The Center for Engineering Career Development Team


We provide comprehensive career counseling and development services to undergraduate and graduate students, coaching and small group workshops, and connections between students and communities of technical and scientific practice.

Our Team

  • Julia Lapan

    Director


    jcg9j@virginia.edu
    Julia manages all facets of career development by providing strategic and tactical leadership and direction to the Engineering Career Development team. She also maintains and nurtures existing relationships, as well as develops new relationships, with a significant base of employers.

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  • Frances McBride

    Associate Director & Career Coach


    fhh3s@virginia.edu
    Frances provides comprehensive career counseling and development services to undergraduate and graduate students. She also implements career education programs, consults with students on career search strategies, and conducts career assessments.

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  • Heather Palmer

    Assistant Director & Career Advisor


    hrr5j@virginia.edu
    Heather advises undergraduate and graduate students on career exploration, internship/job search strategies, and decision making through individual coaching and small group workshops. In addition to advising, she manages our email marketing to students, website, and social media presence. Heather also co-chairs the University-wide Global Careers Committee, is a first-generation UVA alumna, and took a career break to live in Australia for a year.

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  • Peggy Reed

    Employer Relations Manager


    Peggy@virginia.edu
    Peggy is experienced in corporate human resource management, including employee communications on an international level. She also organizes and arranges employer events and visits, increasing employer and student interaction.

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  • Dana Quist

    Assistant Director & Career Advisor


    dms2c@virginia.edu
    Dana counsels engineering students on all job and internship search related topics. She is the primary contact for BS and BA students majoring in computer science and helps organize events and programs with a technology emphasis including alumni talks and panels, technical interviewing skills, and employer events. When she’s not working with students, Dana spends time on her Etsy shop side hustle, listening to podcasts, trail running and hanging out with her husband and two teenagers.

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  • Priya Date

    Assistant Director for Graduate Student Success


    pd8yb@virginia.edu
    Priya creates and develops programs and initiatives to support the professional, personal, and career growth of graduate and professional students; provides career counseling and advisement support to students; and supports efforts to attract a diverse student population.

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