Robert Pearl Starks

Robert Pearl Starks

Location: phoenix, arizona

About me

As Vice President of Product Development, I lead cross-functional teams of designers, developers, QA testers and product stakeholders to develop, launch, and improve products customers need and love. 

Previously, I've worked in a variety of leadership roles in education / learning & professional development. Through my experience, I've become accustomed to working across departmental silos and with various stakeholders (executives, end-users, faculty, staff, students / learners, alumni, parents, regulatory agencies, partners and employers) to facilitate collaboration and advance common goals. In my previous roles, I've advocated for student needs and driven organizational change that helped educators do their best work, students thrive in their careers, and employers connect with quality talent.

Despite different contexts, a common theme in my career journey has been to do work that contributes to a mission which improves people's lives. It's also always been important for me to work with an organization whose values align with my own. I'm a listener, empathizer, customer advocate, servant leader, and lifelong learner. I'm never satisfied with status quo, I constantly strive for "better," and I'm driven by genuine curiosity to solve complex problems.

“Work to become; not to acquire.” -Elbert Hubbard

Interests

social media, career development, training, higher education, web 2.0/3.0, career services, leadership, marketing

Skills

social media, marketing, training, consulting, management, strategic planning

Activity

Kristine, It is true that LinkedIn brands itself as a "professional" network while Facebook has a brand more associated with "social" and less "professional." The truth is any network can be used for professional purposes. It is not the platform that determines how one should use it so keep this in mind when using any platform - you are in control and can use it with purpose based on your goals. Facebook can certainly be leveraged for professional use. For example, I often tell job seekers to not only look for jobs but to look for people and the right… >>>

This article published in Career College Central Magazine discusses the need to re-think the delivery of career services in higher education and in career colleges specifically. It criticizes the Placement model discussing the origins of the model and why schools must evolve to meet the needs of the 21st century.

Intuitively, career professionals knew that volunteering offered a path to employment but until now, there hasn't been comprehensive research to demonstrate the correlation between volunteering and finding employment.  

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Myhisha, What data sources are used in your institution's market research? Is Career Services involved in the research? Your comment that "campuses should be more educated on which programs are employable in their communities" is dead on. Question: What ideas do you have to ensure this happens? What are the systems that could be in place at your institution and who would you get involved? What ideas can you share in regards to partnering with Admissions and/or other areas of the institution to share information regarding employment outcomes per geographical markets so that the data can be used? Robert Starks… >>>

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You may be interested in the following online course:
  • CS201 - Institutional Best Practices to Maximize Graduate Employment Outcomes
Discussion Comment

Tara, I ask these questions because often, when I have seen "Fraternization" policies, they typically apply to one using their own personal account to "friend" students but may not prevent your department from establishing a Career Services Fan Page or a group to which students/alumni could join. Perhaps develop your strategy first and outline how social media tools play a role in your strategy to accomplish career center goals. This way, you'll be prepared to clearly articulate the purpose of your request to use social media, the missed opportunity for not using social media, and the potential benefits - perhaps… >>>

Discussion Comment
Tara, I think the feeling you describe is something with which others can relate! What tactics do you use to balance working with current students (out of cohort), cohort graduates and alumni? Robert Starks Jr.
Discussion Comment
Tara, Do your non fraternization policies also apply to Facebook Fan Pages (business pages) vs. personal Facebook profile accounts? Additionally, would they apply to a Facebook group that students might be able to join such as a "Career Services" group, "Career Club" or Alumni group? Robert Starks Jr.

During the 2013 Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities Convention and Exposition, Career College Central Editor Kevin Kuzma visited with a number of sector leaders at the magazine's booth space. His first interview was with Dr. Richard Vedder, Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

Vedder has written widely on American economic history, authoring such books as Out of Work: Unemployment and Government in Twentieth-Century America and The American Economy in Historical Perspective.  He served as a member of Secretary Margaret Spelling's Commission of the Future of Higher Education, and is the author of Going Broke>>>

Kathy, Budget is a real issue that many institutions face. I think if you brainstorm with others, you can identify events that serve your goals and don't break the bank. Let me give you an example simply to hopefully spark your own ideas. Here's an example with a ground campus as the scenario (and I'm giving you the short version vs. explaining all the reasons why one might choose this particular type of intervention strategy): Potential Career Problem: The majority of the student population needs to practice "professional" skills that influence employability Narrow the problem: Among "professional skills," networking and… >>>

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