Dedicated students, distinguished colleagues and dear friends,

Happy Friday!

One of the advantages of my position here at the university is meeting our alumni who have transcended seemingly insurmountable boundaries to achieve great success throughout their careers. Without exception, these remarkable individuals transitioned from ordinary to extraordinary with lasting influence and impact. Often when I meet them, it occurs to me that each one of them would make a great mentor and coach for our current students as they think about their careers. I listen to them attentively and wonder how I would have steered my career forward had I known earlier what I would learn by listening to them.

Just recently, for example, I visited alumnus Dennis F. Jaggi, one of our most remarkable mechanical engineering alumni who has formed, developed and helped more companies than I could even contemplate. As a member of our Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers, Mr. Jaggi has contributed enormously to the betterment of our university, the engineering community and the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. I can only imagine having him as a career coach!

So, today, following National Career Coach Day and before the start of spring semester, I write to encourage our students to seek a career advisor, regardless of how well informed you feel you are about your future career direction. To start, check out our Career Planning Handbook. Among many pieces of useful information, it highlights what you need to do in each year of college to help you prepare for your career. Then you can make an appointment to talk to a career advisor, who can discuss several available tools to improve your job searches once you decide on a path. Interview preparation, effective resumes, responding appropriately to job offers and rejections, and social media etiquette are all important tips that are available to you to effectively plan your professional lives. An array of helpful resources is also available for alumni and employers who want to hire our students.

Along the way, as you receive guidance from coaches in your career, consider becoming one! You have learned a lot that can help a friend, a sibling or a classmate who might be struggling with his or her path forward. You will gain valuable insights and learn the true meaning of leadership; moving from self-interest to shared interest.

As students and professionals alike, we are all graduating from one phase to another along our lives’ journeys. Our career coaches can help with our transitions, with our metamorphosis, but only if we are intentional in seeking them out and realizing that we don’t have to go it alone.

Warmly,

-Mo.

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Mohammad Dehghani, PhD
Chancellor
mo@mst.edu | 573-341-4116

206 Parker Hall, 300 West 13th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-0910
chancellor.mst.edu