Betty and B. Frank Matthews II ’49

Center for Career Development (Matthews Center)

ANNUAL REPORT
2021-2022

WELCOME

The 2021-22 academic year taught and reminded us of several important lessons:


  1. People were tired. All of our stakeholders from students to employer partners, needed and deserved our focus on flexible access, individual overall well-being, and grace when it didn’t go just right.

  2. Davidson was more diverse than ever and we needed to acknowledge how intersecting identities deserve more intentional resources and platforms to fully engage in the career development process.

  3. We started the year in a job-seeker’s market for college recruiting, but we ended the year seeing employers slowing down as they considered predictions of an economic downturn. Our students were faced with difficult decisions of integrity when job, signing bonus and salary offers expanded wildly even after a position had been accepted while other students had job offers rescinded just days before their start date.


We have many accomplishments to celebrate from this academic year, but we are most grateful for the lessons we learned. These experiences, as well as many more, will lead us into 2022-23 in a position of strength and resolution to keep working to get it right.

Jamie Stamey

Executive Director

Mission

To prepare students for educational and professional opportunities that enrich lives of leadership and service.

Vision

To be at the forefront of maximizing the Davidson experience.

Purpose

The Matthews Center helps students and alumni navigate their life-long educational and professional pursuits by connecting them with tools, resources, and networks and fostering the development of critical competencies that build on the liberal arts experience. Our work depends on meaningful collaborations with academic and community partners that champion inclusivity and promote the pursuit of lives of leadership and service.

Diversity Statement

We, The Matthews Center for Career Development, are striving to create an inclusive culture that celebrates diverse backgrounds, one where everyone is valued and respected.

Mentor and student sitting in chairs in an office setting. Mentor is smiling at student appearing to engage in conversation.
A group of professionals sitting at a table smiling and engaging in conversation while working on a project. Open books, glasses, and pens are on table.
Davidson College student smiling, wearing glasses and a side ponytail.
Two colleagues chatting and looking at a laptop. Colleague on the left is pointing to the laptop sitting on a table.