Leslie Blakney

Experience

• 

  The Brattleboro Savings & Loan

  Jun 2003 - Aug 2008

  Finance Assistant & Loan Servicing Representative
• 

  Ohio University

  Sept 2008 - Jun 2010

  Career Services Graduate Assistant of Employer Relations

  Office of Career Services:•Served as the primary contact person for job and internship postings and communicated with employers to build new and enhance existing relationships.•Counseled students and alumni in walk-in and individual appointments on major and career related questions.•Presented seminars and outreaches to students, organizations and academic departments on career related resources such as Resumes, Professionalism, Job Search and Interviewing.•Administered individual mock interviews to students and provided necessary feedback and suggestions.•Aided in the planning and implementation of three annual career fairs.•Facilitated professional and dining etiquette training at a collegiate level (Certified Etiquette Trainer).•Used Experience/E-Recruiting, NACELink/Symplicity, CareerBeam, Vault Career Insider and FOCUS to aid students and alumni.•Served as an active member on the website development committee providing ideas and suggestions for a resourceful and state-of-the art webiste Show less

• 

  Susquehanna University

  Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

  Graduate Student Coordinator-NODA Intern

  •Supervised 16 undergraduate Crew Leaders during Summer Preview Days, providing support and assistance •Oversaw and served as primary contact for student portion of Summer Preview Days including facilitation of Life at SU skit•Created and continuously updated student script which served as a detailed agenda for each Crew Leader on Preview Days•Worked directly with faculty members and students in preparation for Fall Orientation Student Advisors training•Communicated with campus departments to update annual Fall Orientation and Welcome Week booklet Show less

• 

  Denison University

  Jan 2010 - Apr 2010

  Graduate Student Career Services Intern

  Career Services:•Provided one-on-one counseling to students on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and general career questions.•Aided students in preparation for internships through the Denison Internship Program and the Internship Stipend Program.•Utilized the Campbell Interest and Skill Survey and FOCUS in career and major exploration with students.•Assisted with various other events including the annual Spring Career Expo and other career related workshops•Developed resources on sexual harassment in the workplace and International Relation jobs. Show less

• 

  Colby College

  Aug 2010 - May 2013

  • Promoted to Assistant Director for Internships & Employer Programming and still remain full responsibility of prior role• Cultivated relationships with employers, alumni and parents to build internship opportunities that meet both the needs of employers and fits with students career interests• Led the funded internship committee comprised of five faculty and staff members that review and determine funding decisions for 10 different endowed internship, volunteer and research funds• Published and interviewed by the Education Advisory Board on key programs through the Career Center including the Entrepreneur Alliance and Endowed Internship Funds• Guided students in effective search strategies to identify internship or seasonal employment opportunities that fit both their interests and further develop their career aspirations• Oversaw the academic credit process for unpaid internships and manage the online credit application• Presented workshops to identify internship opportunities, academic credit process and funding for unpaid internships Show less • Co-managed annual Career Connections program focused on student and alumni engagement networking opportunities• Benchmarked and develop a new career immersion program, Colby on the Road, that focuses on specific industry areas, including alumni/parent employer site visits and networking panels in major metropolitan areas• Served as the fellowship coordinator, collaborate with 12 faculty advisors for national fellowships, offer support and guidance to students, and provide key educational programs and sessions to increase fellowship awareness• Developed and co-supervise the Career Development Advisor Program of 8 undergraduate student ambassadors• Coached on average 15-20 students weekly on all aspects of their career development needs including major/career exploration, job shadowing, internships, graduate school, job search, and cover letter and resume critiques• Presented 50+ workshops annually focused on Career Exploration, Self-Assessment, and Communication Confidence through the Colby Connect four-year curriculum program that supports a membership of over 1000 students• Created an integrated marketing plan and focused on enhancing the utilization of social media tools• Increased efforts for underrepresented populations, including the Wage Project (women salary negotiation workshop) Show less

  • Assistant Director for Internships & Employer Programming

    Oct 2012 - May 2013

  • Assistant Director/Career Counselor

    Aug 2010 - May 2013
• 

  Dartmouth College

  Jun 2013 - Sept 2018

  • Expand experiential learning opportunities by creating a bi-annual career immersion program and streamline job shadowing and short-term projects program• Liaise with the Social Sciences division to enhance faculty relationships, develop programming to 9 majors within division and increase student interaction with office• Create the Peer Ambassador program; supervise and train four student ambassadors to facilitate drop in hours and outreach endeavors• Develop funding process for new endowed internship funding and manage existing funding opportunities to support students in unpaid internships• Customize outreach and resources for 34 athletic teams • Initiate and launch first ever graduate and professional school fair with 80 schools in attendance• Cultivate a pre-law advising ecosystem on campus and coordinate the student pre-law advising process; provide timely information to the advising staff on law-related information and track outcome data for Dartmouth applicants• Advise students in areas including but not limited to, career and major exploration, internship and full-time employment opportunities, graduate and professional school and interview preparation• Manage interview feedback through the recruiting program to provide strengthening areas for student interviewing abilities• Collaborate with advising team to update office resources and transition to a comprehensive guide format, including a new Resume, Cover Letter, Networking and Interview Guide• Enhance utilization of content management system, Dartboard, to serve as centralized job and internship posting system across campus groups and departments Show less

  • Associate Director for Advising & Pre-Law Coordinator - Center for Professional Development

    Sept 2015 - Sept 2018

  • Assistant Director for Experiential Learning & Advising - Center for Professional Development

    Jun 2013 - Sept 2015
• 

  Plymouth State University

  Aug 2021 - Feb 2025

  Taught a course called Tackling a Wicked Problem focused on helping college students develop essential skills for academic and career success. Utilized design thinking processes and project management skills where students engage in a semester long experience tackling a real world wicked problem while developing and enhancing skills focused on self-regulated learning, purposeful communication, integrated perspective and problem solving.

  • Director, Career Development

    Sept 2018 - Feb 2025

  • Teaching Lecturer - Habits of Mind Experience Program

    Aug 2021 - Dec 2024
• 

  Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth

  Feb 2025 - now

  Director of Career Services