Meet Our Staff

 

Guiding Principles

In accordance with the College mission statement, “…We prepare our students for, and help them attain, productive and rewarding careers…”
The Gorter Family Career Advancement Center’s commitment:
  • We empower students to own their futures, because we care.
  • We care about how students make meaning of their Lake Forest experience.
  • We care about students gaining connections and experiences in their chosen fields to make them competitive for the best graduate schools and employers that match their goals. 
  • We care about student and alumni success.
  • We engage students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and community members in our quest.

Our Team

Colleen Monks

Colleen Monks (she/her/hers)
Assistant Vice President for Career Advancement &
Director for the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center

  monks@lakeforest.edu

Colleen Monks is the Director for the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center and leads strategic planning and execution of the Lake Forest College four-year Career Pathways program in alignment with the College’s institutional planning priorities and mission to “prepare our students for, and help them attain, productive and rewarding careers.” 

Colleen has more than 10 years of professional experience in higher education in roles with a focus on career development and student success. She joined the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center in January of 2015, and prior to this role, she provided strong leadership as Associate Director, serving as the Pathway Leader for Science and Health Care and leading the CAC’s first-year and undecided student advising strategy. Before coming to Lake Forest College, Colleen worked at Northwestern University Career Advancement, advising and coordinating initiatives for students within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, and the Bienen School of Music. She also brings with her experience as a TRIO, Student Support Services program advisor and assisted with the launch of their program at Triton College.

Colleen has been a presenter for and has been actively involved in the National Career Development Association and the National Association of Colleges and Employers. She holds a master of education in counseling from DePaul University, and a bachelor of arts in psychology from the Ohio State University. 

Business, Finance, and Data Science Pathway

Business, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, and other students  interested in the Business and Finance Pathway

Marie Josephitis

 Marie Josephitis
(she/her/hers)
Senior Associate Director

Business, Finance, and Data Science Career Pathway Leader
mjosephitis@lakeforest.edu

Marie Josephitis leads the Business, Finance, and Data Science Pathway, leveraging her human resources and recruiting experience to provide students with effective career search skills.

Marie has held human resources leadership positions in a wide range of industries including financial services, insurance, marketing and healthcare. Throughout her career she has created meaningful internship and full-time entry-level opportunities for students in many types of business disciplines and industries. She has created comprehensive recruiting, on boarding, mentoring and training programs to ensure that interns and entry-level employees were successful in their roles.  Previously, she was an active volunteer with the Lake Forest College in roles as a career advisor and liaison to employers to create career opportunities for students.

Marie earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Illinois University. She holds a Life and Health License and is an active member of Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), and Human Resources Association of Chicago (HRMAC).

Albert Greene

Albert Greene (he/him/his)
Business, Finance, and Data Science Internship Specialist
greene@lakeforest.edu

Albert Greene is the Business, Finance, and Data Science Career Pathway Internship Specialist. He has a passion for coaching students and looks forward to helping them find rewarding and productive internships.

Prior to coming to Lake Forest, Albert worked as an admissions representative at American Intercontinental University and then transitioned into corporate America where he was a payroll specialist for a wide range of companies, including Aon. Most recently, he worked at Reynolds Consumer Products, where he was in charge of the salaried payroll. In addition to these roles, Albert has been coaching football at the College since 2014. Albert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Monmouth College.

Creative Arts and Communication Pathway

Art, Art History, Cinema Studies, Classical Studies, Communication, Digital Media Design, English, Museum Studies, Music, Theater and other students interested in the Creative Arts and Communication Pathway. 

Danielle Kelly

Danielle Kelly (she/they)
Associate Director

Creative Arts and Communication Career Pathway Leader
dkelly@lakeforest.edu

Danielle Kelly is the Creative Arts and Communication Career Pathway Leader. Her work in the non-profit, public, and private sectors encompasses executive, administrative, curatorial, and educational experience as well as arts & cultural programming, content development, media relations, and team development.

Danielle most recently served as Executive Director for Surface Design Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to contemporary fiber arts by supporting exhibitions, biennial conferences, and the quarterly publication, Surface Design Journal. Previous executive experience includes serving as Executive Director for the Las Vegas Neon Museum, where Danielle led the development of the Museum’s operational, programmatic, and educational structure. Danielle was also the curator and exhibition designer for the Museum’s Neon Boneyard exhibition, and collaborated on numerous historic preservation projects in the City of Las Vegas.

