Meet the Team

Kristen Hodges – Executive Director

Kristen Hodges is the Executive Director of Career Development and Placement at National Louis University, overseeing the strategic direction and operational execution of career services, employer relations, and alumni engagement for over 8,000 students and graduates.

With over 20 years of experience, Kristen is a passionate and driven leader in career development, service excellence, and education. Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Educational Foundation at the Illinois Restaurant Association, where she managed the largest hospitality and culinary arts scholarship program in the State of Illinois, launched the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund for impacted workers from the COVID-19 pandemic, and established partnerships with industry leaders, educators, and community organizations.

One of Kristen’s proudest achievements was being named one of the United States' Power 20 by Restaurant Business in 2014 for her contributions to the hospitality industry. Kristen’s mission is to empower individuals to achieve their career goals and aspirations, and to foster a culture of lifelong learning and professional development.

Jenny Gonzalez Diaz – Associate Director of Career Advising

Appointments: https://nl.campus.eab.com/pal/iVMeIsIQMb

Jenny Gonzalez Diaz is the Associate Director of Career Advising and Career Advisor for Social Work and Nursing students.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Psychology and a minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership at National Louis University.  She is a first-generation Latina leader with a decade of experience in higher education specifically Career Services. She is deeply passionate and committed to higher education equity. Jenny firmly believes all learners are capable of accomplishing their educational and professional goals when provided with opportunities and wrap-around support. Prior to NLU, Jenny was the Director of Career Services at Coyne College.

Aimee Galban – Associate Director of Employer Relations

Aimee Galban is an Associate Director of Employer Relations, with a focus on Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Criminal Justice. She is an organized and motivated professional with over 17 years of experience in managerial, teaching, and project and event management. She is dedicated to developing and maintaining employer relationships and expanding the range of employer recruitment activities on campus and online. Her focus is on the development of relationships with companies and organizations that match the interests of the National Louis University students and alumni. As an NLU alumnus, she understands the value of utilizing the Career Bridge services, both early on and frequently, to best support students in their growth and preparation for their future career after graduation.

Shalon Beerdeke – Associate Director of Career Development – Graduate Students and Alumni

Appointments (Graduate Students): https://nl.campus.eab.com/pal/pOEvioOXuf

Appointments (Alumni): https://calendly.com/sbeerdeke/career-advising-appointment

Shalon Beerdeke is the Associate Director of Career Development – Graduate Students and Alumni. She brings to the role an extensive background in marketing, non-profit leadership and counseling, and holds a M.A. in Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Shalon is passionate about education and particularly enjoys working with individuals in transition, helping to guide and motivate them through their journeys and onto their new paths toward success.  

Deborah Bosco – Career Development Specialist: Kendall College

Deborah Bosco is the Career Development Specialist for the Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, and Hospitality Management students at Kendall College. Deborah has been at Kendall College since 2007 where she taught a variety of culinary and hospitality management courses. With over 25 years of hospitality industry experience in downtown Chicago hotels, including The Drake, Marriott, Sheraton and Radisson Hotels. Deborah has earned degrees in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management from Kendall College, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Argosy University. Deborah is a Certified Hospitality Educator through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute.

Gregory Budunov – Career Bridge Technology

Gregory splits his time between LITS and Career Bridge, helping manage technology platforms used by Career Bridge. Gregory started at NLU as AmeriCorps VISTA, managing the Civic Engagement Center. His is passionate about helping students and also about technology and entrepreneurship.

In the past, he was a founder and President of the international academic employment platform Career.edu, growing its employer user base to over 600 universities in 38 countries. Career.edu was acquired by AcademicTransfer U.A. (Utrecht, Netherlands), which is owned by the consortium of Dutch research universities. Prior to Career.edu, Gregory managed international e-commerce for United Airlines. 

Gregory holds PhD in Psychology from RAE and B.A. in Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude, from New York University (NYU).

Marissa Dordick – Career Advisor: Education

Appointments: https://nl.campus.eab.com/pal/1r4RSTR-35

Marissa Dordick is the Career Advisor for Undergraduate Education majors for Chicago and online students. She has a passion for providing students with resources for professional and personal success. Marissa has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa and a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Northern Illinois University.

Ahmed Eltanbouli – Internship Systems Coordinator

Ahmed serves as an Internship Systems Coordinator at Career Bridge, helping manage and expand internship opportunities for NLU students. 

