The University of Houston-Downtown welcomes Laura A. Weseley as the new director of the Career Development Center. Weseley comes to UHD from Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida, where she was the Director of Career Services for two years.

Previously from New York City and Los Angeles, with family members on both coasts, Weseley had a few requirements when she decided on a change of scenery: a central location, warm weather, and big city vibes. Houston was the natural choice. After interviewing with the team at UHD, Weseley found the faculty and staff universally friendly.

"The people here really sealed the deal for me," she said. "Each person I've encountered has been genuinely welcoming. In addition, I was impressed with the focus on career preparation in the school's mission statement."

Weseley is passionate about helping students understand their potential and identify career paths. She has a firsthand understanding of this challenge.

While she has worked in higher education for more than 15 years, Weseley originally studied law. She was drawn to the legal profession by a drive for helping people, but soon found her career in corporate law largely unfulfilling of this mission. Searching for a new direction, Weseley took several career assessment tests, which found her strengths suited for education.

"I knew about teaching but not higher education administration; through networking I learned that law schools often hire lawyers to manage career development programs," Weseley said. "I thought, 'that's something I would enjoy.'"

The young professional found satisfaction in helping students launch their careers, and found energy in their appreciation for her help. She had found her place. Weseley has since served in university career services at Loyola Marymount University, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Pepperdine and UCLA.

Weseley has several goals for her team, and her strategy begins with improving the center's visibility, engagement and collaborative efforts with other departments and student organizations.

"I want the students, faculty and staff at UHD to know that I welcome working with them and want to hear about their needs," she said. "I have an open door and hope to bring a collaborative spirit to everything I do."