinancial ServicesMarketing & CommunicationsLadd Flock
Associate Director of Career Advising (Science & Mathematics - STEM)
Ladd Flock is an Associate Director of Career Advising (Science & Mathematics – STEM) with in-depth experience in helping liberal arts students identify their talents, strengths, and interests to best explore meaningful career options. He daily supports Wesleyan students in advising discussions to prepare for high-impact careers in a wide variety of industries. Ladd provides expertise to guide students in creating resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and online portfolios that best showcase their accomplishments. He trains students for success in both in-person and virtual interviewing. Prior to Wesleyan, Ladd held leadership, management, and career coaching positions at University of Texas at Austin, Yale, Wake Forest, and University of Virginia. He holds an MEd degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington and BS in Psychology from St. Lawrence University.
Career Pathways
STEM ResearchSustainability, Energy & ConservationTechnology & Data AnalysisPam Grande
Associate Director for Career Advising (Arts & Humanities)
Pam Grande, Associate Director for Career Advising, is a career advisor with 25+ years of experience helping talented liberal arts students clarify their strengths and interests and explore career options. She has a particular interest in helping those who may feel unfocused or overwhelmed as they begin the career decision-making process. She enjoys engaging students in meaningful conversation to identify careers that will be a good match. Pam advises students on a variety of career fields including education and arts and communication. She also offers help in crafting high-impact resumes and cover letters and successful interview preparation. Prior to Wesleyan she served as a career counselor to students and alumni at Brown University. Pam holds an MS in Human Development, Counseling and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island.
Career Pathways
Film & TelevisionFine Arts, Design & Creative TechnologyTheater, Music & Performing ArtsCamille McGadney
Law and Social Impact Career Advisor
Camille has twenty-five plus years of experience training and advising individuals in professional, personal, and academic development. She helps students to navigate their individualized journey in their chosen career field. Camille graduated from Wesleyan with a degree in Psychology. Over the years she has worked as a career advisor at Thomas College, Colby College, Manchester Community College and here at Wesleyan. She enjoys hiking, travel to destinations both near and far and spending time with family and friends. Camille is excited to once again be working with the dedicated staff at the Gordon Career Center.
Career Pathways
Advocacy & Social JusticeGovernment & PolicyLawNonprofit & NGOsEmma Czarnecki
Career Advisor
Emma Czarnecki joined the Gordon Career Center team in 2017 as a graduate intern and spent 4 years working on the Employer Relations team before moving into an advising role. In this role, she provides guidance to students across all academic disciplines, but with a particular emphasis on careers commonly pursued by students majoring in the arts and humanities. Emma advises students to guide them in their career decision making process, reviews application materials and social media profiles to help build their professional brand, and offers support for students and alumni seeking entrance into graduate school in a variety of disciplines. Emma holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Development from the University of Connecticut and received a Master of Science in Counseling in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University, where she received extensive training in career counseling and higher education programming.
Career Pathways
Education & AcademiaWriting, Journalism, Media & PublishingYashoda Sharma
Health Professions & Life Sciences Career Advisor
Yashoda Sharma brings over 15 years of experience leading complex, multi-investigator research projects at academic medical centers, community health centers, and leading industry associations to her role as the Health Professions and Life Sciences Career Advisor. She has directed national initiatives funded by federal agencies and private foundations, managed multi-million-dollar research portfolios, and built cross-sector partnerships to advance equity in digital medicine and clinical research.
At Wesleyan, Yashoda leverages her expertise in mentoring students, supervising and coaching research teams, and designing professional development programs to guide undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumni, exploring careers in medicine, nursing, public health, life sciences, and beyond. She has published extensively, advised graduate theses, and led workshops with academic, industry, and community stakeholders. Yashoda holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Iowa and a BA in Biology from Skidmore College.
Career Pathways
Health ProfessionsPublic HealthSarah McNamara
Associate Director for Employer Relations
A member of the Gordon Career Center team since 2014, Sarah oversees employer relations and focuses on cultivating relationships with employers and alumni to create opportunities in a variety of industries for students. She also oversees the Wesleyan Summer Grants program, which provides funding to students pursuing career related opportunities, and CSPL 493 Internship for Credit course. Sarah works closely with the GCC’s recruiting platform Handshake and has been a featured presenter at multiple Handshake National User Conferences and webinars. Prior to Wesleyan, she worked at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in education and community engagement. Outside of work, Sarah is a professional violinist playing in orchestras throughout the state and providing music to couples saying “I do!” with Ariana Strings. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Connecticut and an MS in Music Education from the University of Bridgeport.
