Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

I am passionate about empowering all students to achieve and succeed, in particular, persons with disabilities and others from underrepresented groups.

With my current initiative, I purpose to empower students with disabilities to achieve and succeed academically at the college or university level. Whether it be an Associates, Bachelors and/or beyond, an education opens many doors of opportunity, one of which is the ability to support oneself and live independently to the greatest extent possible.

Yes, I have a disability. Thankfully, I was privileged to grow up in a family that dedicated all their energies to helping me overcome what many genuinely believed was an insurmountable obstacle, an unfortunate fate. I was given The Label "Disabled" and was not only encouraged to follow the path of least resistance, but expected to choose it and accept it. I refused, and now have Masters degree is in Library and Information Science, and chose to obtain additional certification as an Educational Media Specialist.

My experience in the workforce has been primarily teaching students with learning disabilities in an academic environment. I have mentored students with disabilities and I understand academia. I’ve worked and gone to school on large campuses, so I understand those frustrations and added stressors. I have experienced the various anxieties inherent to navigating this intimidating world. Sadly, I have watched countless students -- with or without disabilities -- give up and give in. Whatever the student's experience -- and even if they don't have a disability -- I want to help them succeed.

I offer personalized mentoring services focused on supporting students as they work toward their degree and students considering pursuing a degree. When I mentor, I focus on the person, and the unique individual that they are. I strive to give genuinely empathetic, non-judgmental, exuberant support to empower for achievement and success.

If you wish, you can contact me for more information.

Work History

• Owner
• Consultant

• Yes I Can! Consulting, LLC

  Corporate Mission:
  Empower persons with disabilities seeking a degree at the college or university level to achieve and succeed

  Type of Business:
  E-mentoring

  Major Products/Services:
  Personalized guidance and support for persons with disabilities pursuing a degree at the college or university level

• Career Center, Florida State University
• Career Center Librarian
• August 2010 to Present

• Responsible for the administration, technical and information services of the 3,000 item, high traffic Career Center Library. Regular duties include: Develop, catalog and manage special projects related to the library collection; train and supervise undergraduate student assistants, graduate assistants, and other staff in technical service tasks. Chair the Career Center Committee which evaluates and recommends print and web-based resources for the collection. Provide reference service for clients, staff and faculty. Provide staff training regarding use of Library resources. Act as Career Center liaison to University Libraries.

• Florida State University Libraries
• Electronic Reference Provider
• May 2010 to August 2010

• Developed and established policy and procedure for Skype research services, provided reference and research assistance via instant messaging and Skype, trained librarians and staff on Skype research services.

• Florida State University Libraries
• Special Services Librarian
• May 2007 to May 2010

• Provided leadership in creating and providing library services for students with disabilities and distance learners, provided leadership in creating alternative learning spaces for Strozier Library's Undergraduate Learning Commons, coordinated virtual reference service points, provided in-person and virtual research consultations, served as liaison to academic departments: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication, Special Education, Rehabilitation Studies, Program in Visual Impairment, performed collection development for popular literature: mystery, suspense, adventure, and much, much more.

• College Center for Library Automation
• Virtual Reference Service Provider

• Provided statewide reference and research consultations via Ask A Librarian.

Education

• Florida State University
• MS in Library and Information Studies, Educational Media Specialist
• 2004 - 2006

• Florida State University
• BS in Information Studies
• 2002 - 2004