Historic Roots, Future Routes: Evolving Career Services Together
Did you know that Madison, Indiana is one of the most historic river towns in the Midwest, home to preserved architecture, winding trails, and a landscape shaped by generations of growth and change? Just as strong roots anchor a tree while new branches reach forward, career development is grounded in foundational theories, relationships, and values while continuously adapting to emerging workforce trends, technologies, and student needs.
Join the Career Development Professionals of Indiana (CDPI) on May 29th at Hanover College in scenic Madison, Indiana. Just as Madison’s historic architecture and winding trails reflect a balance of tradition and growth, our profession must remain grounded in foundational values while navigating the "future routes" of a changing workforce.
We invite you to share your expertise, innovations, and stories. Whether you are a seasoned director or new to the field, we want to hear your voice!
Registration is now closed.
Agenda: 7:00-7:30 AM: Rise & Shine Easy Yoga (optional) 8:00-9:00 AM: Check-in & Breakfast 9:00-9:15 AM: Welcome & Announcements 9:15-9:45 AM: Morning Keynote Address 9:45-10:00 AM: Group Photo 10:15-11:00 AM: Breakout Sessions 1 (see below) 11:15-12:00 PM: Breakout Sessions 2 (see below) 12:00-1:15 PM: Lunch & Business Meeting 1:15-1:45 PM: Networking Break 2:00-2:45 PM: Breakout Sessions 3 (see below) 3:00-3:45 PM: Closing Keynote Address | Location: Brown Campus Center, Hanover College 517 Ball Dr, Hanover, IN 47243 See attached Campus Map. |
Note: Meals will take into consideration for common food restrictions. However, if you are concerned about a particular food allergy or restriction, please email Nina Alcorn at alcornn@hanover.edu.
Meet our Keynote Speakers!
Opening Keynote: Shelly Trent
Shelly Trent, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CAE, JCTC, JCDC, CDF, CMCS is an HR and career development professional who has spent her life guiding others toward lifelong learning, career growth, and personal enrichment. Shelly worked for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for over 16 years. Shelly’s background includes association management, human resources, college career services, corporate employee career development, and business and industry training. She has been an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business at Indiana University’s Southeast campus, where she has taught business students about career planning, professional behaviors, and job search for over fifteen years. She is a contributing author to the anthologies Humans@Work and Compassion@Work. She is past president of the Louisville Society for HR Management, past president of the Fridays@4 Society (which she founded), and has been a board member for the Alzheimer's Association, Frontier Housing, Kentucky SHRM, Indiana SHRM, Southern Indiana SHRM, Career Development Professionals of Indiana (founding board), Kentucky Career Development Association, Kentucky Association for Colleges and Employers, and other nonprofits. | Closing Keynote: Kacheyta McClellan
Kacheyta McClellan is a strategic leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing career development, relationship management, and organizational impact across higher education and professional associations. His work has earned recognition including the 20 Under 40 Emerging Leaders award from the Evansville Business Journal and the Individual Leadership Award from Leadership Evansville. In his current role with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Kacheyta leads strategic engagement and partnership initiatives that strengthen the association’s reach and influence. His leadership is exemplified through the continued success of NACE’s award-winning HBCU Summit, a national platform that connects employers with HBCU talent and career services professionals. Kacheyta has professional affiliations with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Career Development Professionals of Indiana (CDPI), National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), and NASPA. He is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. |
Breakout Sessions 1 Title: “Where Can Your Student Employment Grow?” Presenter: Johnna Lorenzano Institution: Marian University Primary Audience Segment: Employer engagement teams, student facing career professionals
Title: “When Career Decisions Aren’t Rational” Presenter: Taylor Levell Institution: Indiana University Primary Audience Segment: Advisors / student-facing career professionals
