New director of career exploration joins Roanoke College

Roanoke College has welcomed a new director of career exploration who is tackling the pivotal work of supporting students in their career development goals. 

Meghan Jester stepped into the position during the spring term. Her office, as well as a slew of other resources, can be found at the campus center for Purpose, Life And Career Exploration (PLACE).  

Jester came to Roanoke from Virginia Tech, where she most recently served as assistant dean of student recruitment and career development for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Her portfolio there included managing student recruitment, building employer connections, providing career advising and developing career programming for some 4,200 undergraduates across 42 majors. 

As part of the PLACE team, she’s diving into creating and implementing programs, services, resources, and engagement opportunities that support Roanoke students as they explore and prepare for their chosen career paths. That includes partnering with faculty and staff to integrate career development opportunities directly into the classroom.  

“We are so fortunate to have Meghan join our team,” said Richard Grant, senior advisor to the president for strategic initiatives. “She brings with her the creative and strategic thinking needed to provide a broad and dynamic range of developmental career and life planning programs and services to students and alumni populations. Meghan is motivated, engaging, holds high standards for herself and others, and most importantly, is student-centered — all the strengths one hopes for in a director of career exploration.” 

Jester holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Lynchburg. In education, she has experience working with students both inside and outside the classroom, having started her career as a K-12 teacher.  

The chance to mentor a new generation of students and help ready them for meaningful careers is what drew her to education, she said.  

“I am most excited about the opportunity to help Roanoke College students identify and leverage their excellent education in pursuit of their purpose,” Jester said. “Working with the PLACE team, I look forward to elevating experiences for students on campus and beyond as they prepare for life after Roanoke.” 

To learn more about PLACE and the services it offers, check out its website at roanoke.edu/place.