The Offices of Undergraduate Education (OUE) and Graduate and Postdoctoral Education (GPE) are pleased to announce that Dr. David Gaston has been selected as the Executive Director of the Career Center effective August 1, 2024. Reporting jointly to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) and the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education (VPGPE), the Executive Director of the Career Center (EDCC) will coordinate, oversee, and implement comprehensive career services and professional development activities for all colleges and students.

Dr. Gaston has over 25 years of experience leading career and experiential learning initiatives at the University of Kansas and the University of Mississippi, including as the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Success and Executive Director of Career and Experiential Learning. Beyond career and experiential learning, Dr. Gaston has led initiatives in student recruitment, retention and persistence, communications, economic and workforce development, academic administration, and athletics. He has taught graduate courses in higher education governance, finance, and law for Baker University. He also co-wrote the Career Ready Guide, an online textbook focused on career competencies, for CareerSpots, Inc.  

Dr. Gaston extensive experience includes working with industry colleagues on the topics of career readiness, integrating career into collegiate curriculum, international careers and experiential learning, and the future of career services. He has served in leadership roles in various professional associations, including the Global Career Services Summit and the National Association of Colleges and Employers. He co-chaired the Career Readiness Institutional Integration Taskforce in 2023, and co-hosted the Global Career Services Summit in Toronto, Canada in 2019. Dr. Gaston has a long history with the Fulbright Program, participating in the U.S. Administrators Program to Germany, hosting career services professionals from Germany for a weeklong professional development program, and serving as an application reviewer for English teaching positions in Germany.  

Dr. Gaston has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas with an emphasis in higher education administration. His research focused on occupational engagement, human capital, career readiness, and online career courses. 

In his role as the Executive Director of the Career Center, Dr. Gaston will coordinate, oversee, and implement comprehensive career services and professional development activities for all colleges and students. He will directly oversee all Career Center operations and will implement a transformative vision for career services focused on scaling and integrating career development into the fabric of the campus, positioning the Career Center as the primary collaborator across campus for a robust 'hub and spoke' career ecosystem. 

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Gaston to the Office of Undergraduate Education, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, and Georgia Tech!