Andrea Lebaron

* As a U Career Success coach, I have the opportunity to guide and connect students to experiences that will lead to lifelong career success. I love working in a positive and collaborative center that personalizes students' needs. Focusing on understanding the career goals of students and helping them achieve those goals is a highlight for me. * I graduated from the U of U with a degree in communications, emphasis news/editorial and worked for a local SLC-area television station (KJZZ TV) for 4 years in marketing and promotions. I enjoyed learning about the media business, how to promote sports and affiliate programming, running a kids club and helping to write, edit and produce promotional materials. * After my first daughter was born, I left the station and was a stay-at-home mom, adding 3 more kids to our family. With cross-country moves to Pennsylvania, Texas and Maryland for my husband's academic career, I learned what it takes to get a PhD, how to adapt and get to know people from all over the country, and how to help my children in various school systems as a parent and volunteer. * Since moving back to SLC, I spent 7 years at my local K-5 elementary school as the librarian. Learning the names and interests of 450+ students, in addition to the 11,000 book collection, was a multi-year process. I was able to teach, lead and inspire students in their reading journey, meeting them wherever they were at. I also became a Battle of the Books expert, bringing the reading incentive program to my school and adapting it when the district pulled out. Working with children and books was a career highlight for me and my heart will always be in libraries. (If you need book recommendations for your elementary-age kids, I have plenty!) * My interest in careers began as I've informally interviewed friends, family and acquaintances about their work for the last 15 years. I finally decided to challenge myself and started a podcast in the Fall of 2020 called Career Chat. M