Customize Your Weekly Pathways Content 
Heather Gould
Assistant Dean & Executive Director of the SBS Pathways Center
SBS Pathways
SBS Pathways CenterJackie Brousseau-Pereira
Assistant Dean/Academic Dean, SBS
SBS Pathways
AcademicSBS Pathways CenterFelicia Griffin-Fennell
Director of the SBS RISE Program & Lecturer in Sociology
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement (SBS RISE)SBS Pathways
SBS Pathways CenterCarol Sharick
Exec. Director of Career and Professional Development, SBS
Carol Sharick leads the SBS career team and oversees SBS career programming, advises SBS undergrads and graduate students in all SBS majors and departments, runs the SBS Shadows program, and much more.
Seniors and new grads can meet with Carol for advanced resume and cover letter review, interview prep, networking, and career planning and strategy.
How do I?
Meet with a Career AdvisorSBS Pathways
CareerSBS Pathways CenterVanessa Blais
Academic Dean, SBS Pathways Center
SBS Pathways
AcademicSBS Pathways CenterFabienne Boisson
Associate Director, SBS Pathways Center
Academics & Academic Advising
SBS Exploratory TrackSBS Pathways
AcademicSBS Pathways CenterRebecca Bell
Director of High Impact Program Initiatives, Career and Professional Development for SBS
Rebecca Bell is the Director of High Impact Program Initiatives in the Office of Career & Professional Development in SBS. She meets with undergraduate students in all SBS majors to help with career exploration and to help develop their plans for next steps in their college journey. Rebecca previously worked in the non-profit and international sectors, and has worked on projects in several different countries. She also directs the SBS in DC internship program and loves spending time in DC and exploring other places.
How do I?
Meet with a Career AdvisorSBS Pathways
CareerSBS Pathways CenterOdessa Burkett
Associate Director of Career and Professional Development for SBS
Odessa Burkett is the Associate Director of Career and Professional Development for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS). She focuses on general career advising, resume and cover letter writing, job and internship searching and interview preparation for all SBS Majors. Odessa is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Economics and a Masters in Higher Education. After college, she worked in corporate human resources, did AmeriCorps, and took time to travel before working in higher education. Odessa worked with veteran students at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Becker College Admissions before returning to UMass in 2019. She is passionate about mindfulness, traveling to new places, hiking & nature, and experiencing live music.
How do I?
Meet with a Career AdvisorSBS Pathways
CareerSBS Pathways CenterKaren Miller
Associate Director for Professional Education & Lecturer
SBS Pathways
CareerSBS Pathways CenterMalika Amandi
Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development for SBS
Malika Amandi is an Assistant Director of Career & Professional Development in the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences at UMass. Drawing from her own work experiences in the entertainment industry and as a professional development facilitator for the military, Malika brings a unique perspective to Career Services that is both approachable and practical. She has led hundreds of coaching sessions and workshops for people across a spectrum of career stages and fields – from the entertainment industry, to Silicon Valley, the non-profit sector, and academia. Malika holds a BA from Stanford University in Drama and Urban Studies and an MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California. She is also the founder of the Center for Women’s Voice, a social enterprise that helps individuals communicate authentically and powerfully in every area of their lives.
How do I?
Meet with a Career AdvisorSBS Pathways
CareerSBS Pathways CenterKoni Denham
Director of Student Success & Dir. of First Year Seminars - SBS
How do I?
Apply for Scholarships and AwardsSBS Pathways
SBS Pathways CenterWho We Serve
Undergraduate StudentsAndrea Lydick
Office Manager, SBS Pathways Center
SBS Pathways
SBS Pathways CenterCharlotte Salmon
SBS Exploratory Track Advisor
Academics & Academic Advising
SBS Exploratory TrackSBS Pathways
AcademicSBS Pathways CenterEmma Aulenback
Coordinator of Internship & Field Experiences
Emma is the Coordinator of Internship and Field Experiences in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She works with the Career & Professional Development team to help run experiential programs, such as the SBS in DC and SBS in Boston programs. Emma took part in the first SBS in DC cohort and is excited to help future change-makers navigate this journey. After graduating from UMass with a BA in Sociology, she served two terms with AmeriCorps in Colorado and New York. Emma’s passion lies in helping people dream ambitiously and creating a sense of belonging. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and hiking.
SBS Pathways
CareerExperientialSBS Pathways CenterSignature Programs
SBS in DC - Intern in DC with a cohort of your peersDiane Curtis
Pre-Law Advisor & Senior Lecturer
The Director of Pre-Law Advising is Diane Curtis. Diane practiced law for 10 years in New York City and Springfield, Massachusetts. She has been a Pre-Law Advisor since 2004, has served on the Board of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA), and has presented several times at the annual NAPLA conference on. Diane also served previously on the National Advisory Council for Law School Transparency. In 2025, Diane received the Wilson Award for Excellence in Pre-Law Advising from the Pre-Law Advisors National Council (PLANC).
Diane is a Senior Lecturer in Legal Studies at UMass. She has served as an adjunct instructor at the law schools of Western New England University (formerly College) and the University of Connecticut.
Diane received both her B.A. (in Comparative Literature) and her J.D. from New York University.
Post-Grad Planning
Pre-Law AdvisingPre-Law Advising/Law Resources
Applying to Law SchoolLawyer-Alumni NetworkManaging Pre-Law StressThinking about Law SchoolSBS Pathways
SBS Pathways CenterSBS Peer Advising Interns
Available for Walk-In Appointments, Thompson 128
SBS Pathways Center Peer Advising Interns are SBS students who can provide useful insight into how to plan your SBS Pathways, which include planning for your academic, experiential, and career and professional development opportunities. Our Peer Advisors come from all different places and backgrounds, have various SBS majors, and are sophomores, juniors and seniors. Read their bios here!
Peer Advising drop-in hours are held in The SBS Pathways Center in 128 Thompson. You can find the current hours here.
