Career Development Center Welcomes New Director

September 13, 2012

Tracey Cross-Baker was recently welcomed as the new director of the Career Development Center at SUNY Plattsburgh, where she will oversee and expand services that enhance students’ professional preparation and employability.

Prior to working at SUNY Plattsburgh, Cross-Baker had career services experience at Clinton Community College, St. Lawrence University and, most recently, Ithaca College.

According to SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling, services provided by the career development center have become even more essential to students over the past few years.

"As education becomes more and more expensive and the job market more and more competitive, we, as a college, cannot be complacent,” Ettling said. “It is incumbent upon us to be creative in helping our students and graduates enter that next stage in life and find those careers that suit them. This is what we have charged Tracey with — helping us enact fresh, new ideas to better serve our students and alumni as they enter the job market."

Cross-Baker and the Career Development Center have already implemented changes with the introduction of walk-in hours Mondays through Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. Cross-Baker also hopes to use new tools such as Facebook and LinkedIn to help students connect with potential employers.

Although Cross-Baker is still adjusting to her position as director, she is eager to work with students and faculty to help expand the Career Development Center’s services.

“As I transition here, we have an opportunity to look at new programs and to build new partnerships on campus in ways that will continue to build success,” she said. “My goal is that the Career Development Center can be a strong, dynamic partner as the campus moves forward.”

During her first weeks here, Cross-Baker has enjoyed settling into her new role as director.

“I am pleased that we have such a strong counseling team because building a career plan is a very individual process,” she said. “We have folks that are really good at building relationships.”

Cross-Baker received her B.A. in government and sociology at St. Lawrence University and her M.Ed. for higher education/student affairs administration at the University of Vermont. In 2009, she earned her C.A.S. for school counseling at SUNY Plattsburgh.