Staff

Craig Benson

Craig Benson

Director

Phone: 573-882-9490

Email: BensonCA@missouri.edu

Ask me about:

  • Academic and campus collaborations
  • Career classes
  • Career data and assessment

Interests: Travel, Lego, basketball, Mizzou sports, photography, spreadsheets

Bio:

Master of Business Administration, Management, University of Missouri 

Master of Education, Educational Organization and Leadership, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Kansas State University 

Craig has worked in career services at multiple institutions with an emphasis in holistic career development, paraprofessional staffing of career offices, career self-assessments, career exploration, training and development of career staff, and career courses. 

Katie-Clark

Katie Clark

Employer Relations Coordinator

201C Student Success Center

Phone: 573-882-9370

Email: kaclark@missouri.edu

Ask Me About:

  • Recruiting Mizzou students
  •  Building your recruiting brand on campus
  •  Sharing your professional experience with Mizzou students

Interests: Traveling, trivia nights, concerts, trying new foods

Bio:

Bachelor of Arts, Art History, Rhodes College

Katie has 4 years of experience in corporate talent acquisition and healthcare staffing. She has a passion for fostering positive recruitment experiences for both candidates and hiring teams.

    Carrie Collier

    Carrie Collier

    Senior Coordinator of Peer Career Advising and Career Counseling

    201D Student Success Center

    Phone: (573) 882-8574

    Email: colliercm@missouri.edu

    Ask Me About:

    • Drop-in and appointment services with Career Specialists
    • Career counseling
    • Faculty/Staff Career Champions (MU Career Development Network)

    Interests: Teaching Jazzercise, yoga, reading, traveling and eating at local restaurants

    Bio:

    Master of Arts, Educational & Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri 

    Bachelor of Arts, Communication & Spanish, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

    Carrie’s educational and professional background includes extensive experience in career services, counseling, coaching, training, leadership and program development in a variety of higher education, non-profit, and corporate settings. She is committed to well-being in the workplace and works to inspire purpose in others and to bring enthusiasm and positivity to what she does every day.  

    Cynthia-Diaz

    Cynthia Diaz-Singleton

    Career Service Coordinator

    201 Student Success Center

    Phone: 573-882-2378

    Email: csingleton-diaz@missouri.edu

    Ask Me About

    • Handshake
    • Career platforms and technology

    Interests: Teaching Jazzercise, salsa dancing, supporting teens, playing sports, and camping with her family

    Bio:

    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, Columbia College

    Cynthia has has nearly 20 years in experience in sales, marketing and customer service working at Veteran’s United, GME Supply, Zimmer Communications and Zale’s before transitioning to higher education where she continues her passion for serving and helping others. 

    Chrissie Dickson

    Chrissie Dickson

    Jumpstart Senior Site Manager

    Room 201G

    Phone: 573-882-8942

    Email: dicksoncn@missouri.edu

    Ask me about:

    • How to participate in Jumpstart as a part-time job or for course credit
    • How to offer Jumpstart at your preschool or to your child
    • How to partner, promote or support Jumpstart

    Interests: Enjoying nature/camping/boating, farm to table cooking/dining, live music

    Bio:

    Master of Arts, Human Development & Family Studies – Child Development, University of Missouri 

    Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Missouri 

    Chrissie has been involved in early childhood education for 25 years. She has worked at the Rainbow House Emergency Shelter, Missouri Accreditation and joined the university in 2003 to launch the Jumpstart program at Mizzou. Jumpstart offers students the opportunity to explore their career paths through hands-on experience and skill development.  

    Bethany James

    Bethany James

    Jumpstart Site Manager

    201F Student Success Center

    Phone: (573) 882-8942

    Email: jamesbet@missouri.edu

    Ask me about:

    • How to participate in Jumpstart as a part-time job or for course credit
    • How to offer Jumpstart at your preschool or to your child
    • How to partner, promote or support Jumpstart 

    Interests: Spending time with family, walks in the park and crafts

    Bio:

    Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education, University of Missouri 

    Bethany has worked in early childhood and non-profit services for 14 years, with experience in Title 1 preschools, then as the Program Director for a non-profit childcare center serving families in a holistic, strengths-based approach. She has served in Jumpstart for the past 7 years, helping Mizzou students find opportunities for service and civic engagement in their community.

    Audra Jenkins

    Audra Jenkins

    Career Coach, Graduate Student Career Development

    Phone: 573-884-1273

    Email: jenkinsau@missouri.edu

    Ask Me About:

    • Career exploration for graduate students
    •  Job searching and interview preparation
    •  Job document reviews

    Interests: Traveling to eat and drink delicious things (preferably with friends)

    Bio:

    Graduate Certificate, Positive Psychology, University of Missouri

    Master of Arts, Biblical Studies, Denver Seminary 

    Bachelor of Science, Sociology, Southeast Missouri State University 

    Audra has worked with diverse populations in education ranging from community college to adult English language teaching and has spent the last 13 years in roles working with graduate students at the University of Missouri. 

    Amanda Nell

    Amanda Nell

    Senior Coordinator of Communications, Career Outcomes & Technology

    Room 201L

    Phone: 573-882-0878

    Email: nella@missouri.edu

    Ask me about:

    • Marketing and communications
    • Student career outcomes
    • Website and online career resources
    • Requests to review career technology, products or services

    Interests: Baking, cooking shows, nature walks, Netflix binging and college football.

    Bio:

    Master of Arts, Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan 

    Bachelor of Arts, History, Wittenberg University 

    Amanda has 25 years of experience in higher education with progressive responsibilities in technology, staff supervision, project management, marketing and communications. 

    Laura Peiter

    Laura Peiter

    Senior Coordinator of Peer Career Advising and Career Outreach

    Room 201M

    Phone: 573-884-6317

    Email: peiterl@missouri.edu

    Ask me about:

    • Drop-in and appointment services with Career Specialists
    • Outreach presentations to classes and groups 
    • CliftonStrengths

    Interests: Classic rock, Bruce Springsteen, baseball, disaster movies

    Bio:

    Master of Arts, Media Communications, Webster University 

    Bachelor of Arts, Media Communications with emphasis in Media Literacy, Webster University 

    Laura has 23 years of higher education experience in both career services and admissions. She is skilled at delivering career outreach workshops, supervising and training student staff, managing career software, developing resources and administrative processes. 

    Amanda Purchase Roberts

    Amanda Purchase Roberts

    Senior Manager of Student Employment

    201C

    Phone: 573-884-5977

    Email: purchaserobertsa@missouri.edu

    Ask me about:

    • Recruiting students to work on campus 
    • Student employment questions
    • Work-Study program

    Interests: Anything outdoors, baking, musicals, making lasagna for neighbors

    Bio:

    Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Specialization in College Student Affairs, University of South Florida 

    Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education, Monmouth College  

    Amanda has over 20 years of experience in and outside the classroom at large public and small private institutions of higher education in areas of career development, staff training, first year experience, and residential life.