Brian Collingwood, a recognized leader in the field of career development, was recently appointed Allegheny College’s inaugural Executive Director of Career Education. In alignment with President Hilary Link’s bold vision for the future of the College, Collingwood is charged with integrating Allegheny’s renowned liberal arts education with innovative and community-driven career support that will position all students for lifelong success. He has set forth a compelling mission for the campus community that mobilizes all Allegheny constituents in ensuring student success and engages students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, donors, regional community partners, and employers in building a campus-wide career ecosystem.
Alumni play a critical role in the career ecosystem. Reporting to Matt Stinson, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Collingwood is well-positioned to deepen relationships with Allegheny’s formidable alumni base. “Brian serves in a vital leadership role within the campus community, and we’re fortunate to have someone with his extensive expertise driving our efforts to build a best-in-class career center that will deliver holistic career support for all Allegheny students and alumni,” said Stinson. Stinson went on to say that Collingwood has already secured a major gift to support these efforts. Lance Zingale, a member of Allegheny College Class of 1977, has made a significant donation to support the career success of current and future Gators.
Working closely with Stinson and in close collaboration with other members of the Cabinet, Collingwood will launch a new model of integrated career learning that activates community-wide support, ensures equitable access to transformative experiences, promotes professional readiness, and facilitates students’ exploration of their unique interdisciplinary interests.
“I am inspired by President Link’s vision to ensure that ‘the best student experience is the common experience’ and by the College’s commitment to the American Talent Initiative. I am excited to lead our work of ensuring all students, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, have equitable access to the people, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive at Allegheny and beyond,” Collingwood said.
Collingwood’s plans include strategic expansion of the employer relationships in regions and industries that align with the interests of Allegheny’s multi-talented student and alumni community. As part of this effort, he is analyzing hiring trends, career outcomes data, and conducting conversations with Allegheny students, faculty, staff, and alumni, all of which will inform the work ahead. A key component of this outreach will involve securing a broad array of internship, research, and experiential opportunities which engage Allegheny students with real-world problems and that need groundbreaking solutions.
Collingwood is a native of Cleveland, Ohio who earned a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Akron and a B.A. in History from Xavier University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Organizational Learning & Leadership from Gannon University. Brian has more than a decade of experience in career services in higher education, including experiences at Denison University and, most recently, in leadership roles at Gannon University where he also taught courses in History, Leadership, and for the MBA program. Throughout his career, Brian has served as a leader in the profession and has been selected to sit on numerous committees for the National Association of Colleges & Employers as well as serve as a Board member for the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges & Employers, and the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers.