Cheryl Brooks Named Associate Provost for Career and Professional Development

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Cheryl Brooks has been named associate provost for career and professional development effective June 1. Brooks currently serves as assistant dean for experiential learning and corporate relations and as acting director of the Career Development and Experiential Learning Center in the College of Engineering. She has been a member of the UMass Amherst community for 16 years.

The associate provost for career and professional development position was created in response to the campus’ strategic planning process to provide strategic leadership in the design, development, implementation, assessment and direction of career and professional development-related programs and services. In this role, Brooks will work to expand and integrate collaborations with alumni and employers to increase internships, co-ops and post-graduate opportunities for students. Brooks will report directly to the senior vice provost and dean of undergraduate education.

Senior Vice Provost Carol Barr said, “I am so excited that Cheryl Brooks has accepted our offer to serve as associate provost for career and professional development. She has a proven track record of building an excellent career center for students in the College of Engineering and has a keen understanding of working with employers in developing internship/co-op programs that serve employer needs while providing exceptional experiential learning opportunities for our students – a win-win for everyone.”

Provost John McCarthy added, “I have known Cheryl for years as the outstanding director of the engineering career center. I am delighted that we have been able to persuade her to bring her considerable talent to the campus as a whole.” 

“We have a shared responsibility to provide students the best education possible and prepare them for the best future possible, to provide a framework to engage students in experiential learning and career readiness throughout their college career,” said Brooks. “I am looking forward to working with the academic deans, career center directors and career advisors across campus to develop a collaborative ecosystem that will support student learning and career preparation. And I look forward to working with corporate relations and research and engagement units in collaboration with our employer partners – a critical piece to our success in preparing the next generation of local, regional and global workforce.” 

Brooks earned a Ph.D. in education policy, research and administration from UMass Amherst and a M.S. in environmental science and B.A. in chemistry from the University of North Texas.