Sue Valerio Sladen
Assistant Vice President
Sue Valerio Sladen brings more than two decades of experience in career development, academic administration, and employer engagement to her role as Assistant Vice President. A strategic and student-centered administrator, Sue is dedicated to strengthening career outcomes and forging high-impact partnerships that elevate the student experience. She is committed to advancing the College’s strategic initiatives and preparing Lafayette students for meaningful, productive lives after graduation.
Throughout her career, Sue has focused on utilizing data-informed strategies to build inclusive, future-ready career initiatives. Her professional background includes a private career coaching practice and adjunct teaching experience in business education.
Sue holds a Master of Science in Applied Educational Psychology with a concentration in College Student Development from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Sociology minor from Villanova University.
Holly Akers
Senior Associate Director, Employer Relations & Outreach
Holly Akers is a proven professional who currently serves as Associate Director of Employer Relations and Outreach at Lafayette College’s Gateway Career Center. Holly’s robust business and marketing skills have been integral factors in her success in increasing employer interaction with the college— a feat that has actualized student opportunities for externships, internships, and permanent positions of employment upon graduation.
Her versatility is evidenced by the eclectic makeup of her professional endeavors, which includes positions in the publishing, banking, government, architecture, engineering and construction industries. Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts and a Master of Business Administration in Executive Administration from Centenary University.
Specialties and Interests
Employer Relations responsibilities encompass the following industries: Accounting, Architecture and Planning, Civil Engineering, Commercial Banking & Credit, Construction, Development, Design - Engineering Related, Economic Development, Environmental Engineering, Financial Careers, Financial Careers- technology, Geology , Government - Local, State & Federal-Finance/Engineering, Government Relations/Legislative/Public Policy, Insurance, Investment / Portfolio Management, Investment Banking, Management Consulting, Politics, Real Estate, Structural Engineering, Traffic and Transportation Design, Utilities and Renewable Energy,Wealth ManagementAudience
EmployersMark Choquette
Assistant Director & Gateway Career Counselor
Mark Choquette joined the Gateway Career Center in the summer of 2019. He will primarily provide career counseling for Lafayette students, helping them through every step of the career development process. Aside from previous career counseling and programming experience in higher education, Mark worked in recruiting and employee development for a corporate restaurant business, as well as various higher education departments including admissions, conference services, and athletics. Mark will assist in the overseeing of the Gateway Ambassador program.
Mark earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from York College of Pennsylvania, and his Masters of Science in Counselor Education – Higher Education/Student Affairs from West Chester University.
Specialties and Interests
Advising Majors: Anthropology & SociologyArtComputer ScienceEconomicsElectrical & Computer EngineeringEnglishIntegrated EngineeringEngineering & International StudiesEngineering StudiesFilm & Media StudiesMathematicsMathematics & EconomicsMechanical EngineeringMusicPhysicsTheaterAudience
StudentsSue Domagalski
Assistant Director, Recruiting Operations
Sue joined the Gateway Center in September 2021 and serves as the Assistant Director of Recruiting Operations. In this role, she oversees the posting of jobs and internships, coordinates the annual fall and spring career fairs, along with the scheduling on campus recruiting activities.
Sue received her degree in English and Mass Communications from Bloomsburg University. Prior to Lafayette, Sue was an Academic Assistant at Connecticut College. Sue’s passion to help employers and customers comes from her prior 25-year customer marketing and sales career in software technology companies. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her family and very big dogs.
Audience
EmployersElyce Johnson
Associate Director, Career Development & Inclusion Specialist
Elyce Johnson joined the Gateway Career Center in Fall 2025. In her role, she supports students at every stage of their Lafayette journey, offering personalized career counseling and resources that help them explore options, build skills, and prepare for meaningful postgraduate pathways. She collaborates with campus and community partners to embed career readiness throughout the student experience and to ensure equitable access to professional opportunities. Drawing on her background in cognitive psychology and experience advancing inclusive learning and student development initiatives, Elyce brings a data-informed and equity-driven approach to helping students connect their academic and personal growth to meaningful professional pathways. She is passionate about creating spaces where all students, especially first-generation and underrepresented populations, feel supported, confident, and inspired to thrive beyond Lafayette.
Elyce earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hunter College of the City University of New York and her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Specialties and Interests
Africana StudiesAnthropology & SociologyAsian StudiesArtCivil & Environmental EngineeringEnvironmental ScienceEnvironmental StudiesEnglishFilm & Media StudiesForeign Languages & LiteratureGeology & Environmental GeosciencesGovernment & LawHistoryInternational AffairsMusicPhilosophyPolicy StudiesPsychologyReligion & PoliticsReligious StudiesRussian & East European StudiesTheaterWomen, Gender & Sexuality StudiesAlexis Leon
Associate Director of Experiential Learning
Alexis joined the Gateway Career Center in February 2020 and brings more than a decade of experience in higher education to the team. She works within the Employer Relations Team to manage Summer Stipend and January Externship programs, and leads key programs within the Career Center including location-based networking programs and site visits. Her professional history includes international education; presentation and facilitation with diverse audiences; logistics and program management; administrative and advising support for students; and relationship and client management, from small local businesses to multinational organizations.
Alexis holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from Lehigh University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Marywood University
Specialties and Interests
Experiential Learning: Externships, Internships, StipendsAudience
EmployersAmanda Riegel
Department Coordinator
Melissa Schultz
Director, Strategic Projects & Gateway Career Counselor
Melissa Schultz joined the Gateway Career Center team in the Fall of 2008, and possesses a passion for career counseling, analytics, program management, volunteer engagement, and technology. Melissa provides comprehensive and individualized career counseling services to students of all class years and stages of career readiness, and develops and facilitates relevant career workshops and programs.
In complement to providing compassionate career counseling, Melissa serves as a liaison to Health Professions Advising and as a primary point of contact for Gateway’s graduate school resources. She coordinates the Career Center’s semester programming calendar and works to continually assess and steward the Gateway Program, including the compilation of the Annual Report and facilitation of student feedback efforts. Melissa plays a key role in developing Career Center website content, integrating career-related technology platforms, and launching new resources to the student community. She enjoys working with students, collaborating across the Lafayette community, exploring emerging technology and tools, and leveraging data to drive decision-making.
Melissa was a first generation college student and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Shippensburg University, followed by her Master of Arts in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. When she’s not on campus, you are likely to find Melissa spending quality time with her husband and two children, cheering at a sporting event (often her kiddos’!), reading a book, or enjoying the outdoors.
Specialties and Interests
Advising Majors: Africana StudiesAsian StudiesBiochemistryBiologyChemical EngineeringChemistryEnvironmental StudiesForeign Languages & LiteratureGovernment & LawHistoryInternational AffairsNeurosciencePolicy StudiesRussian & East European StudiesAudience
StudentsRebecca Shafer
Associate Director, Career Development & Gateway Career Counselor
Rebecca Shafer joined the Career Services staff as a Career Counselor in October 2021. Rebecca provides one-on-one career counseling to students, as well as guidance and support through all aspects of the career development process. Rebecca has been providing counseling to youth and adults for over 15 years. Her past experiences include career counseling for the NYS Department of Labor, independent living skill development for youth, and mental health counseling. Additionally, Rebecca has served in administrative roles for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services overseeing programs provided to adjudicated youth placed in secure detention.
Rebecca is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a Concentration in Human Services. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Social Work from Fordham University. Rebecca is also a Licensed Master Social Worker for the state of NY.
Specialties and Interests
Civil & Environmental EngineeringComputer ScienceEconomicsElectrical & Computer EngineeringEngineering & International StudiesEngineering StudiesEnvironmental ScienceGeology & Environmental GeosciencesIntegrative EngineeringMathematicsMathematics & EconomicsMechanical EngineeringPhysicsAudience
StudentsVictoria Terascavage
Assistant Director, Alumni Career Services
Victoria Terascavage joined the Gateway Career Center in the fall of 2025. Victoria provides career counseling to Lafayette Alumni and seniors that have yet to participate in Gateway Career Counseling services. Thus, providing those seniors continuous career counseling services as they enter alumni status. Victoria has been providing
counseling to youth, young adults and adults in individual, family and group counseling for the past 15 years. Her past experiences include working in therapeutic foster care, group homes, outpatient facilities and private practice settings.
Victoria is a graduate of Marywood University in Scranton PA where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology and Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling. She continued her education by obtaining a Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Endicott College. Victoria is also a Licensed Professional Counselor for the state of Pennsylvania.
Audience
AlumniLaura Wallace
Assistant Director & Gateway Career Counselor
Laura Wallace joined the Career Services staff as a Career Counselor in March 2018. Laura’s work at Lafayette involves helping students through all aspects of the career development process, providing one-on-one career counseling to students. Her past experiences in the field of education include working as a college counselor, guiding students through the college search and application process. Laura has also worked as a school counselor in the public school system, where she provided counseling services individually as well as in a group setting to students on a variety of topics.
Laura is a graduate of the University at Albany where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She is also a graduate of Gwynedd-Mercy University, where she earned her Master of Science degree in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling.
Specialties and Interests
Advising Majors: Computer ScienceEconomicsElectrical & Computer EngineeringIntegrated EngineeringEngineering & International StudiesEngineering StudiesMathematicsMathematics & EconomicsMechanical EngineeringPhysicsAudience
StudentsMaureen Walz
Director, Special Programs and Pre-Law Advisor
Maureen Walz has two decades of experience in higher education and has served as a member of the Gateway Career Center team since 2005. Prior to transitioning into higher education, Maureen’s professional experience included human resources and recruiting experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. At Lafayette, her favorite responsibilities allow her to help students identify and explore their interests and serve as Pre-Law Advisor.
Maureen earned an M.Ed. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Kutztown University and a B.S.B.A. in Human Resources Management from Rider University.