At the Salisbury Center, we are here to assist you in realizing and fulfilling your career objectives. We can help you assess your interests, values and skills in order to chart your direction. We oversee the HWS Career Network that we encourage you to join.
Brandi Ferrara Assistant Vice President, Career Services
Brandi joined Hobart and William Smith in 1999 and is responsible for strategic leadership and management of the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education. In addition to overseeing student career development programs, Brandi enjoys helping students to explore career options and engaging with alumni and parents. She works with students in all career fields and with those interested in applying to graduate school. Brandi graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a master’s degree in teaching and bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Meet Sam Halfman, the Operations Manager for Career Services at HWS who stepped from his previous role of Graduate Programs Career Coordinator. With over 15 years of experience in student advising and career development—including a background as a high school special education teacher—Sam brings a deep commitment to helping students navigate their career journeys. He holds a Master of Science in Education from Roberts Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Allegheny College. In his current role, Sam oversees the daily operations of Career Services, supporting the team in delivering high-impact programs, streamlining services, and enhancing student engagement. As the former coordinator for graduate programs, he worked closely with master's students on career planning, resume development, interviewing, and networking. Sam continues to build strong connections with employers and campus partners, and is dedicated to helping all students make informed, confident decisions about their professional paths.
Chuck advises students and alumni/ae looking to enter the for-profit sector, with a special focus on business and finance careers. While assisting with career path identification, resume writing, interview prep and networking, Chuck also serves as the liaison with the Athletics Department and assists with events, workshops and career treks.
Prior to his return to HWS in 2021, Chuck spent 16 years in real estate as both an investor and as an agent, which was preceded by a 15-year career coaching college lacrosse and football. Chuck holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University at Albany and earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Isabelle Strong Associate Director, Non-Profit Career Coach
Isabelle Strong developed an interest in higher education during her own college experience at Dartmouth College, working as a student director for the Center for Social Impact. Following graduation, Isabelle continued working at her alma mater for six years on the Alumni Relations team doing volunteer management, admissions advising, student professional development and student-alumni engagement programming. She has worked with high school students, college students, alumni and parents, supporting them through academic and career decision-making. Her background includes volunteer management, community outreach and program facilitation to help students build skills and confidence as they pursue their goals.
In 2025, Isabelle transitioned to career services at HWS, bringing her background in advising and professional development to the career space. In this role, she works directly with students to support their career exploration and professional development, providing guidance on internships, networking, application materials and career planning. Isabelle supports students interested in the non-profit sector, architecture and the arts, education, government and public service, law, social justice, the social sciences and language. She also partners with colleagues across campus to help students connect their academic experiences with meaningful career pathways and opportunities.
Jessica Townley Associate Director, STEM Career Coach
Jessica Townley supports students pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In her role, she collaborates with faculty, alumni and employer partners to help students connect their classroom and research experiences to meaningful career opportunities in graduate education, industry and beyond. Before joining HWS, Jessica spent more than 17 years in human resources and career development, most recently with Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. During her time there, she built lasting partnerships across academic and professional communities, guided organizational development initiatives and supported hundreds of employees in their professional growth. A certified SHRM-CP professional and lifelong resident of Geneva, Jessica is passionate about contributing to her hometown and fostering strong connections between HWS, the local STEM community and the Finger Lakes region. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management and a minor in psychology from Nazareth College.
Scott MacPhail, Ph.D. Director, Fellowships and Health Professions Advising
Dr. MacPhail advises students interested in careers in the health professions and students applying to nationally competitive fellowships. Prior to joining HWS, Scott was an academic advisor at the University of Rochester specializing in health professions advising. Scott holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English from Indiana University – Bloomington, a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Idaho, a master’s degree in English from State University of New York at Stonybrook, and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago.
Emily grew up in the Finger Lakes Region. She continued her education in NY and went on to gain a BA in Anthropology from SUNY Geneseo and eventually traveled to the UK to gain a Master's degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Kent. With a strong passion for global experiences, she has traveled extensively and built a career rooted in service and education. Emily has worked in the nonprofit sector with the Boys & Girls Club and in higher education, supporting students in international education and career development. She now serves as a Career Coach at Hobart and William Smith, where she focuses on guiding students through their first career services appointments.
