DURANGO—Fort Lewis College Career & Workforce Director Janae Hunderman is on a mission to ensure that every student understands how to navigate the ever-changing world of work.

"My dream is that every student graduates with a clear understanding of who they are, how their skills matter, and what their next steps should be," said Hunderman, who

joined FLC last fall with the goal of developing a career and workforce strategy that meets the evolving needs of FLC students, including adult and nontraditional learners.

Since then, Hunderman has been busy leading a strategic shift to better support students in their career journeys by ensuring that every student leaves FLC not just with a diploma but with a clear understanding of how they want to use their passions and skills to contribute to their communities, and the strategies they will use to create those opportunities.

This evolution includes a deeper collaboration with faculty, a stronger emphasis on career exploration in the first year onward, and an effort to redefine career development as an ongoing journey rather than a single decision point.

 

Now, with a full team in place, Hunderman is looking to embed career-connected learning into the student experience from day one, encouraging students to explore their interests and strengths in meaningful ways, whether through leadership roles, campus activities, or community engagement.

Expanding internships

Expanding student access to internships is a key priority for the department. FLC’s Strategic Plan aims for 90% of students to complete at least one internship before graduation, a goal that requires tracking and promoting the many existing opportunities across campus.

Jaityn Winchell has been working in Career Services since June 2022, and recently transitioned to the role of Internship & Workforce Coordinator, where she can apply her passion for connecting students with quality internships that can lead to a meaningful career.

“The best part of my job is getting to help students when they are feeling lost or overwhelmed around career readiness. When a student lands an internship or a job, I feel like I did, and it’s just so rewarding,” she said. “I am also looking forward to exploring new ways of funding internships, so hopefully, most of our students can have a paid internship before they leave FLC.”

On April 10, the team will host the Career & Internship Expo to connect students and employees.

 

"We have incredible internship experiences happening across campus, and we want to showcase those stories," Hunderman said.

Career exploration

Adam Pecan, who joined the team on March 5 as the Career Services and Workforce Coordinator, hopes to make career exploration fun, collaborative, and interactive for students. 

“Instead of another hoop for students to jump through, I hope to create an environment where students can enjoy learning about themselves and the world of work and more fully lean into the process of owning their lives and careers,” he said. “Incorporating a personal sense of purpose, meaning, and contribution to one's community within one's life design is a key part of this in my approach.”

Career and Workforce Manager, Maura Benton, who joined the team in December 2024, brings a perspective shaped by her Entrepreneurship and Small Business background. As an FLC alumna, she understands the FLC student experience and supports data, events, and marketing efforts to strengthen career services and student engagement.

"I enjoy hearing about all the amazing things our students are doing to prepare for their careers and figuring out how we, as a team, can best support their efforts," she says.

Expanding collaboration within and outside FLC

As career and workforce development evolves, so does its role in faculty collaboration. Hunderman emphasizes that career services go far beyond resume reviews and interview prep; they are about helping students connect their passions to real-world opportunities.

She encourages faculty to integrate career-connected learning into their curricula and invites them to brainstorm ways to bring work-based learning activities into the classroom. "Being passionate about a subject is part of career development," she says. "We want to shift the conversation, so students see every experience as a step toward their future."

Hunderman is also rethinking the student worker experience within her department, ensuring student employees gain meaningful, progressive roles that reflect their growth and skills.