Jeanine Dames has been appointed as the new director of Undergraduate Career Services and assistant dean in Yale College, according to an email sent by Yale College Dean Mary Miller to faculty and staff Monday morning.
Dames’ appointment follows the abrupt departure of previous director and Yale College Associate Dean Allyson Moore, who left her post in September for personal reasons. Dames, who came to Yale in 2007, most recently acted as deputy director for employment programs in UCS, and has also served as director of the Yale Law School Career Development Office and senior associate director in the School of Management’s Career Development Office.
As UCS director, Dames said she is interested in expanding career opportunities for students, both domestically and internationally. In particular, she said, she would like to encourage more student involvement in launching new ideas and initiatives.
“One of the exciting things is that we have many new initiatives and growing programs due to student interest,” she said.
Dames added that she hopes to meet with many different student organizations and to maintain an open-door policy to ensure that UCS offers opportunities that align with student interests.
Miller told the News that she is glad Dames has “been able to grow and develop the skills necessary to take the next steps” in the last few years, preparing her for her new role.
Former Director Moore spent just over a year in her role after taking over for Philip Jones, who had held the position for 12 years. The search committee for a new director — which consisted of Leslie Woodard, dean of Calhoun College; William Whobrey, Yale College associate dean of special programs; Jane Edwards, dean of international and professional experience and Yale College senior associate dean; and a student peer adviser — began meeting soon after Moore’s departure and brought in internal and external candidates from a national search before making its decision, Edwards said.
Edwards added that she is delighted Dames will be stepping into the role, since she “did a really wonderful job of managing the transition” after Moore’s departure. Moore led the office toward its goals of building and strengthening relationships with alumni and increasing outreach to the student community, Edwards said, adding that Dames plans to continue with and expand upon these projects.
“What [Dames] is proposing really builds on the foundation that Dean Moore established,” she said.
In addition to day-to-day charges and responsibilities, Dames said she hopes to continue the growth of internship opportunities, focus on employer relationships and expand UCS’ outreach to make sure students know about the office’s services.
The main role of the UCS director is to “create a portfolio of resources for the student” to assist him or her with a wide range of career explorations, Edwards said. She said she thinks Dames will bring many skills to the UCS office, including her previous experience working with alumni and her familiarity with various technologies such as online and social media tools.
Kelly Voight, assistant dean at the Yale Law School Career Development Office where Dames previously worked, said Dames was a “natural fit” in working with Law School students who were exploring alternative careers. She added that Dames worked well with many alumni who reached out to her office for support during the economic downturn.
“Jeanine is fantastic,” Voight said. “She brings a level of energy and commitment to her work that is remarkable and really served the needs of our students.”
Dames previously held positions in the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and Fordham University School of Law. She received her bachelor’s from Cornell and her J.D. from Fordham.