Christy Ball Named 2025 NACE Mentor of the Year

We are proud to share Christy Ball - Associate Professor of Practice in Psychology - has been named the 2025 Mentor of the Year by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). This national award honors outstanding commitment to student development and career readiness.

"My mentoring approach is grounded in the understanding that each student has unique goals and challenges," Christy explains. "I work to provide individualized guidance that helps students navigate their path and prepare for life beyond graduation." 

Beyond student mentorship, Christy is a NACE-certified career coach and Career Champion who also mentors staff and leads departmental efforts to embed NACE Career Readiness Competencies into the curriculum. Thanks to her leadership, the Psychology Department has achieved 100% alignment between course syllabi and career competencies—a model she aims to expand across the university.

In addition to her faculty role, Christy serves as director of undergraduate career development and faculty advisor to Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. She is the architect of the department's four-course Psychology Career Curriculum sequence, which mentors students from their first year through graduation. This innovative curriculum helps students explore their interests, craft professional materials, and gain the experiences needed for graduate school and career success.

Christy co-directs the Undergraduate Psychology Exploration Program, which supports over 300 first-year students annually through peer mentoring. She also organizes more than 20 career-prep events each academic year, helping students explore potential paths and build key professional skills. She extends her mentoring reach through one-on-one student meetings, career and grad school planning web content, and as co-author of the department's monthly "Career Corner" newsletter.

Christy also serves as chair of the department's Professional Development Committee, organizing workshops for faculty and staff to support their continued growth in teaching, mentoring, and career development. She recently co-authored a national article in Faculty Focus, "Fostering Career Everywhere: Innovative Approaches to Career Readiness."

We congratulate Christy on this well-earned recognition and celebrate the lasting impact of her work on students, colleagues, and the broader campus community.