The Faculty Career Liaisons project was created and implemented by Senior Associate Dean Paula Lemons, Megan Brock from the Career Center, and Trina Cyterski from the Psychology Department. During the 2025–26 academic year, faculty and department heads from 13 Franklin units participated in a year-long program in which each unit designed and implemented one or more department-level initiatives aimed at embedding career readiness into curriculum, required coursework, and advising structures, rather than treating career preparation as optional or something students needed to pursue independently.

 

Across departments, academic integration took many forms, including redesigning required courses, revising curriculum maps to highlight transferable skills, creating new professional development courses, and embedding structured reflection, alumni engagement, and assessment into existing degree pathways. 

 

The Psychology Department’s faculty liaison, Jeffrey Nightingale, developed a Career Map outlining concrete career milestones for years one through four. Hosted on the Psychology Department’s website and aligned with the Program of Study for the major, the interactive resource allows students to engage with career planning in a structured, scaffolded way directly connected to their coursework.

 

These academic innovations benefit Franklin students by making career readiness more visible and structured, ensuring that students encounter career development opportunities aligned with their majors rather than needing to seek out career resources independently. The initiatives also help students better understand the value of their Franklin degrees, articulate transferable skills to potential employers, and connect coursework with long-term career goals.

 

Visit the interactive Psychology Career Map to learn more.