Q&A with Jovan Johnson: CSU’s New Director of Career Design

March 23, 2021

Columbus State University’s Center for Experiential Learning & Career Design is excited to welcome Jovan Johnson as its new director of career design. Johnson is a Georgia native and previously held positions at Carleton College, Grinnell College, and Central Iowa College. He brings to CSU a wealth of knowledge and skills for career development. 

We asked Johnson to share some information about how the center benefits current students and alumni.

Q: What are the goals of the Career Center?

A: The goals of the Career Center are to ensure that current CSU students and alumni lead, live, learn, and work with meaning, purpose, and progress. We achieve this goal by actively engaging students to fully utilize the resources in the Career Center by the time they graduate.

Q: What does the Career Center offer?

A: The center offers a variety of resources and programs to prepare students for graduation and beyond. The Career Center assists every student in developing essential skills and gaining meaningful experiences to launch their careers successfully — life after CSU. We partner with a wide variety of employers and community partners to connect students to internships, full-time and part-time employment, and other post-graduate opportunities.

Q: What would you tell students wondering what the center has to offer them?

A: The Career Center is here to help them develop the techniques to enhance their professional and personal development. There is much more to life than their professional path, and learning “life skills” will complement their educational and cocurricular activities while at CSU. Students will make discoveries, develop new insights, gain meaningful experiences, broaden their network, and, ultimately, like the many CSU alumni before them, confidently go forth to lead a life of meaning, purpose, and progress.

Q: Why is it important for students to think about what comes after graduation? 

A: Life after graduation is more than just a series of jobs. The Career Center works with students to design a career plan that encompasses a blend of their personal and professional ambitions. We believe one’s impact, satisfaction, and sense of purpose are maximized when one is able to align their values, skills, and curiosities.

At the Career Center, we encourage students to not only ask themselves what they want to do, but what problems they want to work on. This type of reflection is important for students early on in their college career so they can begin to explore various career fields and academic majors, design and/or identify opportunities to gain meaningful experiences related to their major and interests, and build relationships with industry professionals that leads to a successful start to their journey.

Q: How can students connect with the center?

A: The Center for Experiential Learning & Career Design is located in Arnold Hall 118, and students can make an appointment or reach out by email, phone, or social media. For more information visit the website careerdesign.columbusstate.edu or call (706) 565-1191