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The Career Development Team

Get to know and meet the team members in the Career Development Office below!

Jin

Bio

Hello! My name is Jin and I am the Director of Career Development here at Black Hills State University. I consider Sheridan, WY my hometown, but have lived in many places across the US including Rapid City, SD, Minneapolis, MN, Manhattan, KS, and Tampa, FL! I have degrees in Applied Biological Sciences and Counseling and Student Development. Some fun facts about me are that I am certified in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI Personality Assessment) and a Sustained Dialogue Trained Moderator. In my free time, I love to travel, go into the mountains, and love to try new foods! My favorite part of BH is the students and hearing their story and the best part about Spearfish and the Black Hills is the fresh air! I just love smelling the fresh smell of pine in the air! Please feel free to reach out if there is ever anything that I can help you with!

Lexie

Bio

Hello! My name is Lexie, and I am a junior at Black Hills State University! I am double majoring in Psychology and Human Services with a minor in Sociology. My ultimate career goal is to become a licensed trauma therapist and provide mental healthcare to those in low-income and rural areas. I am so excited to be the Senior Assistant in the Career Development Office. In addition to my work, I am a Peer Mentor through TRIO support services, as well as a psychologist of juror decision-making, law, and abuse cases. In my spare time, I love to cook, hike, work out, listen to music, and try out all the local coffee shops!

Kody

Bio

Hey, I am Kody. I am a freshman here at Black Hills State University. I am from a small town in Northeast Colorado. I am majoring in History and Environmental Physical Science. I plan to go into archeology and if that doesn’t work out, I will go into teaching. My favorite part of being a part of the Career Development team is the interactions with different groups of people both in and out of the school. In my free time, I enjoy weightlifting, playing spike ball, and playing video games.

Abi

Bio

Hello! My name is Abigail, and I am in my third year at Black Hills State University. I am originally from a small town on the eastern side of South Dakota. I am double majoring in Biology and Chemistry. After graduating, I plan to attend medical school with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatrician. I love helping others and working with children, and that career would seamlessly combine those two factors. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, playing piano, and spending time with my family and friends. I love many parts of Black Hills State University, such as the size, location, and overall atmosphere!

Alaina

Bio

Hello! My name is Alaina, and I am in my third year at Black Hills State University. I am originally from a small town on the eastern side of Wyoming. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. After graduating, I plan to attend medical school with the ultimate goal of becoming a Dermatologist. Outside of school, I enjoy traveling, reading, spending with friends, and hanging out in local coffee shops. I love many parts of Black Hills State University including location, size, and overall atmosphere!

Connor

Bio

Hey, my name is Connor, and I am a freshman here at Black Hills State University, but I am originally from Canistota, South Dakota. I am studying Exercise Science with the intention of attending Graduate school to become a Physical Therapist. My biggest goal would be to open my own Physical Therapy clinic where I can work with athletes and help them get back to playing their sports. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and spending time outdoors, especially snowboarding. My favorite part about being in Spearfish is that I am so close to the Spearfish Canyon. Some of my best memories come from hiking with all my friends or driving through and looking at all the scenery.

Derek

Bio

I'm Derek, a Junior at Black Hills State University. I grew up in Switzerland, and then I decided to pursue my education here in the United States. Before my college years, I spent two years in Utah, where I went to high school while living with a relative. Here at BHSU, I am majoring in Graphic Design. Additionally, I'm on the Yellow Jackets Football Team as an athlete. Outside of that, I enjoy spending quality time with friends, going on exciting adventures, and playing video games. After graduation, I would love to be in a position as a graphic designer with a professional sports team. It's a dream which I hope I can accomplish later on.

Elly

Bio

Hi! My name is Elly, and I am a junior at Black Hills State University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Health. I grew up in the Black Hills where I developed a love for camping, hiking, and being outdoors. I also enjoy playing volleyball and spike ball in my free time. Black Hills State University has a very welcoming community with staff members and professors who truly care about you, and that’s why I love it here!

Gabe

Bio

Hey, my name is Gabe! I’m a senior here at Black Hills State University. I am majoring in Biology and Chemistry, intending to pursue pre-med. After attending Black Hills State University, I plan on going into a career in Optometry, so I can become a medical missionary. I have traveled the world and helped my family start a Ministry, that is based in Africa. I am extremely passionate about helping people, especially those in need. I am involved in the Poker Club, Investment Club, Chi-Alpha, and Campus Ventures here on campus. Outside of school, you can find me snowboarding, golfing, or doing something outside. My favorite things about college are the connections I have made and the people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Hailey

Bio

Hey! My name is Hailey, and I am a Junior at Black Hills State University. I am studying Elementary Education to hopefully become a Kindergarten Teacher. I would love to eventually end up working back in my home state of Minnesota after experiencing a few years of teaching in South Dakota. I really love painting and drawing in my spare time, while listening to music! I spend at least one day a weekend hiking around the Black Hills; my favorite hike is Devil’s Bathtub. I also really enjoy baking, especially making monster cookies.

