Students, alumni receive hands-on coaching with networking opportunities and strategies for job growth.

The Center for Career Development at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) can be an invaluable resource for students and alumni throughout their academic and professional journey.  

While most NUNM programs offer coursework in entrepreneurship and business development, Career Services can provide a deeper pathway for students to achieve both professional and personal growth. 

Emma Britton, NUNM’s director of career services, said she encounters this regularly while she attempts to bridge the gap between what students say they want and how they plan to get there.   

“I see my role as being a coach to students,” she said. “I help them in really pragmatic ways to understand their next steps to get going in the direction they want to go professionally.” 

Britton spent more than a decade working in student affairs and alumni and employer relations throughout higher education. With additional skills as an instructor and technical business writer, she is passionate about going the extra mile with students and alumni to formulate a blueprint for their success.

NUNM Career Services frequently visits classrooms to share the various opportunities students can take advantage of, such as support with resume writing, cover letters, and applications, as well as guidance in networking, branding, and small business marketing.

“I feel like my two greatest strengths are helping people understand how to strategically make decisions for their future, and aiding them to cultivate professional community through networking,” said Britton, who is also an adjunct faculty member at NUNM’s School of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies.

Nick Guarrasi, a first-year student in the Online Master of Science in Nutrition program, said that reaching out to Career Services early in his academic year was a definitive moment for him. 

“A big part of this is just opening people up to the different possibilities that exist and having them share information about themselves that can help me to guide them along the way.”

_{– Emma Britton}

Guarrasi was pursuing a degree in clinical mental health counseling at George Fox University while working as a teen permanency caseworker and family engagement meeting facilitator at the Oregon Department of Human Services when he reached a turning point in his career. His longstanding interest in the physiological aspects of well-being had sparked a desire to integrate both mental and physical health into his professional work

“I’d already experimented with a lot of careers where it felt like I was just doing things ‘in the moment’, and wanted something different,” Guarrasi said. “Right away, this helped me take my future more seriously and map out where I wanted to be.”

When Guarrasi first met with Britton, he discussed his plan to launch a clinical practice with his wife, a women’s health and labor support professional. Together, they would combine their training, including his upcoming nutrition certification, to offer comprehensive health services from prenatal care through early childhood development.

“In the meeting, she provided action steps that encouraged us to think about our finances, as well as our goals working in a partnership,” he said. “We talked about managing debt, what timelines could look like, and how to grow a new business, which she said might take a while to generate income.”  

They discussed alternative credentialing options to explore after graduation, as well as how to build an online presence that aligns with his long-term objectives. Guarrasi said their conversations shifted his perspective in a lasting way, revealing how he could improve his outreach and marketing skills over time through practice and application. 

“Putting myself in uncomfortable situations doesn’t come naturally for me, so it’s like building a new muscle…but just talking and brainstorming about where I wanted to go gave me more clarity than I’d had before.”

_{– Nick Guarrasi}

Students often pose questions that uncover more insights than answers, Britton said, which encourages them to reflect on the legacy they can leave in the integrative health industry. 

“There are a lot of options out there, both clinically and non-clinically,” she said. “A big part of this is just opening people up to the different possibilities that exist and having them share information about themselves that can help me to guide them along the way.”  

While some students crave a certain level of financial stability before launching a clinical practice, she said others may prefer taking more time to refine their ideas or develop a niche, and appreciate her advice around how to effectively balance a mix of income streams. 

“My work is about meeting students where they’re at,” Britton said, “but also depends on the capacity they have for professional development outside their everyday life.”

Guarrasi recognized he had opportunities to expand his network and conduct outreach, but said he hadn’t quite known how to approach them.

“Putting myself in uncomfortable situations doesn’t come naturally for me, so it’s like building a new muscle,” he said, “but just talking and brainstorming about where I wanted to go gave me more clarity than I’d had before.”  

Since meeting with Career Services, Guarrasi has started to set meetings with local businesses and build relationships with community members who share values around healthful living and nutrition.

“It’s still an ongoing part of the process,” he said, “but I’m actively thinking about it now.”  

Britton mentioned that her coaching style has evolved during her time at NUNM. She now draws inspiration from principles of naturopathic medicine, such as the ‘whole person’ approach, to help individuals identify their unique strengths and feel empowered in their careers.

“We’re stewarding their future at the end of the day, and need to feel confident about the ways in which we’re preparing them for life after graduation,” she said. “We want to know that not only are they unbelievable subject matter experts, but they can also work and move in a dynamic economy.” 

Written by Ashley Villarreal, Marketing Content Specialist