Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC) has gained an experienced career adviser to be director of the Ferguson Career Center (FCC) as Stephanie N. Joynes has been named to fill the role.

She noted that she arrived at the beginning of August, getting a feel for both the Farmville community and how things run at H-SC.

“I was so excited to join the (H-SC) community and have been amazed by how welcoming everyone has been from my first conversation with college leadership to when I first stepped foot on campus,” Joynes said. “It truly brings me back to my small-town roots in Ohio where everyone is looking out for each other while encouraging them to be their best selves.”

A college press release stated that among her previous employment experience, she worked at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary as the associate director for career advising and education. There, she provided leadership, strategy and career advising to more than 750 full- and part-time students.

“She has also built strong programs that have enhanced alumni collaborations that impact the career and experiential learning opportunities for students,” H-SC officials said in the release. “Previously, Ms. Joynes was the marketing manager for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation where she led marketing for the Historic Area and Historic Jamestowne. From 2003 to 2010, she worked at the Smithsonian Institution as a program manager and cultural information specialist for the National Museum of the American Indian.”

Lee King, H-SC vice president for institutional advancement, was impressed with the praise Joynes received for a variety of positive traits that she embodies.

“Those who know Stephanie and her work at William & Mary and the Smithsonian spoke highly of her advocacy for students, the genuine and strong relationships she builds with students, her creativity and energy and her leadership and communication abilities,” he said. “I am confident that we are welcoming a strong leader who will build an even stronger career education program for Hampden-Sydney.”

In the course of describing her responsibilities as FCC director, Joynes said that the career center is the first step in creating those life skills to build a career that spans decades.

“I want students graduating from H-SC to have the right tools in their toolbox so they can handle challenges that come their way,” she said. “Our office assists students seeking experiential learning opportunities, formal internships and earning their first job after graduation. This process includes everything from a job search strategy, resumes, cover letters, networking skills and the ever-valuable salary negotiation. Even more importantly, it’s also realizing when it’s time to make a jump from a job they’ve outgrown to a new phase in their career. The journey is long, and we want H-SC alumni to be confident, resilient and well-prepared for anything that they may face in the future.”

Joynes said that what drew her to H-SC is the interdisciplinary liberal arts education. During her more than four years working with graduate students at William & Mary, she was part of a program that was highly focused on leadership, data analytics and finance.

“But my heart truly loves seeing how the arts and sciences influence each other,” she said. “Before I worked in marketing and communications, I immersed myself in archaeology, cultural arts and museum education at the Smithsonian Institution for almost eight years — and these are fields that are notorious for being competitive. I went for it anyway and was grateful for the career guidance and mentorship I received all along the way. This is my way of paying it forward. I’m a firm believer you can make a career out of what you love, but sometimes you need to be both creative and strategic about how you make that happen.”

Her time at the Smithsonian was just one of many experiences that helped prepare her for her present role at H-SC.

“My own career path has been diverse, and I can honestly say that to have a career plan that can be followed exactly step by step is near impossible,” she said.

She noted that she majored in English and anthropology at Syracuse University, and her parents were supportive but likely concerned about what she would do in the future with the skills gleaned from that education.

Joynes said she likes to remind others that knowing people and how to communicate with them are the key skills that have made her successful.

Helping her further relate to the people she will be helping, she has also experienced the process and stress of applying to graduate school.

“My vision is to truly connect to students where they are — whether it is 3 p.m. or 3 a.m., on campus, in their dorm or on the road to an athletic event — so they can take control of their future,” she said.

The Ferguson Career Center has moved to its new location on the main floor of the Brown Student Center, and Joynes said that this move makes the FCC more accessible to students and allows for more natural engagement with them as they relax and socialize at the Tiger Inn downstairs.