Erica LaRue serves as Director of the WVU Career Center, where she provides leadership and strategic oversight for the Career Center and Student Employment Program. She leads departmental operations, strategic planning, program development, and stakeholder engagement, while advancing initiatives that support student career readiness and employment outcomes. Through collaboration with campus and employer partners, Erica helps connect students with opportunities that prepare them for successful careers.

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including over 14 years in career services, Erica has built a career focused on student success, workforce development, and organizational leadership. Her experience spans career counseling, employer relations, student employment, program management, and strategic planning. She is passionate about helping students identify and pursue meaningful career paths while fostering partnerships that strengthen talent pipelines and workforce connections.

Prior to joining WVU, Erica served as Program Coordinator for Continuing Education at Allegany College of Maryland, where she managed workforce training, professional development, and community enrichment programs. Earlier in her career, she worked as Coordinator of Central Stores at Owens Community College, overseeing business and financial operations that supported the campus community.

Erica holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from West Virginia University, and an Associate Degree in Business from Garrett College. Her broad experience across higher education, workforce development, and administration informs her commitment to creating opportunities that empower students, support employers, and strengthen communities.

As the Program Director of Employer Relations at West Virginia University, Ali Anderson leads the Career Center’s efforts to cultivate and strengthen strategic partnerships between employers and the Mountaineer community. Originally from Delaware, Ali earned two degrees from WVU before returning to serve her alma mater.

Throughout her tenure, she has built connections with K–12 schools, recruited new students to WVU, and supported first-year students through teaching and advising. As a first-generation college student, Ali understands firsthand the importance of community and connection throughout the college experience.

In her current role, she collaborates with industry leaders to design recruitment strategies, facilitate campus engagement, and create meaningful opportunities that benefit both students and employer partners. Her mission is to ensure every WVU student has access to career pathways, mentorship, and real-world experiences that launch them into successful, fulfilling careers.

Educational Background

• B.S., Biometric Systems Engineering, West Virginia University
• M.A., Higher Education Administration, West Virginia University

Caleb Arnold is a Career Development Specialist for undecided students, providing personalized support and guidance around major and career exploration.

A native of Knoxville, TN, Caleb brings a robust background in student services across both higher education and the nonprofit sector. He has served students in a variety of capacities, including advising, mentoring, student life, residence life, admissions, and event management. His experience spans both undergraduate and graduate education, including work in medical education.

Caleb’s passion lies in helping young adults navigate one of the most exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—chapters of their lives. Whether students are torn between majors or don’t know where to begin, he provides encouragement, insight, and practical tools to help them discover their purpose and pursue their goals.

In his spare time, Caleb enjoys spending time with his wife, hosting friends and family, watching Atlanta Braves baseball, and playing pickleball.

Education:
B.S., Psychology – Lincoln Memorial University
MBA, Business Administration – Lincoln Memorial University

Khrystyna Pelchar is a Peer Career Coach who is currently pursuing her PhD in Political Science. In her role, she provides guidance on internship and job search strategies, offers feedback on resumes, CVs, and cover letters, and conducts mock interviews both virtually and in person. Additionally, she leads workshops focused on career readiness, assists with career fairs, and collaborates with the marketing team to enhance student engagement and professional development opportunities.

Her academic research focuses on comparative politics, democratic governance, security, and cooperation. Khrystyna has co-authored publications in “Problems of Post-Communism” and a PONARS policy memo. She combines her academic expertise with practical career development skills to provide accessible support to the West Virginia University (WVU) community.

Cole Newland serves as the Employer Relations Graduate Student Worker with the West Virginia University Career Center, where he focuses on building connections between students, employers, and alumni. In his role, Cole supports employer engagement initiatives, coordinates career events and programs, and helps create opportunities for students to grow professionally and connect with future careers. He is especially passionate about building relationships with students and supporting their development through leadership and professional growth.

Originally from Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, Cole is a two-time Mountaineer. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from West Virginia University in 2026 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. Through his experiences at WVU, Cole has developed a strong background in event management, student leadership, operations, and working with diverse groups of students and staff. These experiences have shaped his leadership style and strengthened his passion for helping students grow both personally and professionally.