Title: “Co-Creating Purposeful Summer Programs for Interns” Presenter: Kate Caward Institution: Purdue University Primary Audience Segment: Employer engagement teams, partnership builders, experiential learning leaders Title: “AI Interviewing: What you need to know” Presenter: Quinncia | Breakout Sessions 2 Title: “AI-Enhanced Coaching: Human First, Data-Proven” Presenter: Megan O’Connor Institution: University of Southern Indiana Primary Audience Segment: Advisors / career coaches
Title: “Understanding Personality Type for Stronger Teams” Presenter: Joyce Baker Institution: Ivy Tech Community College Primary Audience Segment: Career center leaders, supervisors, operations/marketing teams
Title: “Rooted in Partnership: Creating High-Impact Internship Experiences through Collaboration” Presenter: Andrea Hadsell Institution: Indiana University – Walter Center Primary Audience Segment: Employer engagement teams, cross- functional career center staff, program builders | Breakout Sessions 3 Title: “Connections to Impact: Scalable Mentorship” Presenter: Jenny Siepler Moss Institution: Hanover College Primary Audience Segment: Career center leaders, alumni relations partners, program designers Title: “Navigating International Student Careers” Presenter: Tyler Grant Institution: University of Notre Dame Primary Audience Segment: Advisors, international student support professionals, discussion- oriented practitioners
Title: “Skills at the Center: Indiana’s Future Routes for Talent and Employer Alignment” Presenter: Natalie Wenzler Institution: Institute for Workforce Excellence at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Primary Audience Segment: Employer engagement teams, workforce partners, senior leaders |
Rise & Shine Easy Yoga Details:
Learn more about conference parking, directions, and lodging here!Pre-Conference Session
AI in Career Development - Thursday, May 28, 12-5pm
Join us for what is sure to be a highly insightful session on AI in career development! Generative AI has reshaped the first years of work across sectors. While students sense the shift and are responding with anxiety, career professionals are also under pressure to provide reassurance, guidance, and practical strategies without clear frameworks. This session, facilitated by speaker and learning strategist Claudia Ramly, is designed to leverage career professionals' expertise and address student concern with evidence, clarity, and usable approaches.
Facilitator Bio: Claudia Ramly is a speaker and learning strategist whose career has evolved alongside the practical adoption of AI across sectors. Over nearly 20 years, she has delivered 250+ workshops and keynotes in 20+ countries, working at the intersection of technology, education, and workforce development.
Claudia has held roles at Eli Lilly and Medtronic, partnered with UNESCO, and Women in AI, and the AI-for-Education.org initiative navigating AI adoption, and worked on AI-powered medical devices and intelligent tutoring systems. She currently leads quality assurance for AI-enabled EdTech at Fab AI, bringing first-hand experience of how careers shift in the age of AI.
Agenda:
12:00PM-1:00PM: Check-in, mingling, and lunch provided
1:00-3:00PM: AI in Career Development session:
Part 1: Framing the Shift
Part 2: Teaching Students to Think with AI
Part 3: AI-enabled Career Acceleration
Part 4: Interactive Integration and Discussion
3:30-5:00PM: Employer/Community partner panel
Location: Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Madison Historic Eagle Cotton Mill, Picker House Room (Main level) 108 St Michaels Ave, Hanover, IN 47250
Registration is now closed.
Note: If there is an accommodation that would make your time at the pre-conference or conference easier, please email Nina Alcorn at alcornn@hanover.edu.
Thank you to our conference sponsors!
Pre-Conference Social Events
Can't get enough of your CDPI colleagues? Join us for optional pre-conference events on Thursday, May 28:
1. Happy Hour at Mad Paddle Brewery (301 West St., Madison, IN) from 5:15-6:30pm. No registration required but first-come, first-serve drink tickets will be provided!
2. Historic Madison Trolley Ride to learn more about our location from 6:30-8pm. Pick up and drop off will be at both from the Fairfield Inn and at Mad Paddle Brewery. Space is limited to the first 60 people and is $10/person.
Register for the Trolley Ride!Making it a Weekend?!
If you have time… make sure to bring your hiking gear to explore our on-campus trails. Please keep in mind there are some very high cliffs and rugged terrain, so please be careful and explore at your own risk!
Additionally, check out Visit Madison if you plan to enjoy Memorial Day Weekend in Madison!
Career Development Professionals of Indiana
Questions or suggestions for our website?
Contact the Director of Digital Communications at prcommunications@cdpi.org.