Our Team

Career advisors are available by appointment. Appointments can be made through Handshake or emailing engineeringcareers@virginia.edu.

Julia Lapan
Assistant Dean for Career Development
jcg9j@virginia.edu

Dr. Lapan leads career development and international programs across the Engineering School. As a strategic partner to the Dean’s leadership team, she works to integrate career design and learning throughout the school and supports students and faculty regarding education, research, and internships abroad. Her career spans over two decades in higher education and includes career services, athletics, alumni relations, fundraising, and corporate development. Prior to her career in higher education, she lived in Silicon Valley and worked in immigration law and technical recruiting. Dr. Lapan holds an EdD from UVA and engages in scholarly research and writing on the topics of student career success and equity in higher education. She has presented her research on a national level and serves as an organizing member of UVA Engineering’s Scholarship of Engineering Education Research Interest Group. She lives in Charlottesville with her husband and young daughter. In her spare time, she enjoys running, swimming, and yoga. 

Frances McBride
Associate Director
fhh3s@virginia.edu

As Associate Director and career adviser at the Center for Engineering Career Development, Frances McBride empowers undergraduate and graduate students to make informed, strategic career decisions. With over 25 years of experience, she has developed a passion for coaching students on exploring their strengths, interests, and career paths. Holding a Master's degree in Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education from the University of Virginia's School of Education and Human Development, Frances is also a Certified Global Career Development Facilitator. With a warm and approachable demeanor, Frances fosters meaningful connections with students, educating them about resources and opportunities available to them. She collaborates with various organizations to provide students with valuable resources and opportunities and leads the Executive in Residence program, where students can connect with visiting alumni and gain valuable insights from industry professionals. Frances is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of students and the community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, fitness, cooking, and home life. 

Heather Palmer
Assistant Director
hrr5j@virginia.edu

Heather Palmer is a UVA alumna and has been a career advisor at the university for 15+ years, working at both the UVA Career Center and Center for Engineering Career Development. As an Assistant Director, Heather advises students one-on-one, hosts group workshops, and serves on a variety of committees and projects, including chairing the university-wide Global Careers Committee. She's especially fond of connecting with international students, transfer students, first-generation students (as a fellow first-gen), and students with disabilities or chronic illnesses (as a fellow spoonie). When Heather's not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and rescue cat, attending athletic events, and working on a small vegetable garden. 

Dana Quist
Assistant Director
dms2c@virginia.edu

Dana has been working in the UVA Center for Engineering Career Development since 2017. She focuses on computer science students both in the School of Engineering and in the College of Arts & Sciences, planning programs, meeting with students of all levels and curating resources related to a wide range of career paths within the field of technology. Dana has worked in career services at ODU, Davidson College, and UVA Darden School of Business. She has a BS from UVA McIntire School of Commerce and an M.Ed. from the University of Georgia and lives in Charlottesville with her husband, her cat Leo and sometimes her two college-age children.

Nathaniel Hughes
Assistant Director for Employer Relations
nh3h@virginia.edu

Nathaniel Hughes is the Assistant Director for Employer Relations at the Center for Engineering Career Development (CECD) at the University of Virginia. With over 14 years of experience at UVA, Nathaniel specializes in connecting engineering students with employers to foster meaningful career opportunities. He is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2025. Outside of work, Nathaniel enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with his two cats. 

Fun Fact: Nathaniel once worked as a walkaround Star Trek actor at Paramount's Kings Dominion, where he portrayed a Ferengi.