What is a CEC?

Helping Centre students discover what’s next

career exploration community grouped images

Join other Centre students with similar career interests to explore possible paths, participate in customized programing and events, network with industry insiders, and get the inside track on internships and jobs — all with the help of your own specialized career coach! You will learn how to create a personalized plan for exploring careers, gaining experience, and applying to jobs as well as graduate schools. Career Exploration Communities (CEC) will lay the foundation for your career readiness and success after Centre.

Students can join as many of the six CECs as they’d like, and can switch when needed as they move throughout their career journey.

Arts, Media & Entertainment – Performing arts including fine arts; music; dance and drama; arts administration and production; art and history museums; humanities; writing, editing, and journalism; advertising; communication; public relations; architecture; television, radio and film media including on-air and production; sports; distilleries; and entertainment venues.

business and entrepreneurship cec logoBusiness & Entrepreneurship – All business fields including marketing, sales, consulting, real estate, finance and banking, investing and wealth management, accounting, manufacturing, logistics and commerce, and entrepreneurship.

Health & Medicine – All medical fields including MD and DO; physician assistant; nurse and nurse practitioner; EMT/paramedic; medical research; physical, occupational and speech-language therapy; chiropractic; public health; and veterinary.

Law, Government & Policy – Law and law enforcement, politics, lobbying, government and international relations, public affairs and public policy.

science engineering and tech cec logoScience, Engineering & Tech – Life, physical and environmental science; research; engineering (all fields); mathematics; data science and data analytics; computer programming; technology and AI; and software engineering and development.

social impact cec logoSocial Impact – Education (preschool, k-12, and higher ed), community service and engagement, religion/ministry, non-profit, sustainability, psychology and mental health counseling, social work, and social justice.

A career coach can help you in your search for internships, jobs and graduate schools. They offer mock interviews, assistance with resume and cover letter writing, as well as connections to alumni who are ready and willing to help you in your career exploration as Career Advocates.

For every CEC there is a LinkedIn group that students can join where they’ll be notified of job and internship opportunities, events, and be able to network with alumni.


Find the Right Fit

Having trouble deciding which community is right for you? Take our CEC Quiz.


Meet the Career Coaches

Kirk Knott

Associate Director, Career Coach

Kirk provides career coaching to students in the Health & Medicine, Science, Engineering & Tech and Social Impact CECs, as well as alumni and all undecided students.

Nate Meissner

Assistant Director, Career Coach

Nate provides career coaching to students in the Arts, Media & Entertainment, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Law, Government & Policy CECs.