Derrick is the Assistant Director of Faculty and Employer Partnerships with the University of Central Missouri Career and Life Design Center, and serves the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies. In this role Derrick works to establish connections with industry employers and university faculty to ensure that students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to be successful. This is typically accomplished by meeting with faculty and employers to ensure that students are able to build career readiness skills within their academic program and then apply classroom knowledge to real world scenarios.
Education
Master of Science, College Student Personnel Administration
Graduate Certificates: Academic Advising in Higher Education, Diversity Issues in Higher Education
University of Central Missouri, 2023
Bachelor of Science, Public Relations, University of Central Missouri, 2013
Professional Experience
Assistant Director of Faculty and Employer Partnerships, UCM Career and Life Design Center, 2024 – Present
Adjunct Instructor, UCM, 2023 – Present
Internship and Partnership Development Coordinator, UCM Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies, 2019 – 2024
Account Executive, Townsquare Media, 2016 – 2019
Event Coordinator, Townsquare Media, 2014 – 2019
On-Air Personality, Townsquare Media, 2013 – 2019
My Favorite Part About Being a Mule
The connections and relationships you can build with the people here. UCM and this community are home to me! I grew up around this campus, met my wife when we were students, and still hang out with the friends I made here over a decade ago.
Advice for Students
Do an internship and/or job shadow professionals in your industry of interest. These are great ways to experience what you can do in your field of study and can expose you to many different opportunities you may not have known existed.
Hobbies and Interests
I love playing board games with friends and family, attending concerts, going to theme parks, playing fantasy football, and going to the movies. Most of the time you will see me sporting my favorite teams the KC Chiefs, LA Lakers, and of course the UCM Mules & Jennies!
Enneagram
Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their Best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.
