Meet the Team

Large brick and stone building with two large trees in front.

Looking for your college’s  career consultant

Headshot of Liz

Elizabeth (Liz) Hruska (she/her)

Interim Associate Director for Student Career Development

Serves the following degree-seeking CCAPS students:

  • Undergrads in Construction Management, Health and Wellbeing Sciences, Health Services Management, Information Technology Infrastructure, Inter-College Program, Manufacturing Operations Management, Multidisciplinary Studies, and Undeclared
  • All grad students in CCAPS

Make an Appointment Liz's bio

Brian

Brian Green (he/him)

Senior Career Consultant

Serves the following CDes students:

Undergrads and grad students in Apparel Design, Architecture, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Product Design, Retail and Consumer Studies, and Undeclared

Make an Appointment Brian's bio

Paul

Paul Zheng (he/him)

Career Consultant

Serves the following CFANS students:

  • Undergrads in Agricultural and Food Business Management, Agricultural Communication and Marketing, Agricultural Education, and Applied Economics
  • Grad students in Agricultural Education and Applied Economics

Make an Appointment Paul's bio

Maddie

Maddie Portnoy (she/her)

Career Consultant

Serves the following CFANS students:

  • Undergrads in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Food Science, Forest and Natural Resource Management, Nutrition, Plant Science, Pre-Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Sustainable Systems Management, and Undeclared
  • Grad students in Applied Plant Sciences, Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering and Management, Conservation Sciences, Entomology, Food Science, Land and Atmospheric Science, Natural Resources Science and Management, Nutrition, Plant Pathology, Water Resources Science

Make an Appointment Maddie's bio

Headshot of Heather

Heather Nagle (she/her)

Director

Serves the following CFANS students:

Undergrads and grad students in Animal Science

Make an Appointment Heather's bio

Headshot of Ben

Ben Hansen (he/him)

Associate Director for Employer Relations

Manages career fairs and events for CFANS audience, along with relationships with employer partners.

 

Email [email protected] Ben's bio

Ariana

Ariana Zarling (she/her)

Senior Employer Relations Coordinator

Manages career fairs and events for CCAPS and CDes audience along with relationships with employer partners 

Email [email protected]  Ariana’s Bio

Mari

Mari Ruddy (she/her)

Internship Coordinator

Teaches and coordinates sections of CFAN 3096 and CFAN 4096 and manages the CFANS Unpaid Internship Grant

Email [email protected] Mari's bio

Meet the Peer Advisor Staff

Schedule a 15-minute resume or cover letter review with a peer advisor (for CCAPS, CDes, and CFANS undergrads)

Learn about all our resume and cover letter review support options

Make an Appointment

Ingrid

Ingrid (She/Her/Hers)

Ingrid

Fun fact about yourself: I played soccer for 14 years.

Out of work obsession(s): I love baking, hiking, and thrifting.

Something you wish you had more time for: Creating art for myself and not just for my classes.

Best way to spend a Saturday: Someplace outside or out with friends.

What is the one thing you would do, if you were able to do it?: Hug a bear.

Who or which band do you like listening to the most?: Radiohead.

Morgan

Morgan (She/Her/Hers)

Morgan

Fun Fact About Yourself: Has one of the rarest genetic combinations, red hair, blue eyes, left handed.

Life Story: Grew up in Preston MN, and went to school at Fillmore Central High School. Ran cross country and track. Participated in 4H and FFA outside of school.

Out of Work Obsession: Watching and rewatching House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.

Best Part of College Experience: Hanging out with friends

Favorite Place in the Whole World: Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth.

Best Way to Spend a Saturday: Movie night with friends.

What's One Thing You Would do, if You Were Able to? Have the ability to fly.

Which Band do You Like Listening to the Most? The Chicks and Doja Cat! Two very different music styles!

Best Words of Advice for Students: Your grades do not define you!

Quote: “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” - Beverly Sills

Rayea

Rayea (She/Her/Hers)

Rayea

Life Story: I grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota and attended Albert Lea High school. In school, I was in volleyball, track & field, Spanish club, FFA and Link Crew. Outside of school, I am involved in 4-H and love to hangout with my family, friends, and pets.

Out of Work Obsessions; Over the summer, I played lots of pickleball and I love to eat spicy foods. Recently, I've been reading books for fun again, and enjoy watching Prison Break and Mr. Monk.

Best Part of College Experience: Exploring new things and being curious about the world around me.

Something You Wish You Had More Time for? I wish I had more time in the day to explore different hobbies and interests.

Favorite Place in the Whole World: My favorite place to be is at home with my family and pets. My favorite place to travel to, so far, is New Orleans, LA. Learning about the culture and history was very cool!

Which Band do You Like Listening to the Most? I’ve been listening to Leon Bridges, Phillip Phillips, and Blessing Offor, and more lately! I love to listen to a variety of music genres.

Best Words of Advice for Students: Be open-minded and curious about everything. Give your time and attention to peers, professors, and presenters. Be mindful and continue to be a lifelong learner!

Favorite Quote: “Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming.” - Mandy Hale

Nancy

Nancy (She/Her/Hers)

Nancy

Fun Fact: I have touched a shark

Out of Work Obsessions: The Office (shows), traveling, and my dogs

Favorite Place in the Whole World: My favorite place in the world is my grandparent’s farm in Mexico.

What's One Thing You Would do, if you Were Able to? If I could do one thing I would skydive.

Which Band do You Like Listening to the Most? I listen to Laufey the most.

Reanna

Reanna (She/Her/Hers)

Reanna

Fun Fact: I love pickles

Out of Work Obsession: Snacking while binging a show

Funny Story: A few years ago my car was stuck in the snow and I didn't want to wake anyone up to help me push it out. So I put it in reverse, got out and pushed it myself, and it ended up backing itself into a tree.

Favorite Place in the Whole World: I've never been to Greece but that is my dream destination

Something You Wish You Had More Time for: I wish I had more free time so that I could get a puppy

Best Way to Spend a Saturday: Hanging out or game/movie night my friends in my apartment

What's One Thing You Would do if You Were Able to? If I had the time and the money to travel the world I would do it in a heartbeat

Which Band do You Like Listening to the Most? I listen to lots of different artists, my favorites are probably Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, Lana Del Ray, Declan Mckenna, Still Woozy, THE DRIVER ERA, Wallows, Billie Eillish, Steve Lacy, and many many more

Quote: "I’ll stick to finding the funny in the ordinary because my life is pretty ordinary and so are the lives of my friends—and my friends are hilarious.” ― Issa Rae

Olivia

Olivia (She/Her/Hers)

Olivia

Fun Fact: I play five instruments

Life Story: I was born in Minnesota but I moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin when I was about 4 and have lived there ever since. In high school I took architecture classes through a local technical college and found my love for architecture.

Out of Work Obsessions: Sailing, music, painting

Favorite Place in the Whole World: My grandparents house in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Something You Wish You Had More Time for? Traveling

Best Way to Spend a Saturday: In bed doing absolutely nothing

What's One Thing You Would do if You Were Able to? Live in Europe

Individual You Most Admire: My grandpa

Quote: "We're almost there and nowhere near it" - Lorelai Gilmore