According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 80 percent of U.S. undergraduate students change their major at least once. Mason students considering adjusting their career path have access to resourceful counselors like Angelica Newham.
“My role is to support exploring students,” says Newham, a career counselor in Mason’s Career Services department. Newham, a 2009 Honors College alumna, says she helps "students who are undeclared, transitioning between majors, or seeking career planning advice.”
Throughout the spring 2018 semester, Newham will be holding “office hours” in the Honors College every Friday from 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Newham plans to host a variety of career counseling opportunities, including first-come-first-serve walk-ins, individual appointments, and possibly a reoccurring group career counseling session. These services will be open to all Honors College students. Activities may include working on career related counseling in groups, exchanging constructive criticism on resumes and cover letters with peers, and identifying careers of best-fit.
Newham’s approach to counseling stands out from the crowd. She says her approach is "to help students either learn about themselves or learn about their options.” When students express uncertainty, Newham encourages them to take surveys that identify careers of best-fit based on their personal strengths. When students want to learn about their options, Newham helps them set up appointments with major advisors and informational interviews with industry professionals.
Before earning her M.S. in Counseling and Development in 2015, Newham had studied the administration of justice as an undergraduate at Mason. As a career counselor, Newham understands the stress that comes with making major academic and career transitions.
Newham enjoys helping students realize "I’m not alone, she’s done it, she’s been there." Elaborating on this, she adds “when I see a student excited about picking a major or finally deciding to take on an internship, that’s the most fulfilling feeling.”
Sign up to meet with Newham using SSC or just drop in to meet her in the Honors College office on Fridays this semester.
Reporting by Jimmy O'Hara ('20), Honors College Intern