Gateway Career Counselors

Melissa Schultz joined the Gateway Career Center team in the Fall of 2008, and possesses a passion for career counseling, analytics, program management, volunteer engagement, and technology. Melissa provides comprehensive and individualized career counseling services to students of all class years and stages of career readiness, and develops and facilitates relevant career workshops and programs.

In complement to providing compassionate career counseling, Melissa serves as a liaison to Health Professions Advising and as a primary point of contact for Gateway’s graduate school resources. She coordinates the Career Center’s semester programming calendar and works to continually assess and steward the Gateway Program, including the compilation of the Annual Report and facilitation of student feedback efforts. Melissa plays a key role in developing Career Center website content, integrating career-related technology platforms, and launching new resources to the student community. She enjoys working with students, collaborating across the Lafayette community, exploring emerging technology and tools, and leveraging data to drive decision-making.

Melissa was a first generation college student and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Shippensburg University, followed by her Master of Arts in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. When she’s not on campus, you are likely to find Melissa spending quality time with her husband and two children, cheering at a sporting event (often her kiddos’!), reading a book, or enjoying the outdoors.

Alana has 30+ years’ experience in higher education and has experience working with traditional and non-traditional aged students at public, private, and community colleges.  She has developed and delivered programs and workshops for students with disabilities, student athletes, students of color,  LGBT+ population, and Greeks and is experienced in academic advising, graduate school planning and advising, and pre-professional advising.  She has presented professionally at state, region, and national professional associations.

At Lafayette, Alana serves as the liaison to the Office of Intercultural Development and Campus Life, she supports the Team Success program, supports the Posse program, and an identified campus ally for DACA and undocumented students and members of the LGBT+ community.  She develops and facilitates programs and workshops to support students in all aspects of the career development process.  Alana is a first generation college student and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Office Administration from Bloomsburg University, where she is the Advisor for New Member Education and Alumni Transition for Alpha Sigma Alpha National Sorority,  former member of the Alumni Board of Directors, and a Master of Education degree in Student Affairs from Kutztown University.

Rebecca Shafer joined the Career Services staff as a Career Counselor in October 2021. Rebecca provides one-on-one career counseling to students, as well as guidance and support through all aspects of the career development process.  Rebecca has been providing counseling to youth and adults for over 15 years.  Her past experiences include career counseling for the NYS Department of Labor, independent living skill development for youth, and mental health counseling.  Additionally, Rebecca has served in administrative roles for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services overseeing programs provided to adjudicated youth placed in secure detention.

Rebecca is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a Concentration in Human Services.  She went on to earn her Master of Science in Social Work from Fordham University.  Rebecca is also a Licensed Master Social Worker for the state of NY.

Margie has more than ten years of experience as a career counselor, workshop designer and facilitator in both corporate and college settings. She worked for Lee Hecht Harrison, one of the premier corporate outplacement firms, and most recently for Montgomery Community College with career transition adults.  Margie holds a BA from Immaculata College and a master’s in counseling from Rosemont College.