New Director, Career Development Center

To the Campus Community:

I'm excited to announce that Claire Ralph has been appointed as the new Director of the Career Development Center.

Claire has been at Caltech since the summer of 2016 working for the Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences in the Division of Engineering and Applied Science as its founding Director of the CMS/EE Outreach and Partnerships Program, as well as a lecturer teaching a variety of CMS classes along with being a faculty advisor to the Women in CMS program. During her time, Claire has built from the ground up a highly respected program that has transformed how CMS/EE provides opportunities for startups and companies to meaningfully engage with students, connect with research, and support educational and outreach efforts. In fact, many of her programs have also helped address the specific and diverse needs of historically underrepresented STEM students (minority, female and low-income students) in their own career path, mentorship, and research.

Before coming to Caltech, Claire was the Founder and Director of Code for Princeton in Princeton, NJ, as well as a Computer Science Research Institute Fellow at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, NM. Originally from New Mexico, Claire earned B.S. degrees in Pure Mathematics and Chemistry, along with a minor in Biology, from the University of New Mexico. She later received an M.S. in Theoretical Chemistry from Cornell University.

In her new role, Claire will be responsible for providing innovative and strategic vision, leadership, and direction for the Career Development Center. In collaboration with deans, faculty, students, alumni, and a variety of other internal and external stakeholders, she will seek to build new opportunities and strengthen current collaborations that will provide all students and postdocs with the guidance, mentorship, and resources needed to launch their professional endeavors. Claire will also retain her lecturer status so that she may continue to connect with students in the classroom.

Please join me in welcoming Claire to her new role starting July 15th!

Sincerely,

Jarrid J. Whitney

Assistant Vice President for Students Affairs, Enrollment and Career Services