Through his role with the Career Center, Cole hopes to continue building meaningful connections, developing future leaders, and creating opportunities that give students the experiences and relationships they need to succeed beyond WVU.

Anna Belan serves as the SecureWVU graduate assistant through the Career Services Center, where she supports program growth and partnerships through industry outreach, coordinates student events and engagement initiatives, and helps students explore career opportunities in the government and defense sectors.

Originally from Elkins, West Virginia, Anna is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resources at West Virginia University. Prior to attending WVU, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Communications and a concentration in Marketing from Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia. During her time at Bridgewater, Anna was also a member of the women’s soccer team.

Anna is passionate about human resources and talent acquisition and enjoys creating opportunities that connect students with employers and support their professional development. Through her role with SecureWVU, she is especially interested in building relationships with industry partners and creating meaningful events and experiences that help students prepare for their future careers in the government.

Rachel Meininger serves as WVU’s Director of Purpose Initiatives, helping students explore their strengths, build connections, and find meaningful direction in their academic and personal lives. A Gallup-certified strengths coach, she partners with faculty, staff, and student organizations to support personal growth and leadership development. Rachel brings nearly nine years of experience in recruitment with WVU Extension and a longstanding commitment to helping students discover where they belong and what they can contribute.

Kelly Stewart is a higher education professional with more than 20 years of experience in career development, student success, and college-level instruction at West Virginia University. Since joining WVU’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, she has played a foundational role in launching the Career and Professional Development Center and was recognized with the Outstanding Staff of the Year Award and Employee of the Month.

Stewart has served in leadership and instructional roles across WVU, including Program Coordinator and Teaching Instructor for the Fundamentals of Engineering Program, as well as manager of the WVU Career Services Center’s Statler College Satellite Office. A Gallup Global Strengths Coach with certifications in ACUE teaching and Motivational-Based Interviewing, she is recognized for her dedication to career readiness, student development, and guiding individuals toward meaningful professional outcomes.

Jason Walker is the employer relations specialist for WVU’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Career & Professional Development Center. Jason brings a wealth of experience in higher education, workforce development, and student success to his role as the Employer Relations Specialist. With a strategic mindset and a proven track record of building impactful partnerships, Jason focuses are connecting students and alumni with meaningful career opportunities while enhancing employer engagement at the regional, state, and national levels.

Previously serving in roles with WorkForce West Virginia, WVU’s Reed College and Media, and Salem University, Jason’s initiatives focused on enrollment, student retention, curriculum design, and learning management systems. His collaborative and data-driven approach has consistently improved outcomes for both students and institutions.

In his current position, Jason will focus on developing and strengthening employer relationships to support internships, co-ops, and full-time employment opportunities for the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral students. His work includes coordinating recruitment events, building partnerships with industry leaders, and aligning employer needs with student capabilities, fostering a stronger bridge between academia and the workforce.

Jason holds an MBA from Salem University and is currently pursuing an Ed.D at WVU. He is passionate about student development, employer engagement, and creating pathways that prepare graduates for success in an evolving job market.

As a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Advisor, Robert (Rob) Barricelli is a Career Development Specialist at the Health Sciences Center (HSC) Student Career Center. He is dedicated to helping HSC students develop the confidence and mindset needed for a successful career search or graduate application. Rob guides individual students and groups through a variety of career development activities, including:

• Reflecting on purpose, interests, and career goals
• Exploring career paths, graduate programs, and job opportunities
• Developing a career plan including professional documents and interview skills
• Building and maintaining relationships for a professional network

In Spring 2026, he lead the grand opening of the the Health Sciences Student Career Center to include student interview space and a career closet.

With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Rob has supported students through key transitions, from their first day of college to their first job as successful alumni. He has also instructed over 20 orientation and career development courses. His expertise includes leadership development, curriculum design, project management, and team building.

In 2019, Rob’s commitment to his work was recognized with the WVU Values Coin, an award for employees who embody the university’s values and mission.

Originally from New Jersey, Rob attended WVU as a first-generation college student. In his free time, he enjoys exploring science, science fiction, and painting.

CliftonStrengths: Analytical, Learner, Strategic, Connectedness, and Relator

Educational Background

• B.A., Political Science, West Virginia University
• M.A., Educational Leadership: Higher Education Administration, West Virginia University
• NACE 30-Hour Career Coaching Institute, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

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Danica Ryan brings her expertise as the Program Director of Career Development for the College of Creative Arts and Media by helping students with career readiness. In this position she coaches students in career decision-making, experiential learning, full time professional positions and internship opportunity job search, graduate/professional school applications, and career planning. She strives to build a strong rapport with students, instilling the importance of career planning early in their academic career, and beyond. Danica meets with students through group settings, individual appointments, and drop-in hours for reviews of resumes, cover letters, professional documents, and interview techniques.

Danica joined WVU in January of 2019 as a Career Development Specialist (CDS) in the WVU Career Services office. Previously, as a Graduate Assistant for Career Services and in the CDS role, she helped students prepare for their careers beyond college through individual training sessions, workshops and presentations.

In 2021, she was the recipient of a WVU Values Coin from the College of Creative Arts in the areas of Curiosity and Service. In May of 2024 she was honored with the “Accessibility Advocate Award” for her partnership with the Office of Accessibility Services in creating an employer panel titled “Demystifying Disability.” Danica has a Master of Arts in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Communication Studies from WVU. She is a National Certified Counselor and has a WV state license for School Counseling.

Danica previously worked in public education as a school counselor for more than 7 years, working at all grade levels from Pre-K to 12th grade before coming to WVU. Her experience includes public speaking, supervision of student counselors from WVU, curriculum development and implementation, team building, and school-wide program development for student achievement. One of her favorite events as a school counselor was a career day collaboration and research opportunity for students.

Mallory Napolillo serves as the Career Development Specialist at West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Her role within the Davis College is to focus on career development. She completes this focus through counseling students in their career endeavors, working on career development initiatives, collaborating with faculty to meet any in-class needs, coordinating Davis College events to foster employer connections, and networking with employers to build lasting relationships with the Davis College and its students.

Mallory’s journey in higher education began at West Virginia University in the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2020. There, she completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal and Nutritional Sciences in 2023. After graduation, Mallory chose to attend graduate school for one year at the University of Florida before ultimately transferring back to WVU to complete her masters. Mallory obtained a Master’s of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design from the Davis College in 2025. Post graduation, Mallory began working as the Career Development Specialist for the Davis College in May of 2025.

Mallory’s hometown is Morgantown, West Virginia. Mallory was born a Mountaineer fan, and she still bleeds gold and blue! In her free time, she enjoys visiting state parks in West Virginia and hanging out with her two cats, Banjo and Fiddle.

Kellie McMillen serves as the Assistant Director of Career Development for the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. She brings nearly 15 years of experience working with students through counseling and higher education. She works closely with students and enjoys helping them navigate career decisions, build confidence, develop strong resumes and build the professional skills needed to succeed after graduation.

Originally from Morgantown, West Virginia Kellie earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and master’s degree in counseling from West Virginia University. Being part of the Eberly college feels a bit like coming full circle, as it is the same college where she began her own academic journey.

Her background in counseling shapes the way she approaches career development. Kellie believes that career exploration is not just about finding a job, but helping students understand their strengths, interests and finding their career path that will allow them to grow both personally and professionally.

Outside of work, Kellie enjoys time with her family, reading and cheering on the Mountaineers

Courtney is a Higher Education Professional and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, as well as a U.S. Navy Veteran who served primarily at Ft. Meade, MD, as a Cryptologic Technician (CTR) and earned the Information Dominance Warfare pin designation in the military intelligence field. Originally from San Antonio, TX, Courtney is a first-generation double UT San Antonio Alum, having completed both her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With years of management and leadership experience, beginning with a role as an associate movie theater manager, military, and higher education experience, Courtney has a proven track record of collaborating with, leading, and empowering others.

Courtney’s professional interests include Design Thinking, Career Development, Solution-Focused approaches, and CliftonStrengths. Passionate about student success, Courtney embraces a teaching philosophy centered on mutual respect and empowerment, believing in the reciprocal nature of learning between educator and student. Committed to fostering a love of learning, Courtney strives to provide engaging, experiential learning opportunities that equip individuals with the fundamental skills and career competencies necessary for success in academics and beyond.

CliftonStrengths Top 5: Self-Assurance, Maximizer, Activator, Input, Positivity

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