McGrath named executive director of Career Services

University Student Initiatives has appointed Kitty McGrath as executive director for Career Services. Her appointment, which began Aug. 12, will help lead efforts to provide needed support to ASU’s 23 schools and colleges.

McGrath is the former director of the Business Center at the W. P. Carey School of Business. She has served in various positions in career management at W. P. Carey since July 2000.

“In a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world, it is important that we provide our students with the best possible professional preparation and employment opportunities,” says James Rund, vice president of USI. “It is paramount that we match our high-caliber students with an extensive range of professional options. With the appointment of Kitty McGrath to executive director of Career Services, we intend to do just that by supporting academic units and broadening the reach and scope of career services.”

McGrath joins career services with more than 25 years of experience in the field of career development and placement. McGrath says ASU’s career services will play a major role in building and sustaining the work force in Arizona and in the nation.

“With the high quality of education our students receive, they are invaluable to employers in Arizona, the United States and across the globe,” McGrath says.

McGrath began her career at ASU as director of the W. P. Carey School of Business Graduate Career Management Center. In February 2005, she was assigned responsibility for the creation of a career center for business undergraduates in the school, and she currently is director of the Business Career Center.

Before joining ASU, McGrath was director of Career and Placement Services at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., for 15 years. She also served as director of Career Services at Indiana University at South Bend and as associate director of the Career Center at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

McGrath succeeds Ray Castillo, who recently retired after guiding thousands of graduating students to their first professional jobs throughout the duration of his 35-year career that started and ended at ASU.

McGrath has been active at the regional and national level in professional associations related to university career services and recruiting. She was president of the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers, served on the Board of Governors of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, and chaired the Career Planning and Placement Commission of the American College Personnel Association. She also served on the Board of Directors of the national MBA Career Services Council.

She has been recognized for her leadership within the college and university career services profession and is the recipient of the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers Paquette Award and the MCPA President’s Award. She also was recognized by the University of Notre Dame for exemplary service and received the Special Presidential Award.

McGrath completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.