HALE FAMILY DIRECTOR

Persephone Hall supports the professional growth and development of Connecticut College students through her strategic leadership of the Center’s mission to connect the liberal arts to career success in a rapidly changing world.

Hall has 30 years of experience in career services in both higher education and corporate human resources environments. She joined Connecticut College in 2016, after serving students for 11 years at Wesleyan University’s Gordon Career Center.

One of Hall’s peak experiences was sharing her life-long love of gospel singing here at Conn’s first-ever [Gospel] Music in the Chapel event.

“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

phall3@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2646 112 Fanning Hall

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DIRECTOR OF ADVISING | PRE-HEALTH ADVISING

Loretta “Lori” Balantic grew up in the Philadelphia area, and graduated from Villanova University, where she attempted to major in everything. There, she gained personal insight into the beauty and demands of varying disciplines in the arts and sciences, including laboratory sciences, fine and theater arts, humanities and social sciences. Her master’s degree is in education. She joined Connecticut College in 1995.

Before becoming a hospice volunteer, Lori gave back to the community through coaching sports at the youth and high school levels, and encouraged two children through college—experiences that allow her to relate to current students.

Lori loves to learn from her advisees and colleagues, and contribute to team advising. She values a good question over a good answer and is always seeking to understand. She favors the Social Learning Theory of Career Development and choice and believes that staying open to happenstance is a powerful way to approach life. “Plan - from which to deviate” is a statement that can guide each of us on our paths.

“...Make the most of happenstance in your life and career." — Al S. Levin

lkbal@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2772 112 Fanning Hall

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SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | PRE-BUSINESS ADVISING

Cheryl obtained her Bachelor of Arts with a major in history from Connecticut College, and has been in career services since 1994. In addition to extensive experience in career program development and management, Cheryl is the pre-business and finance adviser, the liaison to the Academic Resource Center and the Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts, and more. She also facilitates and manages the College’s Career Informed Learning Program and the Finance Cohort Program initiative.

Cheryl is a lifelong resident of North Stonington, Connecticut, who loves to cycle, camp and kayak. She is also a certified USA and NFHS softball umpire. 

"Play ball!" 

caban@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2775 112 Fanning Hall

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ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | CAREER ADVISER | PRE-LAW ADVISING

Deb Brunetti is an adviser, coach and advocate who supports students at Connecticut College as they move through their college years toward realization of their career aspirations. She firmly believes that students’ journeys are made up of many opportunities, each of which help shape their post-college plans and inform their career destinations. She finds reward in helping students make connections between the things they’re learning—both in class and out—and how these may lend themselves to potential job choices and ultimately career satisfaction.  

Deb grew up in Oregon, received her Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her Master of Arts in educational leadership from the University of Connecticut. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education and career development. 

“Does this go toward or away from what I want? Always choose what goes towards what you want.” — Barbara She

dbrunett@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-5183 112 Fanning Hall

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ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | CAREER FELLOWS SUPERVISOR | ADVISER

Dorothy "Dot" Wang  enjoys meeting students and learning about their interests and curiosities. From physics to philosophy and calculus to chainsaws, she enjoys helping students explore all their liberal arts education has to offer. Whether building a resume, helping students network or preparing for an interview, she brings energy, enthusiasm and creativity to help students stand out. She plays an integral role in the Career Fellows Program and looks forward to working with students to find paths that bring smiles to their faces.

Dot is a New England native who received her bachelor's degree in fine arts from Trinity College. Dot has worked at the College since 2007, originally with the Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA) and now with the Hale Center for Career Development. As an enthusiastic graduate of the liberal arts, Dot brings a diverse background of interests that inform her creative approach and perspective to career advising. 

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." — Albert Einstein

dwang1@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2778 112 Fanning Hall

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INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR

Jessica “Jessie” Blakeborough serves as a liaison between the Hale Center for Career Development and the Otto and Fran Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement. She is integral in coordinating multi-departmental programming, developing multicultural educational materials, and advising students of global and regional language-based internship opportunities. 

She earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism and international studies with a MENA-regional focus in 2013, followed by a Master of Science postgraduate diploma in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Stirling, Scotland, in 2014. 

Jessie is a lifelong advocate of language study, intercultural communication and feminism. She has lived, studied and worked on three continents. Having spent the majority of her youth in Asia and Europe, Jessie considers herself a Third Culture Kid (TCK). A proudly self-identified pi-lingual—the number of languages she speaks adds up to roughly 3—she is always looking to hone her French, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, German and Spanish language skills!

“We should learn languages because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly." — Kató Lomb

jblakebor@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2779 112 Fanning Hall

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Director of Employer Relations

Ryan Edmonds is responsible for cultivating alumni and employer partnerships, identifying recruiting pipelines, and connecting students to the Connecticut College network. His work provides opportunities for students to realize the impact of their liberal arts education within their personal and professional pursuits.

Ryan is a Connecticut native who graduated from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in visual media communications. He holds a Master's in Education in higher education administration from Suffolk University and brings 17 years of experience in nonprofit management. Ryan joined Connecticut College in 2017 after serving four years at Roger Williams University in the Center for Career & Professional Development.

Ryan is a lifelong athlete and organizes a weekly tennis group in Rhode Island for members of his community.

“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.” — J.P. Morgan

redmond2@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2780 112 Fanning Hall

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYER RELATIONS AND OPERATIONS

Kevin Finefrock oversees the College’s internship program, supporting students as they move through the application and funding process, as well as employers interested in hosting a Conn intern. In addition, he helps plan and build talent pipelines between Conn students, alumni and employers.  

A Conn alum, Kevin graduated in 2007 with a degree in history and government and a certificate from the College’s Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy. He holds a Master of Arts in history from the University of Connecticut and is currently working on his doctoral dissertation on race, slavery and family. Prior to returning to Conn, he worked at the Center for Student Success and Career Development at Trinity College.

While on campus, Kevin sang with the Williams Street Mix, served on SGA and worked as an undergraduate career fellow. Outside of his professional life, Kevin is an avid genealogist and enjoys singing, playing a number of musical instruments, and watching science fiction and political dramas.

“...We never reach a point at which our lives lie before us as a clearly marked open road, never have and never should expect a map to the years ahead, never do close those circles that seem, at thirteen and fourteen and nineteen, so urgently in need of closing.” — Joan Didion

kcfin@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2004 112 Fanning Hall

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