CLA’s Employer Engagement Team

Assistant Director, Employer Engagement
612-625-9358
hoffm115@umn.edu
hirecla@umn.edu

Relator | Learner | Achiever | Responsibility | Arranger

Beth has been working to build connections between organizations and CLA students since 2004. Prior to joining CLA Career Services in 2003 in a communications role, Beth held a variety of positions in private and public industry, including communications consulting for public relations firm Lilja, Inc.; employee communications, training and development, and staffing/recruiting for information management company Merrill Corporation; managing editor for national business publication Quirk’s Marketing Research Review; and admissions counselor for the University of St. Thomas.

Beth holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from St. Catherine University, along with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and speech communications from the University of St. Thomas.

External Engagement Coordinator| She/Her/Hers

cpher@umn.edu 

Connection and compassion are words that I have learned to use to describe the inner core of values that drive what I do in my day to day interactions, whether that be through personal or professional relationships. 

I thrive in piecing together complicated processes and naturally enjoy creating more streamlined operations that can be easily digested by others. Collaborative environments allow me to share and highlight my organizational and communication skills, and I aim to lead and support in ways that each environment may need. I am both data and heart driven. I see the value in numbers but know that the purpose of the data and the use of it can fuel a much larger and important goal. Figuring out the ‘why’ is pivotal to establishing the ‘how’. 

As a first-generation person of color liberal arts student, and now, a professional working in the liberal arts atmosphere, I am excited to be able to lend a hand in shaping resources and connections for the next generation of underrepresented students, and all students looking to find the next step in their career.

Some questions that I continue to reflect upon include: How do I show up in the spaces that I occupy with the truest version of myself? How do I have conversations with others in a way that allows for authentic connections? What skills do I have that I can lean into and share with others in both my personal and professional life? 

Some quick facts: I am a Hmong-American woman, and a first generation student. I enjoy the occasional cup of coffee before noon, road trips, traveling, trying out new (to me) restaurants and experiences, and creating meaningful and genuine relationships.