Tess Hamilton-Ward
Assistant Director of Employer Relations
Tess is the Assistant Director for Employer Relations. She joined the GCC as a temp in 2022 and officially transitioned into the role in January 2023.
Tess’ professional experience has included education enrichment programming and teaching, environmental science research, hospitality, handiwork, and most recently customer service and union organizing at a Trader Joe’s in Manhattan. She studied Human Rights at Bard College where she researched and wrote her senior thesis on the U.S. Border Patrol’s Prevention Through Deterrence policy, and performed in student-led plays, musicals, and a short film. In this role, Tess would like to provide students with career opportunities that are not only supportive, but also unique and fulfilling.
Allison Soden
Associate Director for Campus Employment
Allison Soden is the Associate Director for Campus Employment for the Gordon Career Center. She joined the GCC team in September of 2021 and has been an employee of Wesleyan since 2015.
Since the start of her career in Higher Education, she has had the opportunity to serve in multiple roles, including Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, Assistant Director of Events Conferences, and most recently, Associate Director for Campus Employment.
Allison believes every advising experience is as unique as the individual she is supporting. As a professional, she is committed to continuously enhancing her knowledge and skill base to best support a diverse array of students and their goals. She is dedicated to providing students with the help and guidance needed for a fulfilling and holistic college experience.
Allison holds a Master of Science in Counseling and Student Development in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University. She also received her BA from Central Connecticut State University, completing a major in Communication and a minor in Business Management.
Cruz Cruz
Assistant Director for Campus Employment
Cruz (they, them, él) is the Assistant Director for Campus Employment at the Gordon Career Center. In this role, they support student employees and on-campus employers through the employment processes for more than 2,400 campus jobs. They help students learn about opportunities that fit their goals and needs; build applications that showcase their strengths; and navigate employment and professional development. They also help on-campus employers navigate the processes required to recruit, hire, and manage student employees.
Cruz is passionate about making career learning accessible, demystifying employment norms, and expanding what professionalism can look like. They were a first-generation college student and a QuestBridge National College Match Scholar.
Cruz has been a Wesleyan administrator since 2021, first serving as a college admissions dean for the Office of Admission before joining the career center team in 2023. Cruz is also a Wesleyan University alum – they hold a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish, and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education & Human Development.
Campus Employment at Wesleyan
On-Campus EmployersStudent EmployeesAnne Santaniello
Associate Director for Alumni Career Programs
Anne Holstead Santaniello is the Associate Director for Alumni Career Programs in the Gordon Career Center. She has worked at Wesleyan in the Career Center for over 15 years. Previously, she worked as the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions at American International College where she assisted teachers completing their Masters and CAGS. She has also worked in corporate recruiting with a focus on technology and software consulting as well as accounting and human resources. She started her career in undergraduate admissions at Springfield College and Anna Maria College. She received her Master’s in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Mount Holyoke College.
Darwin Pappas-Fernandes
Health Professions Administrative Assistant
Darwin graduated from Smith College as an English and American Studies double major, with a Concentration in Poetry. After working in academic publishing for a few years, she spent time traveling and living abroad, mostly in Japan.
Having landed back in the U.S. and at Wes, she is happy to be working in the Gordon Career Center as the Health Professions Administrative Assistant. In this capacity, Darwin supports Wesleyan students and alumni who are applying to medical and other healthcare-related professional programs, and particularly those pursuing an Institutional Letter of Recommendation in support of their application.
Ali McFadzen
Administrative Assistant
As a first generation, low income, non-traditional college student, Ali started her education and employment in higher ed at Northwest Arkansas Community College. She has since gone on to complete multiple master’s degrees including a Master of Liberal Studies from Wesleyan. As someone who never wants to stop learning, she continues to take classes at Wesleyan and beyond.
Now in the career center after working in the financial aid office for 11 years, Ali creates a welcoming and supportive environment, where students feel comfortable sharing their career-related concerns and seeking guidance. She understands the importance of addressing each student’s unique needs and tailoring her assistance accordingly.
When she is not in class, Ali is a published and award-winning moon photographer and will often be found out looking to the sky.
