On March 2, Brooklyn College marked the launch of a new faculty-focused initiative with a campus event sponsored by President Michelle J. Anderson and Provost April Bedford, bringing together faculty and administrators to explore new approaches to career-centered teaching and student support. The gathering—the first in the Career-Centered Teaching and Support Series—featured a lunch discussion with Niesha Taylor, the inaugural director of career readiness at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The series is designed to help faculty integrate career readiness into teaching, advising, and academic programs, strengthening connections between the classroom and students’ postgraduate success. Hosted by President Anderson and Provost Bedford in partnership with the Magner Career Center and the Roberta S. Matthews Center for Teaching and Learning, the event underscored the college’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers while maintaining academic rigor and equity-centered practices. “Our students are already developing critical thinking, communication, analytical, and collaborative skills in our classrooms every day,” Provost Bedford said. “As college administrators and faculty, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to help them recognize, articulate, and apply those skills in ways that open doors after graduation. This series is about deepening that connection between academic excellence and meaningful career pathways, while staying grounded in our commitment to equity and access.” Niesha Taylor, the inaugural director of career readiness at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Taylor leads NACE’s national career readiness strategy and initiatives, working with colleges, universities, and employers to define and advance the competencies students need to succeed in an evolving workforce. Prior to joining NACE, she served as senior director for career pathways at the New York Jobs CEO Council, where she focused on aligning higher education with industry needs, and as dean for academic innovation and career success at Guttman Community College (CUNY), where she advanced integrated academic and career models. Her connection to Brooklyn College added a personal dynamic to the event. Taylor is a former Brooklyn College colleague who oversaw the First Year Initiative/Learning Communities, an experience that informed her continued work at the intersection of curriculum, student support, and career development. During the discussion, Taylor shared insights into national trends in career readiness and emphasized the critical role faculty play in helping students articulate the skills they gain through coursework, research, and cocurricular experiences. She also highlighted strategies for embedding career competencies—such as communication, critical thinking, and equity and inclusion—directly into academic programs. Faculty and administrators engaged in conversation about how career readiness can be woven into teaching and mentoring without compromising disciplinary depth. The lunch format encouraged cross-campus dialogue, allowing participants to exchange ideas about collaboration between academic departments, career services, and teaching and learning support units. The Career-Centered Teaching and Support Series will continue throughout the academic year, offering additional opportunities for faculty to learn from national leaders, share best practices, and explore innovative models that connect liberal arts education to career outcomes. By launching the series with a speaker who brings both national perspective and deep institutional knowledge, Brooklyn College signaled its intention to place faculty at the center of this work.
