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Alumnus named director of Center for Vocation and Career

By David Gonnerman '90
June 12, 2012

St. Olaf College President David R. Anderson '74 has announced the appointment of Branden Grimmett '03 as director of the college's new Center for Vocation and Career, which will provide career resources and experiences for St. Olaf students.

"Branden Grimmett will bring energetic, creative leadership to the Center for Vocation and Career and deep commitment to St. Olaf's mission," says Anderson. "At two leading universities, he built and strengthened programs in career services. I look forward to the contributions he will make at St. Olaf to enhance and expand programs that serve St. Olaf's students as they discern their vocations and plan their careers."

The new role calls on Grimmett to provide leadership in realizing the broad directives of St. Olaf's Main Street Initiative that will help students navigate the future based on their gifts, talents, and passions.

Grimmett currently is associate director in the Office of Career Services at Tufts University's Fletcher School, where his duties include counseling more than 400 students annually in self discovery, skills assessment, and vocational exploration, and teaching a nine-week professional development seminar to incoming students. Grimmett's wide-ranging experience also includes serving as a career services coordinator at Harvard Divinity School, a research associate at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, China Program assistant at WorldTeach, and a senior consultant at an executive search firm.

A cum laude graduate of St. Olaf, Grimmett double majored in music (organ and voice) and religion, and studied in the Great Conversation program. He also holds a master of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, with concentrations in world religions, and human rights and government.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.