Stallings welcomed as executive director of career services

Following a national search, the Office of Academic Effectiveness has welcomed Erica Stallings as its new executive director of University Career Services.

A noted professional in the field of career services, Stallings joined Auburn from Florida State University, or FSU, where she served as program director for Career Advising and Counseling. With more than a decade of experience in supporting and leading career success initiatives and teams, Stallings now leads the university’s central career services and programs, including career counseling, career development strategies, and employer and alumni engagement. Following its transition from the College of Liberal Arts earlier this year, Stallings also oversees the Exploratory Advising Center. This resource supports students’ development of educational plans consistent with their values, interests, and abilities.

“Erica brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Auburn as we look to create a more coordinated and distributed approach to delivering career support to our students,” said Norman Godwin, associate provost for academic effectiveness. “In addition to leading our career units and programs, Erica understands our broader goals of providing increased industry context and engagement with our academic units.”

In addition to building strategic, data-driven programs and services, Stallings works with academic colleges and units across campus to create opportunities for career exploration and professional development, as well as expand external relationships with employers, graduate schools, and alumni. Moreover, Stallings will also work with the Office of Academic Insight to integrate data into Auburn’s Quality Enhancement Plan to develop meaningful interventions to improve student career outcomes.

“It is an exciting time to be at Auburn University, as it is clear that university leadership support student and career success,” Stallings said. “As career services professionals, we know that career development occurs across all aspects of the student experience. I look forward to collaborating with campus partners and academic colleges to develop innovative programs and fostering engaging connections with our industry partners and strong alumni base.”

While at FSU, Stallings oversaw various career readiness and student success initiatives, including ProfessioNole Ready. The first offering under ProfessioNole Pathways and Badges, ProfessioNole Ready offer a university-wide badging program designed to emphasize the skills and student experiences most valued by employers. Stallings also developed FSU Financial Success and established a university policy regarding digital badges and coordinated the implementation of Build Your Foundation, a career development initiative designed to meet the requirements of Florida House Bill 1261. Passed in 2021, the legislative effort calls for all Florida higher education institutions to provide career education for all first-time college students. Before FSU, Stallings served as a career counselor in the Office of Professional and Career Development in the Harbert College of Business. 

Stallings earned her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Auburn University and holds a Master of Education in School Counseling from Valdosta State University. In addition, Stallings earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-both from Auburn.