CLA Employer Engagement

Associate Director of Employer & Alumni Engagement | She/Her/Hers

reine346@umn.edu

My career journey began when I took a chance on a Career Services internship during graduate school. I was preparing to become a licensed counselor but decided to change directions after experiencing how fun and rewarding Career Services can be. I have been in the field ever since and wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve worn many hats since that first experience including career counselor, supervisor, mentor, event planner, partnerships developer, grant manager, and internship coordinator. In my current role, I get to think strategically about how we engage with employers and alumni. Internships and short-term projects are what helped me carve out a path for my future and I love being able to connect CLA students to meaningful experiences for their own growth and professional development.  

Coordinator of Employer & Alumni Engagement | He/Him, They/Them

yang8949@umn.edu

Tonny is a Gender Fluid Hmong Person who is passionate about creating opportunities for all students. Tonny received their B.A. in Communication Studies and their M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development from St. Cloud State University. As a first-generation college student, Tonny had no idea about all of the different opportunities that were available to them. Like many immigrant families, their parents only saw four possible career paths; a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, or a failure. After a challenging journey, navigating their family expectations and following their own path, they were able to find their way into higher education. The journey was not perfect and there were a lot of mistakes, but there were also many beautiful moments talking with mentors about the right path for themself. Now, Tonny is passionate about creating opportunities and making those opportunities visible to all students; especially BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and all underrepresented student populations. 

Tonny loves food! As food is a universal language and is always looking to discover amazing cuisine. Tonny also loves wearing all sorts of hair, turbans, and earrings; And hiking, art fairs, and traveling. 

Operations Specialist, Employer & Alumni Engagement | He/Him/His

meki@umn.edu

Meki Aneke(he/him) is the Operations Specialist for Employer & Alumni Engagement. He is someone that will listen to your story, help others and foster relationships. At CLA, he is dedicated to using strategic planning and project management principles to engage, support and inspire student journeys and projects in CLA Career Services. Meki's previous roles have included leading a state grant for Wisconsin (Lawton), career advising, financial retention, student development and immersion experience at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL). He holds certifications in Project Management (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI), Digital Marketing from Google and a B.S. in Sociology from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. When out of office, he can be found watching anime, reading fiction, playing and watching multiple sports, enjoying life with his family and producing a podcast with his best friends.