The Pomerantz Career Center values campus partners who invest in their growth to better support students, and we are proud to highlight Career Connectors who demonstrate leadership and dedication to student career success.
Meet Erin Barnes, PhD, LMHC, LPC(TX), CRC, NCC
Clinical Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling, Department of Counselor Education
How long have you been working at the University of Iowa?
"My roots at the University of Iowa run deep. I earned all three of my degrees here (BA, MA, PhD) and have worked in various roles at the university since 1997. Before joining the Department of Counselor Education as a Clinical Associate Professor in 2018, I served in the Graduate College as a program coordinator from 2016–2018, where I had the unique opportunity to support graduate student success programming."
When did you begin taking an active interest in helping students reach their post-graduation goals?
"My interest in career development began almost a quarter century ago. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I was hired by Goodwill Industries of the Heartland (then Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa) to coordinate a grant that matched roadworthy vehicles with families needing transportation to gain or maintain employment.
From there, my supervisor asked if I wanted to coordinate a second grant focused on community re-entry for ex-offenders with disabilities. The goal was to understand employer's concerns about hiring ex-offenders with disabilities and to develop curriculum and training that supported job-readiness. That work helped me find my passion. Many of the people I worked with had a graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling – a field I had never heard of. I loved what I was doing, so I pursued the degree, and it was one of the most important career decisions I ever made.
What I learned about care development while working with clients in the community is now being applied in an academic context: same commitment, different population."
How has Career Connectors supported you in assisting students on their professional journeys?
"What excites me most about the Career Connectors program is the opportunity to work directly with Pomerantz’s career experts – especially with Mallory Becraft and Kaitlyn Bailey – on efforts that align naturally with my teaching and advising roles.
As the Director of the Human Relations Minor, I have 264 students across campus. While I cannot meet with every student, my Career Connectors colleagues at Pomerantz have welcomed opportunities to brainstorm with me about scalable strategies to support advisees more intentionally in career development. We are currently exploring ways to integrate short, targeted “bursts” of Career Connectors materials into regular advising touchpoints.
I value being part of an academic institution where faculty and staff support one another’s expertise, and where collaboration leads to mutually beneficial outcomes."
What has been the most valuable takeaway or lesson you’ve gained from Career Connectors sessions?
"One session that stands out was one where the facilitators reviewed strategies for engaging on LinkedIn to explore alumni networks and identify potential career paths. I have had a LinkedIn account for years, but I wasn’t aware of how easily the alumni network could be searched and used as a career exploration tool. It is a simple, actionable strategy that I plan to integrate into my conversations with students."
If you could share one piece of advice with other faculty or staff about supporting student career development, what would it be?
"Offering career development support helps me build a legacy that will continue long after I am gone. I try to connect my students with resources and people who can help them, and in turn, they do the same for others.
The achievements I am proudest of are the ones my students share with me – managing debilitating anxiety, navigating imposter syndrome, or taking risks to apply for a job that isn’t an obvious fit on paper. Just yesterday, I had a student email to thank me for my assistance with navigating credentialing requirements. Because of my support with her career, she shared resources to help me better support future students. So, I would say that helping students with their career pays dividends, because then they turn around and support others."
How has your own perspective on career development evolved since participating Career Connectors?
"Even with my long history in career development, Career Connectors broadened my awareness of how many faculty and staff across campus share the same commitment. The curriculum required a considerable time investment, yet participants consistently showed up.
This experience reinforced something I’ve always believed: student career development isn’t solely the responsibility of a single office – it is a collective, campus-wide effort. Career Connectors provided tangible evidence of that shared commitment."
Anything else you’d like to share?
"I look forward to continued collaboration with Pomerantz and I hope that this newsletter article encourages others to consider how the Pomerantz Center can help them achieve the goals they have for their own students."