Student Success Center
Career Advisors
Jenny Buysse
Director of Career and Assessment Services
Texas Township Campus
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Ave, PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo MI 49003-4070
Office Number: 1356
Telephone: (269) 488-4649
Please click here to e-mail me for further information.
Background
Information
My Bachelor of Arts degree is from Xavier University.
In 2001, I completed my Master of Arts from Western Michigan
University in Counseling in Higher Education.
I am a National Certified Counselor (N.C.C.) and a Licensed
Professional Counselor (L.P.C.).
I began working at KVCC as a Career Counselor in 2001.
In 2006, I joined the academic counseling department in addition to my career
counseling responsibilities.
My counseling experience is in career and academic counseling in
higher education.
Prior to coming to KVCC, I worked at Western Michigan
University’s Student Support Program assisting students with career
development, academic advising and freshmen orientation.
My
passion is to work with both traditional and non-traditional aged students
struggling with academic and career concerns.
It is a true joy helping students assess their interests, values,
skills and personal attributes in choosing a career.
My counseling goal is to help students reach their fullest
potential in life.
I believe each student brings his or her own unique gifts,
experiences and backgrounds to the educational environment and the world of work.
These are the qualities that help shape students' educational
aspirations and career goals.
I particularly enjoy working with:
- Career transitions
- Career exploration and assessment
- Career options, decision-making skills,
and goals setting
- Academic counseling and planning
educational program plans
- Student orientations and course selection
- Researching career information and
resources
Defining transferable skills for potential
career opportunities
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Melissa Farris
Career Advisor
Texas Township Campus
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Ave, PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo MI 49003-4070
Office Number: 1343
Telephone: (269) 488-4792
Please "click here" to
email me for further information.
Background
Information
I received an Associate of Science Degree and a Bachelor of Arts
Degree with emphasis in Psychology from Bay Path College. I earned a
Master of Arts Degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education, with emphasis in
College Counseling from the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling
Psychology at Western Michigan University. I have a limited license as a
professional counselor (L.L.P.C.), and I am a member of the American
Counseling Association (ACA).
In 2005, I was a graduate intern in the Career and Assessment
Services Department at KVCC. I was also employed in the Center for Counseling
and Psychological Services at Western Michigan University
in Grand Rapids. I have over 15 years of experience working in the fields of
Higher Education and Human Resources. In addition to my work experience, I am
a volunteer at the
Women’s Resource Center in Grand Rapids. I am privileged to return to KVCC to
work with students, staff, faculty, and members of the College community.
As a KVCC Career Advisor,
I am available to help all students identify values, skills,
interests and individual preferences which impact the career-decision making
process. I look forward to assisting students with clarifying and defining
career goals and objectives through:
- Career assessments
- Individual and group advising
- Career and community resources
- Career workshops
- Employment outlook
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Danny Sledge
Career
Advisor
Texas Township Campus
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Ave, PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo MI 49003-4070
Office Number: 1344
Telephone: (269) 488-4813
Please "click here" to
email me for further information.
Background
Information
I received a Bachelor of Music (B. Mus)
degree from Western Michigan University. In 1977, I completed my Master of
Arts from Western in Counselor Education/Counseling Psychology, with an
emphasis is Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education.
Additionally, I have completed all coursework for the Doctorate in Education
in Educational Leadership, also from Western Michigan University. For the
last 30 years, I have worked at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College
and Lake Michigan College in numerous positions: academic advising, career
services, admissions, student transitional programs, and student development,
just to name a few. Assisting students in recognizing, developing and
reaching their full academic and personal potential is the common focus of all
positions I have had thus far. Therefore, in describing myself, I use the
generic term “educator”. This is not just what I do, but it is intrinsically
who I am. I joined the KVCC staff as a Career Advisor with the Student
Success Center in January 2007. As a KVCC Career Advisor, I use an integrated, individualized
approach to assist persons as they negotiate their way through the career
decision-making process. This includes facilitating the self-assessment
process through individual and group advising appointments, the administration
and interpretation of various career assessment tools, values clarification,
and researching career information and resources.
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Ken Barr
Jr.
Career
Advisor
Kalamazoo Valley Community
College, Acradia Commons Campus
Anna Whitten Hall
202 North Rose (downtown Kalamazoo)
Kalamazoo, MI 49003
Office Number: AWH 117
Telephone: (269) 373-7833
Please "click here" to
email me for further information.
Background
Information
I was born in Muskegon, Michigan. I attended the
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in psychology. My career experience includes several years in hotel
management at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Grand Rapids, MI) and advertising sales
for the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, IN). I received my Master of Arts
degree in counselor education & counseling psychology from Western Michigan
University. As a career advisor I believe there is a niche for everyone -
the key is having both patience and ambition to find that niche. I am a
member of the Michigan College Personnel Association (MCPA) and keep current
on career counseling and social class issues. Five things that Ken lives
for: College football, pizza, soul/R&B music, spending time with friends &
family, and helping people.
John Chapman
Career Advisor
Texas Township Campus,
Kalamazoo Valley Community
College
6767 West O Avenue, PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070
Office Number: 1510
Telephone: (269) 488-4897
Please click
here to e-mail me for further information.
Background Information
I grew up in Detroit Michigan and graduated from Cooley High School. After graduating from Western Michigan University with a degree in English and a teaching certificate, I joined VISTA. I worked on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana as a community organizer. I helped start a tribally owned newspaper and printing operation. I eventually went to graduate school at WMU and earned a doctorate in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology.
I have worked as a counseling social worker in vocational rehabilitation and spent thirty years as a career counselor at the Van Buren Technology Center. I have been an adjunct professor for two departments at WMU since 1985.
I am very married with two adult sons. Personal interests include backpacking: section hiked the Appalachian Trail (GSMNP) in 2007. My oldest son and I discovered the lost city of the Inca in Peru in 2000. I also play finger-style on a 1964 Gibson guitar and have a nasty singing voice. Counseling Style…First and foremost, I’m a listener. I help students explore strong and consistent interests and abilities using a combination of interview techniques and test results. By comparing their interests to a variety of career and educational options, students are able to make tentative decisions. With decisions made, they can develop plans to implement their choices. The entire process requires close coordination with other faculty and staff at KVCC (team approach).
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Karen Steeno van Staveren
Career Advisor
Texas Township Campus,
Kalamazoo Valley Community
College
6767 West O Avenue, PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070
Office Number: 1510
Telephone: (269) 488-4676
Please click
here to e-mail me for further information.
Background Information
A little about me: I have a wonderful family of four and enjoy being active with them. I love to travel, read, watch movies and shop. Sorry Lions fans, I have been a Green Bay Packer fan since birth. The greatest place I lived was Macerata, Italy for a semester abroad. My favorite vacation was to the Grand Canyon and I highly recommend hiking it.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Alma College. Upon graduation I worked in a number of places, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My passion for education and desire to help others led me to Western Michigan University and a Masters in Counseling in Higher Education. I then went to Ferris State University as an Educational and Career Counseling Intern and was hooked on helping students discover a career path that fits their interests, personality and values. I love guiding the process of self-discovery and illuminating various strategies to aid in career planning. I am truly blessed to be a part of the lives of the Kalamazoo Valley Community.
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Joyce Tamer
Career Advisor
Texas Township Campus,
Kalamazoo Valley Community
College
6767 West O Avenue, PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070
Office Number: 1356
Telephone: (269) 488-4522
Please click
here to e-mail me for further information.
Background Information
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