About Career Services

UMUC's Office of Career Services provides quality resources and services to assist UMUC students and alumni worldwide with their career planning and job search needs.

Our Mission

In support of the university's mission—to offer top-quality educational opportunities to adult students in Maryland, the nation and the world—the Office of Career Services provides quality resources and services to assist UMUC students and alumni worldwide with their career planning and job search needs. From enrollment through graduation to the world of work, our programs and services are designed to reflect the evolving needs of UMUC's talented and diverse adult population.

Counseling Policies

Career Services' counseling policies outline key expectations for both Career Services staff and UMUC students.

Our Staff

Lisa Andrews, PhD, Director

Lisa Andrews, director of Career Services, has more than 10 years of experience in the career development field. She earned her PhD in higher education from the University of Arizona, her MS in counseling and human relations from Villanova University and her BS in psychology from Elizabethtown College.

Formerly, Ms. Andrews was a director of career services at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. She also worked in career development at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi; Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania; and at the University of Arizona.

Her areas of expertise include career counseling, assessment, public speaking on a variety of career-related topics, working with special populations, staff training and supervision and budget management.

Lakeisha Mathews, Associate Director

Lakeisha Mathews has more than eight years of experience in career services and academic advising, all at institutions of higher learning in the state of Maryland.

Ms. Mathews earned her Master of Science in Human Resources from Towson University and her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from University of Maryland, College Park. She is a certified career coach, federal career coach, job search strategist, resume writer and global career development facilitator. Ms. Mathews is also a certified administrator of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.

Ms. Mathews enjoys helping students gain admission into college, succeed in college and transition out of college.

Ja'Kia Anthony, Recruitment Specialist

Ja'Kia Anthony has more than six years of experience in human resources and recruiting. Prior to joining UMUC, she was a District Recruiter with Allied Barton Security Services. Her primary focus was recruiting and working with workforce development programs, career services offices through colleges and universities and veterans to get them transitioned and placed on various jobs. Ms. Anthony enjoys helping others via human resources, recruitment and college preparation workshops. Ms. Anthony earned her Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Kaplan University and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Norfolk State University.

Alonzo Brown, Recruitment Specialist

Alonzo Brown has more than 10 years of experience in workforce development, career training and assessment fields for various diverse populations. He earned his Bachelors of Arts in Journalism/Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma and was certified in Job Development and Job Placement at the University of Maryland, College Park. Mr. Brown has experience developing partnership agreements with local employers and community organizations, as well as previous staff and program management experience. He enjoys helping students and career seekers plan and obtain their occupational goals.

Ann Martin, Career Advisor

Ann Martin originally joined Career Services as a graduate assistant in 2010. She brought well-developed communication skills from more than 20 years' experience in customer service and consultative sales. She recently earned designations as a certified federal career coach and a certified federal job search coach. Her growing areas of expertise include resume writing, career exploration and career planning.

Ms. Martin earned her bachelor's degree in Consumer Services from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She attends Bowie State University, where she is pursuing a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling. She aspires to be a licensed professional counselor, assisting people with life and career transitions.

Rhoda Smackum, Career Advisor

Rhoda Smackum is an Associate Certified Career Coach and Global Career Development Facilitator. Before joining UMUC, she was a manager in the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program sponsored by the Department of Defense. Her focus was supervising career advisors and counselors providing telephonic education and career services and resources for spouses of active-duty military servicemembers worldwide. She also previously worked with college students at Prince George's Community College.

Her areas of expertise include career coaching, career transition, career exploration, working with special populations, job search strategizing and supervision.

Ms. Smackum has a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Arts from Bowie State University.