Contacts

Lindy (she/her) is the career programming specialist at CCD. Her work at CCD includes coordinating events and workshops and supervising  co-op students. Lindy holds a BA in social welfare and social development from Nipissing University and an MA in social justice and community engagement from Wilfrid Laurier University. She’s worked in the “career sector” for over 8 years, including employment readiness training programs for youth and young adults.  She has a passion for mentoring student staff and engaging with students letting them know that they don’t have to do this career stuff on their own. Outside of work, you can find Lindy reading a book with a cup of tea, crafting, walking with her dog Mabel or spending time with family and friends.  

Graeme (he/him) is a career advisor and career leader program supervisor at the Centre for Career Development. He was a two-time student at the University of Waterloo, first completing a BSc in Kinesiology with a minor in Cognitive Science, and later returning for further studies in Honours Science. He has worked as a private tutor, freelance writer, research assistant, social entrepreneur and startup coach and has over ten years of experience as a gigging musician. Graeme’s nonlinear career path informs his passion for helping others navigate their own unique career journeys in a complex new world of work. After business hours, he splits his time between the rock climbing gym, the cottage and the stage, regularly performing across Southern Ontario with his five-piece band.  

Tiffany (she/her), career advisor, joined the Centre for Career Development in 2023, and has been working at the University of Waterloo since 2018 in a variety of student-facing roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Development Studies from Waterloo, with minors in Psychology and Sociology and a specialization in Social Work. With over 10 years of experience in student support, including positions as International Student Advisor, Academic Advisor and Co-op Advisor, she brings a caring, supportive and nonjudgmental approach to career conversations. Tiffany is available for appointments in English and Mandarin Chinese. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, watching Asian and Korean dramas, travelling, playing board games and talking about Studio Ghibli or Pixar films.

Paulina Cisneros (she/her), career advisor, has been at the Centre for Career Development since 2017. She has a diverse professional background, including supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health concerns and newcomers to Canada. She has also worked in Human Resources and Health and Safety within the warehousing and automation sectors.

She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Education from Wilfrid Laurier University, and diplomas in Human Resources and Health and Safety from Conestoga College.  Paulina’s approach is empowerment and equity-driven as well as student-focused and is available for appointments in English and Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys live music, NFL football, F1, early 2000s metal, reggaeton, trivia and exploring the world with her two little ones.

Alicia Flatt (she/her) is a career advisor who has been supporting Waterloo students for the past 10 years. Alicia has a master’s degree in Higher Education, a career development practitioner diploma and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, history, and theatre. Before joining the team at the Centre for Career Development, she worked in admissions, financial aid and residence life in post-secondary education. Alicia supports conversations related to the intersection of career and accessibility, mental wellbeing and equity, and enjoys walking students through finding a path that feels connected to their values and goals. When not at work, you’ll find Alicia camping, teaching, walking her dog or making really bad art.  

Vanya (she/her) brings a student-focused approach to career development as a career advisor. She is also a PhD student in English Literature and holds a master’s degree in English Studies and Sociology from IIT Madras. Drawing on her own experience as an international student in the Faculty of Arts, Vanya is passionate about creating meaningful connections and supporting students in their career journeys. She speaks English and Tamil and enjoys reading classic literature, sewing and cooking.
 

Fun fact: Vanya has read Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment about ten times!

Kait Hazzard (she/her) is a manager, career education at the Centre for Career Development.  Kait has an M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in Leadership from Royal Roads University and a B.A. in Youth Development from North Central University. 

Kait has been supporting students in higher education for 17+ years and is passionate about empowering students to design and achieve meaningful career goals. Kait’s approach is grounded in her values of curiosity, compassion and connection. Outside of work, you can find her exploring local trails, reading the latest fiction, cheering on the Hamilton Tiger Cats or having adventures with her kids.

Kate Kennedy (she/her) is career advisor in the Centre for Career Development, passionate about guiding students through the many pivots and possibilities of their career journeys. Her own path has been non-linear, beginning with a degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism from Lakehead University, where she led diverse groups through outdoor challenges, often by canoe. She later pursued a Health Sciences degree in Midwifery at McMaster University, inspired by her interest in women’s health and informed decision-making, and also gained experience in the entrepreneurial health and wellness space. These varied experiences shape her work today, where she helps students explore identity, autonomy and purpose in the job search process. Outside of work, Kate enjoys coffee, reading, biking, time with her three kids and spontaneous home projects. 

Lesley (she/her) is the client support representative at the Centre for Career Development. Her work at CCD includes managing inquiries from the front desk in Tatham Centre and supervising a co-op student. Lesley holds a BAH in English (Queen’s University), an MA in English (U of T), and an advanced diploma in Theatre Arts (George Brown). She has worked in the education sector for 9 years as an English language instructor, content manager and event planner and student services professional. Lesley loves helping students find the right resources and feeling supported. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, performing comedy, all forms of art and spending time with her funny little Boston terrier, Barclay.

Jennifer Woodside (she/her) is director of the Centre for Career Development (CCD) and part of the Cooperative and Experiential Education (CEE) leadership team. Jennifer’s role is to drive the unit’s strategic direction toward continuously enhancing how it supports students’ career readiness in collaboration with campus partners. Her experience spans 20+ years in leadership roles within community organizations and Higher Ed, with a Bachelor of Arts & Science and Master of Science from McMaster University and certification as a Career Development Professional (CCDP).

Talk to her if you have ideas around how to enhance CCD’s impact to support students and postdocs to build their self-assessment skills, labour market awareness, purposeful work search strategies and tactics and capabilities engaging in the world of work with resilience.  

Kierra (she/her) is a career advisor with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and double minor in Communications Studies and International Development Studies from McGill University. She's worked in a range of student-focused roles on campus, including student service management and event coordination before joining the team at the Centre for Career Development in 2023. She’s passionate about exploring the intersection between career satisfaction and mental health and supporting students navigate the complexities that come along with searching for meaningful employment. Outside of her own work, Kierra enjoys travelling, sewing, community events and spending time with her family, friends and pets.