Branden Grimmett, a nationally respected leader in building and transforming career service centers, has been named associate provost for the Office of Career and Professional Development at Loyola Marymount University. He will assume his new position on June 1.
Grimmett, who was the current and founding director of the Piper Center for Vocation & Career at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, will be responsible for providing comprehensive career guidance to LMU students in Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, College of Business Administration, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, and the School of Film and Television.
In making the announcement, Maureen Weatherall, vice provost of enrollment management at LMU and the chair of the search committee, described Grimmett as a recognized leader in career professional services with a record of empowering students to achieve their goals.
“His success in transforming career centers, developing relationships with faculty, staff and students combined with his commitment to LMU’s mission makes him the perfect choice,” Weatherall said. “He brings vision, expertise and strong collaborative skills that will ensure the university is a leader in preparing our students for post-graduate success.”
While at St. Olaf, Grimmett was acknowledged by USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the Hechinger Report, the Lawlor Review and the Education Advisory Board as being on the cutting edge of the movement to build successful professional development programs at leading universities.
“I am thrilled to be joining the LMU community and the Office of Career and Professional Development,” Grimmett said. “The opportunity to build CPD into a highly effective resource for all students is an exciting one. I look forward to collaborating with faculty, administration, employers, alumni and parents to strengthen career pathways for all LMU students.”
The Jesuit commitment to discernment and understanding of vocation are highly compatible with the goals of a successful career center, Grimmett said.
“Career exploration and reflection can and should be integrated into students’ entire academic career,” he explained. “As men and women for others, LMU students are uniquely prepared to understand the needs of the world and build careers that serve those needs.”