Jadynn

Bio

Hello! My name is Jadynn, and currently am a junior at Black Hills State University. I am majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Health to hopefully open my own Chiropractic clinic one day. I love helping people and overall well-being so both together provide a major interest of mine. Having grown up near the Bighorn Mountains I was constantly hiking, camping, or being at the lake, and I wanted to have the same activities at my fingertips in college. I came to BHSU to be able to continue my favorite hobbies as well as the size, price, and distance from home. When the weather prohibits these activities I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Kyle

Bio

Hello! My name is Kyle, and I am a junior at Black Hills State University. I am majoring in Business Management with a minor in accounting. My goal after earning my degree is to either start my own business or work towards providing account management services in the renewables industry. I am from South Dakota, and I love exploring the Black Hills. My favorite activities are hiking with my dogs, sitting down to play cards with my friends, and going camping with my family. The things I am most passionate about in life are teamwork, comradery, and serving my community.

Leyton

Bio

Hello, my name is Leyton. I am a sophomore this year at BHSU majoring in Biology and getting a minor in Chemistry. After attending BHSU, I plan to go to dental school and pursue my dream career as a dentist. Along with being a peer mentor, I also work at Student Health Services on campus. I am involved in the Swarm Days Committee, Honors Club, and The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). Outside of school, I like spending time with my family and friends, traveling, and trying new things.

Maddie

Bio

Hello! My name is Maddie, and I am a senior at Black Hills State University. I am majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Health. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. In addition to being a peer mentor, I am also a member of the Black Hills State University Women's Triathlon Team. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, and anything outside with family and friends. My two favorite parts about being a student at Black Hills State University are getting to be so close to Spearfish Canyon and the sense of community with fellow students and faculty.

Mandy

Bio

Hi, my name is Mandy. I am currently in my third and final year here at Black Hills State University, and I am double majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Studies. After college, I plan to work in the business world for a few years before starting my own business. I am originally from a small town in southeastern South Dakota. Outside of peer mentoring, I am involved in Campus Ventures, Beta Gamma Sigma, and I am a marketing intern for the Career Development Center here at BHSU. I love hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, baking, reading, skiing, and hanging out with my friends and family. I love the community and location of Spearfish as well as the people here.

Paige

Bio

Hello! I am Paige, and I am a senior here at Black Hills State University. My major is English with a double minor in Creative Writing and Professional Writing. Upon graduation, I am going to travel somewhere to celebrate, and I also want to write on the side. I either want to continue my education in grad school and receive my master’s degree in Education or find a job that is not in academia. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, being with my friends and family, and going hiking with my dog in the Black Hills. I am involved in the Black Hills State University Democrats, and I am the Treasurer. I am also a jury member of the Thompson Diversion Program.

Sabra

Bio

Hey, my name is Sabra, I’m originally from Wyoming. I am currently a junior here at Black Hills State University! I'm majoring in Human Services with an emphasis in justice studies and minoring in Psychology and Spanish. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school for social work, and eventually work with people who are getting out of the justice system. In addition to being a Peer Mentor, I also work at a coffee shop, and I am starting as a research assistant for the Health Psychology Lab. In my free time I love to bake, go to the gym, hang out with my friends, hike, and be outside around all the excellent spots here in Spearfish!

Sydnee

Bio

Hi, my name is Sydnee, and this is my second year at Black Hills State University! I am a junior studying Elementary Education, with a minor in Reading. Outside of school, I spend most of my time with my friends, reading, hiking, spending time outdoors, and watching different movies. I am an Our Dakota Dreams Tutor through the School of Education, a nanny, and will be the Head Camp Counselor of the Dakota Dreams Summer Camp that BHSU puts on in the summer. I plan to be a teacher after college and am so excited to be a peer mentor this year!

Contact Info

Careers@BHSU.edu
BHSU E. Y. Berry Library Room #171 Map
Phone: 605.642.6269

Career Development
Black Hills State University
1200 University St. Unit 9672
Spearfish, SD, USA 57799-9672