Career Coaching

We offer Career Coaching appointments year-round for graduate students with a range of professional career coaches who specialize in different areas. Our coaches are very experienced with graduate education and can offer guidance on topics such as:

  • Navigating general questions about graduate school
  • Assessing your strengths, interests, and values
  • Work-life balance
  • Practicing strategies for networking (in-person and online)
  • Learning about diverse career paths
  • Assembling documents (i.e. resume, cover letter) for job applications
  • Interviewing strategies
  • The impact of Coronavirus on professional planning

We invite all graduate students to make appointments with our career coaches at any time. To make an appointment, please complete a Career Coaching Interest Form and a member of our team will reach out to set up an appointment.

Click here for our career coaching interest form. 

Meet Our Career Coaches

Ariela Freedman
Dr. Ariela Freedman is a proud Laney graduate, having earned her PhD in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education in 2011.She served on faculty at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health for several years before starting her business, MavenTree Consulting. 

Ariela has an MPH and an MA in Teaching. Her career spans teaching high school in Chicago, serving as the Director of Health at Head Start in Minneapolis, and working at the CDC.

As a certified CliftonStrengths coach, Ariela leads interactive, Strengths-based workshops that focus on developing leadership and management skills. She also offers coaching for people navigating career transitions and seeking to level-up professionally. Outside of her professional work, Ariela is a vocalist and recording artist, as well as a visual artist.

As a Laney coach, Ariela’s expertise lies in helping students gain language to talk about what they most want professionally and market themselves with confidence through their Strengths. 

  

Helen Klepac
Helen Klepac is a Career Coach whose approach to coaching is holistic, solution-focused, and strength-based. 

Helen is certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator as well as an integrative Wellness Life Coach. 

As a senior administrator, Helen gained valuable experience in helping students to achieve their goals. Helen holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development and an Education Specialist degree in Career Counseling from George Washington University. 

Robert Hunter
Dr. Ronald E. Hunter, Jr. earned his PhD Analytical Chemistry from Emory University’s Laney Graduate School. His diverse career spans government, industry, and academia, including leadership roles at the FDA, CDC, The Coca-Cola Company, and a global food safety firm.

Hunter is an educator and mentor at heart, with more than 15 years of experience simplifying complex science for a wide range of audiences. He has led trainings for public health leaders, researchers, and corporate teams, always focused on making science accessible, actionable, and inclusive.

A recognized leader and advocate, Dr. Hunter was named Emory University’s 2024 LGBTQ+ Alum of the Year and received their 40 Under Forty Award. He serves on advisory boards and committees for Emory, the American Chemical Society, and SACNAS, championing diversity in STEM fields.

Beyond his professional life, Ron is a passionate salsa dancer, writer, and podcast host who believes in the power of storytelling to build bridges and drive change.

I coach and support all LGS master’s/PhD students in all fields, but my particular areas of expertise
are:

  • The industry job search
  • Career resilience and career transitions
  • STEM student support
  • Networking and relationship building