The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) welcomes Lauren Cotant, PhD, as the new director of the UAB Career Center.

Cotant brings over 14 years of experience in higher education to her new role, including the last eight years spent at UAB. A proud graduate of Auburn University, where she earned her PhD in Adult Education, Cotant’s academic research focused on the intersection of undergraduate employment, student learning and holistic development. Her professional background spans institutions like Auburn University and Huntingdon College, where she led initiatives in career services and student success.

“I was drawn to UAB because it’s a vibrant area in the heart of Birmingham but also a young institution,” Cotant shared. “UAB attracts academically focused students who are ambitious and future-oriented. These qualities make the institution the perfect environment to foster engagement, shape traditions, and help our students succeed now and in their future.”

As director of the UAB Career Center, Cotant is enthusiastic about the opportunity to support students in forging meaningful career paths.

“What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to ensure that every UAB student graduates feeling both confident in their skills and connected to meaningful career opportunities,” she said. “The Career Center empowers students to recognize and articulate the competencies they are developing in both academic and co-curricular settings.”

Having previously focused on leadership development through an organizational lens, Cotant now aims to help all UAB students — including graduate students — translate their experiences into real-world career value.

“My goal is to help employers see the immediate contributions our students can make as new hires, but also their long-term potential as leaders in their respective fields,” she said. “I see the incredible value in hiring a UAB graduate, and I want to showcase that to every employer in the state of Alabama and beyond! UAB should be their number one source for hiring new talent!”

This mission aligns with the goals of UAB’s Graduate School, which views career readiness as a key component of graduate education.

“Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support our students’ professional development. We look forward to a close partnership with the UAB Career Center that will benefit each of our trainees,” said Interim Graduate School Dean David Schneider, PhD.

The UAB Career Center offers a variety of targeted resources for graduate students, including:

• One-on-one career coaching to explore options and prepare for interviews
• Access to Handshake, UAB’s online career platform
• Workshops and panels with alumni and professionals
• Career fairs and networking events connecting students to employers
• The Career Closet, providing free, professionally cleaned attire for interviews and events

To students who feel they don’t have time to engage, Cotant offers this perspective: “Career development cannot be separated from academic success; it’s an integral part of it. Engaging with the Career Center, even briefly, helps graduate students take ownership of their career journey and models the kind of professionalism expected in the workplace.”

Cotant sees the Career Center not as a final stop, but as a critical partner throughout the student journey.

“The most important takeaway is that career development is a process, not a one-time decision or quick fix,” she said. “We’ll meet our end of the deal by offering relevant guidance and practical tools that make the process manageable and meaningful. Each graduate student that engages with our department will graduate from UAB being more confident and prepared to take their next step.”

For more information on the UAB Career Center and its resources, visit https://www.uab.edu/students/careercenter/.