Danielle‘s project-based visual art practice ranges from installation to performance and has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Portland, OR. Danielle’s writing experience encompasses catalog essays, art criticism, and arts & cultural reporting.

Law and Public Service Pathway

African American Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Education, Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, History, International Relations, Latin American and Latinx Studies, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Sociology and Anthropology, Urban Studies, and other students interested in the Law and Public Service Pathway.

Jennifer Lazarus

Jennifer Lazarus, JD (she/her/hers)
Senior Associate Director of Internships

Law and Public Service
Career Pathway Leader
  lazarus@lakeforest.edu

Jen Lazarus is the Law and Public Service Career Pathway Leader and Senior Associate Director for Internships, supporting students in this pathway and directing the Academic Internship Program. 

Jen graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Prior to joining Lake Forest College in 2014, she served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Ann Arbor, MI. She brings experience in both law and public service through her extensive litigation experience, prosecuting cases in criminal and civil law, representing the Department of Human Services in child protection cases, and conducting legal training for law enforcement, social workers, education professionals, and interns. Jen also directed the Juvenile Diversion Restoration Program, dedicated to reducing juvenile recidivism and helping at-risk youth avoid criminal prosecution. She holds active law licenses in Illinois and Michigan.

Jen’s professional career has been dedicated to advocacy, ensuring all people’s voices are heard, protecting and promoting their rights, and helping those who are unable to speak for themselves. She is passionate about student success and works collaboratively with colleagues, presenting novel approaches to students' challenges and helping them discover their unique path.

Science and Health Care Pathway

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology and other students interested in the Science and Health Care Pathway.

Hilary De Vries

Hilary De Vries (she/her/hers)
Associate Director

Science and Health Care
Career Pathway Leader

hdevries@lakeforest.edu

Hilary De Vries is the Science and Health Care Pathway Leader. She believes in the care of the whole person, the formative nature of the student experience, and the power of experiential learning to achieve a purposeful profession.

Hilary has led a dedicated career specializing in student development and wellness in higher education, and has worked under the umbrellas of Academics, Student Affairs, and Athletics and Recreation. She teaches as an adjunct professor for Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, leading exercise science courses, some with service-learning requirements, for undergraduate students. Prior to her time at Lake Forest College, Hilary served as Northwestern University’s Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness, Loyola University Chicago’s Fitness Programs Coordinator, and Boston College’s Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness.

Hilary graduated from Boston College with a Master of Arts in Higher Education, from Southern Connecticut State University with a Master of Science in Exercise Science, and from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is also an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP).

Khadija Manzoor

Khadija Manzoor '19, LPC, CRC (she/her/hers)
Science and Health Care
Internship and Health Care Specialist

kmanzoor@lakeforest.edu 

Khadija Manzoor is the Internship and Health Care Specialist for the Science and Health Care Pathway. Khadija, an alumna of the college,  graduated in 2019 with a double major in Psychology and International Relations. Outside of classes, Khadija was a part of multiple organizations, such as the President of South Asian Student Association (SASA) and Project Nur. Khadija utilized these organizations as a way to bring back to communities, such as fundraising for Syrian refugees and education for students in the poverty areas of Pakistan. 

Khadija went on to receive her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Rehabilitation Counseling. Khadija is also a certified substance use counselor. Khadija is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor and practices mental health and career counseling with different populations. Khadija is excited to to be back at Lake Forest College as a career professional, and working specifically with the student population on academic and career goals for the future. In-her down time, Khadija is writing her dissertation for her PhD program, learning new recipes, knitting, and traveling.

Deja McClellan

Deja McClellan '20 (she/her/hers)
Science and Health Care
Career Specialist

dmcclellan@lakeforest.edu 

Deja McClellan is the Career Specialist for the Science and Health Care Pathway, providing internship and post-graduate career support for students in environmental studies and psychology, any science majors pursuing environmental, physical science, and broader science careers (outside of healthcare), as well as those who are undecided about their path. She also assists with early engagement career programming efforts.

An alumna of the College, Deja graduated from Lake Forest with a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and a Concentration in Communication. Deja was an active member of the community while at the College as a member of various committees and organizations, including President of the United Black Association her senior year. She also received prominent honors and awards such as the first Dr. Judith E.B. Harmon Endowed Scholar, Student Leader of the Year Award, and the Edward H. Oppenheimer Memorial Prize.

Prior to joining Lake Forest, Deja served as a Development Coordinator at Mikva Challenge, a non-profit in the Chicagoland area that focuses on youth development and civic engagement. She is eager to be a part of the Forester community once more and is committed to serving the students of Lake Forest College to help them reach their academic and career goals.

Pauline Binder-Finnema

Pauline Binder-Finnema
PhD, MPP (she/her/hers)
Science and Health Care Research Liaison
pbinderfinnema@lakeforest.edu

Pauline Binder-Finnema has worked extensively over the past 25 years in diverse, international settings in the fields of scientific and health care research and evaluation.  She has over 10 years’ experience with university teaching and mentoring in these fields, as well as a vast professional network to help students explore future career opportunities.  Pauline has lived in and/or worked with medical science projects in several different states in the U.S., and across the globe, including in several European cities, the United Kingdom, Rwanda, Tanzania and Vietnam.

Pauline earned two bachelor of science degrees in anthropology and psychology from the University of Utah, a master of public policy – community health degree from Adler University in Chicago, and a PhD in medical science – international health from Uppsala University in Sweden.

Build Your Own Pathway

Undecided students, those interested in developing general career skills, and other students interested in the Build Your Own Pathway.

Colleen Monks

Colleen Monks (she/her/hers)
Associate Vice President for Career Advancement
 
Director

Build Your Own
Career Pathway Leader
  monks@lakeforest.edu

Colleen Monks leads the Build Your Own Pathway in addition to serving as Director. She supports undecided students as they identify potential career paths and assists them with developing essential skills that can be an asset to any career.

Deja McClellan

Deja McClellan '20 (she/her/hers)
Career Specialist

dmcclellan@lakeforest.edu 

Deja McClellan is the Career Specialist for the Build Your Own Pathway in addition to supporting students in Science and Health Care. She works closely with students who are undecided about their path, and assists with early engagement career programming efforts.

Academic Internship Program

Jennifer Lazarus

Jennifer Lazarus, JD (she/her/hers)
Senior Associate Director of Internships

Law and Public Service
Career Pathway Leader
  lazarus@lakeforest.edu

Jen Lazarus directs the Academic Internship Program, overseeing strategy and policy and working closely with students, faculty, staff, employers, and stakeholders. In addition to her work with internships, Jen leads the Law and Public Service Career Pathway, supporting students in this pathway.

Jennifer Lazarus

Katie Isler (she/they)
Internship and Program Coordinator
 isler@lakeforest.edu

Katie Isler is the Internship and Program Coordinator in the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center. She coordinates internship program registration and supports both the work of the Internship Specialists and the data mobilization needs for the internship program.  

 

Katie has worked in higher education for over 10 years, first as an English instructor at Central China Normal University in Wuhan, China, and later as international admissions advisor for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Katie joined Lake Forest College in 2018, supporting transfer students in their transition to Lake Forest College, first as Transfer and Registration Coordinator and then as Assistant Registrar in the Registrar’s Office. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Augustana College and plays the bassoon. 

Operations

Brittany Lenz

Brittany Lenz (she/her/hers)
 Associate Director for Communication, Operations, and Data
lenz@lakeforest.edu

Brittany Lenz leads the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center’s operations, communications, data, and event management. She draws on her experience in writing, technology, and program administration to create innovative solutions and strategies to support the College’s career planning initiatives.

Brittany earned her master of arts in English at The Ohio State University, where she taught first-year composition courses and served on the administrative team of Ohio State’s business writing program. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and English from the College of Wooster.

Meg McDonough

Meg McDonough
(she/her/hers)

  Employer Relations and Office Coordinator
mmcdonough@lakeforest.edu

Meg McDonough works in Employer Relations and is the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center Office Coordinator. A graduate of Miami University in Ohio, Meg began her career in sales and marketing with several large companies. Prior to joining Lake Forest College, Meg worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago, primarily with high school age teens. She also coordinated much of the office activity and events. She loves being a part of the Forester team!

To learn about the faculty internship supervisors and internship specialists, browse the Internships section of the site.

Contact Information

Gorter Family Career Advancement Center

256 Brown Hall, Middle Campus
847-735-5235
careers@lakeforest.edu

Hours

Academic Year: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Follow Us!

Facebook     Instagram     Twitter