Meagan Esposito – Career Advisor

Appointments: https://nl.campus.eab.com/pal/cqa8JmyTSu

Meagan Esposito is a Career Advisor for undergraduate Business Administration, Computer Science & Information Systems, Communications students and degree completers in the Management program. She has an energetic and thoughtful personality which allows her to connect well with the students she serves. Meagan has been involved with students pursing Higher Ed for 10 years in roles as an Admissions Counselor, Student Advisor, Scholarship Program Coordinator and now as a Career Advisor. She is passionate about providing opportunities for students and being a resource for education advancement.  Meagan holds a B.A. in Education.

Joe Godinez – Employer Relations Manager: Kendall College

Joe Godinez is passionate about NLU / Kendall mission, having served at both institutions for over 7 years. He plans, implements, and evaluates employer relations and recruitment programs for NLU Kendall College to expand internship and employment opportunities for students and alumni. He also coordinates and manages career events, including overseeing communications between departments and participates and evaluating feedback regarding the effectiveness of the events.

Joe has over 15 years of experience working within the higher education industry. He holds a B.S. in Media Studies (with a focus on Psychology) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and MBA from National Louis University. 

Sevtap Guldur – Career Advisor and Employer Relations Manager: Wheeling Campus

Appointments: https://nl.campus.eab.com/pal/6G_QcLWSyA

Sevtap Guldur is a Career Advisor and Employer Relations Manager, who serves the Wheeling Campus population of students.  She brings decades of global experience to NLU Career Bridge and is also very active in the community relative to social issues.

Her true passion and ongoing commitment are to bridge and empower students to prosper in rewarding employment opportunities. She dedicates herself to facilitating employer partnerships that fit the talents of students and graduates in the surrounding suburbs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University.

Sevtap is enthusiastic about supporting the education and professional development of young adults, people of color, and underrepresented populations.

Monica Jendzio-Reyes – Employer Relations Manager 

Monica is the Employer Relations Manager with a focus on undergraduate Business, Communications and Media, Marketing, and Computer Science & Information Systems (CSIS) for the Chicago campus.  She brings over twenty years of experience in operations management, leadership, customer service, distribution center operations, and business process improvement from a variety of industries including Information Management, Hospitality, Mortgage, Real Estate, and Service industries. Monica is passionate about fostering working relationships with organizations and helping students connect their studies to meaningful opportunities and careers.

Monica is a NLU alumni and holds a B.A. in Hospitality Management from Kendall College.

Dr. Uzoma F. Obidike – Clinical Experiences and Internship Manager

Dr. Uzoma F. Obidike, PhD, is a Clinical Experiences and Internship Manager at Career Bridge. She is also a Career Transition Coach and founder of She Leads Beautifully, where she teaches women in stagnant careers how to tap into their networks to access dream career opportunities. Dr. Obidike is a contributing author of No Ways Tired: The Journey for Professionals of Color in Student Affairs. She has graced local and national stages, leading career and leadership development talks. Dr. Obidike was the 2019 recipient of the Up and Coming Woman in Education for the Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Awards.

Dr. Obidike holds B.A. and M.S.Ed. from Indiana University Bloomington and Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Indiana State University.

Matthew Pardo – Data Analyst

Matthew Pardo is an expert Data Analyst at Career Bridge, with extensive experience in data analysis, automation, survey design, implementing machine learning algorithms, reporting, and visualization. Prior to his current role, he was a High School mathematics teacher.

At NLU, Matthew conducts strategic analyses, collaborates with the Strategic Data Center to build new data elements into NLU’s central systems, and creates automated data pipelines to report on university outcomes such as student employment outcomes.

Matthew holds M.S. in Data Science from Eastern University and M.S. in Psychology from DePaul University. While teaching high school mathematics, he was also a soccer coach. In the past, Matthew served in AmeriCorps with the Florida Department of Children and Families, providing emergency food assistance and managing a monthly food program for over 150 low-income seniors residing in a retirement community.

Olivia Scheer – Career Advisor

Appointments: https://nl.campus.eab.com/pal/d0zwsw6p6J

Olivia Scheer is a Career Advisor for undergraduate online programs at NLU, excluding education and social work. Olivia specializes in reviewing resumes, cover letters, job and internship search strategies, LinkedIn profile reviews, and networking strategies. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Interpersonal Communication and a Master’s Degree in Communication from Illinois State University.