OCS’s Ziccardi Migrates to Emerson

The assistant director of the Office of Career Services (OCS) formally announced Tuesday that she will be leaving her post tomorrow.

Sheri A. Ziccardi has accepted the position of director of Career Services at Emerson College in nearby Boston. She said the institution focuses primarily on communications and the arts—her two areas of expertise.

“I was not actively seeking a new job, but the position and Emerson were both great fits for me given my background and experiences,” Ziccardi said. “I’m a performer, as well, so I have both a personal and professional interest in communications and the arts.”

As assistant director of OCS for the past five years, Ziccardi has provided students with general career advisement, specializing in the areas of media and government.

But she said her role at Emerson will be more managerial and strategic than her role at the College. Her new job will involve direct work with the senior administration, Board of Overseers, and president of Emerson College, she added.

Some students said they worry Ziccardi’s departure may make it more difficult for students to find media jobs.

“She had a lot of connections in the area, which is always a huge factor in terms of finding positions,” said Colin S. Twomey ’07, president of the Harvard Independent. “In that respect, her absence will definitely be detrimental.”

Adam C. Estes ’07, president of Current Magazine, said Ziccardi’s departure will negatively effect OCS.

“Losing Sheri is losing familiarity, which is really valuable,” he said. “It’s valuable to have someone familiar with the university and familiar with the people—someone who understands the system. Familiarity is especially important at OCS.”

It remains unclear as to who will replace Ziccardi. She said her colleagues will be covering for her in the interim period.

“We all have a certain degree of generalist knowledge, so we can help any student who walks through the door,” she said. “Students will find a welcoming place and lots of people to help them even when I’m not here.”

Ziccardi’s colleagues said yesterday that they would miss her at the OCS office on Dunster Street.

“Sheri has been both a wonderful colleague and a good friend,” Gail Gilmore, also an assistant director of OCS, wrote in an e-mail. “In the five years I’ve worked with Sheri at OCS, I’ve greatly appreciated her collaborative nature, her creativity, her vision, and her sense of

humor. I think her new position as director of Career Services at Emerson is a wonderful opportunity for her in terms of both personal and professional growth.”

Twomey said he is not concerned about the future of OCS without Ziccardi.

“My general sense is that she was great at what she did, and obviously it’s going to hurt to lose her,” he said. “But I’m not extremely worried in terms of the long run.”

But Estes said that when Ziccardi leaves, OCS will lose more than just an assistant director.

“When she leaves, the relationship she had with publications and organizations kind of go with her,” Estes said. “And that’s something that’s going to be hard to get back.”