Meet Your Career Coach

Karen Acampado has worked as a career services professional since 2005 at colleges and universities in the NYC area. She has always been in a student facing role, advising undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni on the career development process. Karen has experience working on student engagement and employer relations and has managed large-scale career events. She enjoys working with individuals on interview techniques, internship/job search, personal branding, and resume development, and is passionate about educating people on how to achieve career success. Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received her Master of Science in Education from St. John’s University.

Nicole is a Career Coach with a passion for education and empowering individuals in their careers. With a Master’s in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, she has over 10 years of experience teaching and coaching adult learners in dynamic education settings. As a former Recruiter for Platinion of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), as well as a former Recruiter for Premier Staffing, Inc., her experience working in education is supplemented with her role in the recruitment of digital, risk, and IT professionals and in creating hiring partnerships with both startups and Fortune 500 companies. In her current role as Associate Director of Industry Relations, Nicole is energized by innovative employer partnerships that offer students and alumni opportunities to create impact, an individualized approach to career coaching, executive development, and initiatives that promote personal growth, wellbeing, and fun! Outside of work, Nicole enjoys creative writing, live music, and supporting STEAM initiatives in underrepresented communities.

Jia Wei is currently serving as a Career Coach for students within the Applied Analytics program. Prior to Columbia, Jia Wei worked in career services, particularly focusing on students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds at his alma meter, Stony Brook University. Jia Wei’s favorite part about working in career services is being able to guide students in their job search, explore different career opportunities, assist students in recognizing and developing their brand, and see it all come together. Prior to working in career services, Jia Wei worked in a number of various roles in higher education, such as academic affairs, academic advising, student orientation, and residential life.

Jia Wei was born in Shanghai, China, and is a first generation immigrant and a first generation college student. He holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stony Brook. Although he has been living on Long Island for almost a decade now, rumor has it that Jia Wei still claims to be from Brooklyn and NYC raised.

Kat Castro is currently serving as Associate Director at the CDL, specifically working with the talented Applied Analytics students. Prior to Columbia, Kat worked in Career Services at her Alma Mater Hofstra University and Marymount Manhattan College.  Before her career in Higher Ed, Kat worked in the busy life of television. She scouted locations for the long-run show Law and Order, worked as a Production Manager for NBC Sport’s Football Night in America and managed the NBC Page Program. She started her TV life as an NBC Page, just like Kenneth from 30 Rock! Kat holds a BA in Television/Video Production and is a born-and-raised Queens New Yorker, currently residing in Forest Hills with her husband, two daughters, and a pup named Bo.

Sabrina holds an M.S.Ed in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies and an Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management and has a passion for working with college students as they embark on their journeys of professional development. She strives to be constantly surrounded by the beauty of diversity and culture in whatever project she takes on. Sabrina believes that to be successful is to be constantly surrounded by education and growth, which is what she intends to do in the Career Design Lab. She is a strong communicator both verbally and in writing, with a knack for leadership.

Sabrina has a background in both employer relations and career coaching. As a first-generation college graduate, Sabrina finds her passion in assisting fellow first-generation college students through programming and career advisement.

Paul Maniaci has worked at four institutions of higher education across New York City in career development. He has over twelve years of experience helping students find internships and prepare for career opportunities. Paul spent eighteen years living internationally in Mexico City, Hong Kong, and London. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Communications at Syracuse University and his Masters in Public Administration at Baruch College. He has two young daughters and a dog named Abby.

Barbara McGloin is the Senior Associate Director at the Career Design Lab and Lecturer at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. In this role, she advises students in M.S. in  Strategic Communication and the M.S. in Political Analytics programs. She develops programs to ensure their successful entry and progression in the field. She maintains and builds relationships with a core group of industry leaders and alumni to strengthen hiring relationships with the Career Design Lab, M.S. programs and the school. Earlier in her career, Barbara directed career management services in the M.B.A. and Executive M.B.A. programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and counseled M.B.A. students at New York University’s Stern School of Business. She belongs to several professional associations including the New York Women in Communications, Women In Innovation, the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officer’s Association, the National Career Development Association, where she presented at their annual conference in 2023 and the National Association of Colleges and Employers, where she presented at their national conference in 2019. Barbara earned an M.A. in Counseling from the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY College at Cortland. Barbara is a Lecturer in the MS Strategic Communication program and currently teaches the Practicum course.

Tiya McIver, Associate Director joined the School of Professional Studies Career Design Lab team in February 2018. She has over 15 years of employer relations experience working in career development and advising, providing students with the support and tools necessary to achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond. Committed to building relationships, staying connected and on the pulse of industry trends, ensures career readiness and employment success. Prior to joining the Career Design Lab team, she spent many years as the On-Campus Recruiting Manager on the Career Management team at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. There she developed strategic processes and organized events that helped students acquire skill-sets and knowledge on industry-specific trends that aligned with their employment goals.

Mariela Torres is the Associate Director at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) Career Design Lab (CDL) since May 2019 and works with students with the last names A-P in the Enterprise Risk Management program. She is also responsible for career coaching services for Insurance and Wealth Management. Mariela is an experienced professional with over 25 years of experience in Career Counseling and business. Mariela has experience managing small to large Career Services Centers that provide comprehensive career and internship services to college students and alumni. She has held Director level positions at The College of New Rochelle, Berkeley College, and LIM College. She is also a certified Myers Briggs (MBTI) Practitioner. Mariela is very passionate about student success and has provided career coaching for students and alumni, advised student clubs, and taught undergraduate and graduate-level career preparatory courses. Mariela has worked for organizations such as Avon Products, Perry Ellis, and Macy’s Merchandising Group. Mariela has been on the Executive Board of MNYCCPOA since 2015.  MNYCCPOA is a professional organization consisting of career services counselors representing more than 60 colleges in the metropolitan New York area. She is the current President of MNYCCPOA. She has also held the 1st VP, 2nd Vice President and Treasurer roles. Mariela holds a Master of Science degree in Career Development from the College of New Rochelle and a Bachelor of Professional Studies from LIM College in Fashion Merchandising. She is married and has one son and one daughter. Her eleven-year-old son with special needs has taught Mariela to be resilient in times of adversity.