Shayne Feinberg P’17, P’20 Director, Employer Development and Engagement
Shayne works to identify internship and job opportunities for which students can apply in the “for-profit” sectors. In talking with alums, parents, and employers, she is able to develop opportunities in various fields such as finance, marketing, sales, real estate and publishing. Through on campus information sessions, as well as off-campus career trips, Shayne is able to give students real life examples of what different careers look like. On campus, she works with students to achieve their short term and long term career goals.
Julia Walsh-Postler Associate Director, Employer Development and Engagement
Julia supports students, employers, and alumni in exploring and providing meaningful career experiences. She identifies internship and job opportunities across a range of industries, including nonprofit, government, art and architecture, environmental fields, social sciences, education, and law.
Julia enjoys working closely with students to align their interests with career goals, helping them define clear objectives and take purposeful steps forward. She connects students with experiential learning opportunities through Career Treks, on-campus speakers, and alumni engagement.
Dedicated to fostering authentic connections, Julia helps students and alumni leverage their networks—alumni, parents, and employers alike—to pursue professional experiences that align with their aspirations.
Jeremy Elliott-Engel Associate Director, STEM Employer Development and Engagement
As the Associate Director of STEM Employer Development and Engagement, Jeremy Elliott-Engel expands opportunities for students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health-related fields and psychology (STEM+) by cultivating relationships with employers and alumni, coordinating career exploration experiences and connecting students with internships, career treks and professional networks.
Prior to joining HWS, Jeremy built a career in Cooperative Extension a mission of land-grant universities, serving in leadership roles with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the University of Arizona and University of Missouri. In these positions, he provided organizational leadership for the delivery of educational and outreach programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Health and Wellness, and Community and Economic Development. His responsibilities included partnership development, stakeholder engagement, faculty and staff support, strategic planning, organizational management and guiding programmatic direction. He also worked closely with national Extension leadership, supported legislative engagement efforts, and contributed to institutional decision-making and organizational strategy.
Jeremy earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education from Virginia Tech and a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) from Cornell University, where his scholarship focused on leadership development, youth development and community engagement. He has authored and coauthored numerous publications and continues to contribute to the scholarly and professional literature in the areas of youth development, leadership, organizational management and workforce development. His research and writing reflect a commitment to strengthening organizations, developing leaders and creating impactful educational programs that serve individuals and communities.
Drawing on his extensive experience in higher education, Extension, research and workforce development, Jeremy is passionate about helping students translate their academic experiences into meaningful careers while strengthening connections among colleges, employers, alumni and communities.
Maribeth Shell Assistant Director, Employer Development and Engagement
With more than two decades of experience in merchandising, supply chain operations and organizational leadership in the apparel industry, Maribeth Shell brings a strong foundation in process optimization, cross-functional collaboration and strategic execution to her role.
Prior to joining HWS, Maribeth spent over 22 years at PVH Corp., where she most recently served as Senior Director of Merchandise Operations. In that role, she coordinated complex apparel development calendars across brands, partnered with cross-functional leaders to meet critical deadlines and led process improvements that enhanced efficiency, reduced costs and aligned teams around shared goals. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a talent for standardizing operations, integrating teams and delivering projects within time, cost and quality expectations.
In her current role at HWS, Maribeth focuses on building and strengthening employer partnerships, creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with organizations and supporting experiential learning initiatives. She leverages her industry background to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and career pathways, while collaborating with campus partners to expand engagement opportunities for students.
Maribeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Iowa. Known for her leadership, problem-solving mindset and collaborative approach, she is passionate about helping students explore career possibilities, build professional connections and confidently pursue their goals.
Career assistants are well trained student para-professionals who are available to assist students by appointment with resume preparation. To schedule an appointment, request one on Handshake under Career Center. Look for format a resume with a Career Assistant.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education collaborates with internal and external partners to facilitate a comprehensive process that assists students in realizing and fulfilling their career objectives.
We value: Our ability to assess interest, values and skills in order to help create clarity, confidence and direction. Fostering strategic partnerships. Preparing our students to compete for opportunities. Engaging students, alumni, and alumnae in a thorough career development process.
Contact
Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education 300 Pulteney Street Geneva, NY 14456
