Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Student Affairs and Enrollment Management has developed a contact list which can be accessed here.

Career Closet Initiative

For most of 2022, the Career Closet Committee has been planning and collecting donations to create a professional attire pop-up closet for HACC students to obtain a professional outfit to wear at an interview. After many months and some hard work, the committee successfully held the event in September on four campuses and invited students from Lebanon to attend the Harrisburg Career Closet. Of the numerous students that have utilized the services provided by Career Development, nearly thirty students participated in the event. Of these students, thanks to the hands-on services, professional advice, and fashion-minded Career Closet Committee, all of the students left the event looking their very best. A special thanks go out to all of our Career Closet volunteers and the following committee members, including designees and others: Michelle Talbert-Horsey, Kathy Brickner, Teresa Graham, Nicole McCartan, Nicole Roberts, Sharon Zortman, Monica Gillis, Annmarie Driscoll, Carrie Heikes, Jasmine Ramos, and Catherine Vega. Because of you, many students' lives have been changed for the better – Thank you!

Below you will read just a few stories about our experiences assisting HACC students during the Career Closet. The Career Closet Flickr album is here.

Lancaster Campus Career Closet

A student came to the Career Closet seeking professional clothing. The student admitted to never owning dress pants, appropriate-length skirts, or professional clothing of any kind. She was nervous and excited and ended up leaving the event with a professional suit jacket, skirt, and blouse and new-found confidence dressed in the new professional clothes that left her wanting to wear them home to show her husband and mother. She later said, "career services staff member was spectacular and great at helping me find the proper professional clothing. I look like a new "professional" woman, and now I am ready for a job interview and internship."- Lorie Sonnen.

York Campus Career Closet

A Student came to the Career Closet and shared they did not expect to find anything. The staff spent time encouraging and carefully assisting the student in locating a well-fitting suit jacket and pants, along with a dress shirt and tie. At the end of the experience, the student shared they were a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and stated they had never felt so welcomed and assisted in choosing the clothing they desired. "The career closet helped me feel so good about myself, and the people who helped me were kind and accepting of me. Keep spreading your kindness. :)" - Annmarie Driscoll and Sharon Zortman.

Harrisburg Campus Career Closet

The Career Closet was a fantastic event. Seeing the students' faces light up as they looked at themselves in the mirror was so special, and it touched my heart. There were several moments when I fought to hold back tears, especially when a student asked: "how much." I told her there was no cost, her eyes filled with tears, and she hugged and thanked us repeatedly. This event was a great reminder of my "WHY." I know what it feels like as a college student with limited resources because I've been there, so I get it. I am so grateful for the donors and volunteers. We could not have pulled this off without their dedication and support. I am #HACC Proud to work for HACC and in a fantastic department. – Monica Gillis

Overall the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the event was heart-warming. We saw students transform into professional clothes and feel far more confident and prepared for their next steps. We are offering this now for Spring 2023 and we look forward to serving even more students needing professional clothes.

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