Linda Ortola of Gray has been named Tusculum's director of career counseling and academic student services, becoming active on the job September 21. In this position she will be responsible for assisting students and alumni in the job preparation and search process and counseling students regarding potential career opportunities, among other duties.
Ortola, a national certified counselor, brings 16 years of experience in career planning to her new position. She has served as a career counseling/training consultant in Johnson City, during which time she co-designed and conducted professional development seminars for non-profit organizations. She has also been a Families First volunteer and a student development counselor at Pellissippi State Technical Community College in Maryville.
A native of Syracuse, NY, Ortola holds a Master of Science degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from SUNY-Cortland. She worked as a placement counselor at Syracuse University for nine years.
Ortola said her goal at Tusculum is "to help students who don't have a sense of career direction identify their goals and to assist graduates in finding fulfilling career opportunities.
"I also want to develop learning experiences such as internships and assist students in establishing a meaningful career/life plan," she said.