Meet the Team

Tom Matthews, Ph.D., is our Interim Associate Vice Provost for Career & Professional Development. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, with 35 years of university career center leadership in a variety of settings, including Case Western Reserve University and SUNY Polytechnic Institute. His portfolio has included career and academic advising, first-year experience, undergraduate research, pre-professional advising, student entrepreneurship, and leading the creation and implementation of a new division of student success at his previous institution. He is also the principal and owner of a consulting practice focused on career development and executive coaching.

Dr. Matthews earned his Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Syracuse University, his M.Ed. in counselor education from Penn State University, and his B.A. in communication studies and psychology from Bridgewater State University.

Career Coaching Focus: Alumni

Marcy joined Loyola Marymount University and CPD in September 2015, and works with students, faculty and staff to cultivate campus partnerships to support students’ career and professional development. Marcy’s past roles include working in Alumni Relations at Cal State Northridge, and most recently, at Mount Saint Mary’s University as an adjunct faculty member teaching career courses as well as the Associate Director of Career Services & Internships. Marcy holds an M.Ed. in postsecondary administration and student affairs from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in communication studies from Cal State Northridge. In March 2023, Marcy’s portfolio shifted to focus on alumni and employer engagement, alumni coaching, and direct support working with campus partners such as University Advancement.

Chris joined Career and Professional Development as Assistant Director for Business Professions in July 2020. He is a Class of 2020 LMU MBA alumnus. As an LMU student, Chris served as EVP of Operations for the MBA Student Association and CBA Senator for GSLMU, while coaching his peers as a CPD Graduate Assistant and collaborating with CBA faculty as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Management & Leadership Department. Before LMU, he worked for more than ten years in the wine industry, managing teams and working in marketing, sales, operations, and customer service. Chris believes his most impactful work is developing and coaching talent to achieve individual potential and drive organizational success.  He is thrilled to apply his experience and learning at LMU developing young Lions as business leaders with moral courage and creative confidence to be a force for good in the global community. Outside of work, Chris is a National Volunteer Partner for the American Red Cross.

Kim Rhodes is a proud LMU parent and after becoming acquainted with the wonderful LMU community as a parent, was inspired to join LMU as a staff member.  Kim is passionate about opening doors for students and enabling their career dreams. She believes LMU’s whole person educational approach and focus on social justice uniquely positions students and graduates to contribute to their professional communities as innovators, team builders and leaders. Kim welcomes the opportunity to use her experience and network in a variety of industries and professional environments to establish and grow partnerships with employers in Los Angeles, nationally and globally that benefit LMU students and the university community. Prior to joining the CPD team, Kim had a successful career as a corporate executive and attorney in tech, fintech and health services for global enterprises and start-up businesses.  As an author, she has published peer reviewed research articles on emerging privacy and security topics. Earlier in her career, Kim served as counsel to a US federal government agency. Community service and philanthropy are key priorities for Kim who is co-founder of a national nonprofit that supports cancer research. The mother of 4, a fitness instructor and an advocate for civic engagement, Kim holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from Villanova University School of Law.

Career Coaching Focus: Fine Arts & Performing Arts

An alumna of Loyola Marymount University, Mandy returned to the bluff in March 2022 as Assistant Director, Creative Professions on the CPD team. As a former dancer, performing arts producer, and marketing manager, Mandy is dedicated to unlocking everyone’s creativity and building accessible pathways to a long lasting career in the creative economy. An experienced facilitator, she has led 150+ professional development workshops for students at SMC, CSULB, and Long Beach City College as well as interns in the Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture Arts Internship Program. Mandy holds a BA in Dance and a BA in History from Loyola Marymount University, is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, is certified as a Social Emotional Learning Facilitator from UCLArts & Healing, and is a certified yoga instructor. She is thrilled to be back at her alma mater where she can make a lasting impact on the lives of LMU students and their dreams of having a career within the arts and entertainment industries. 

Career Coaching Focus: Graduate Students

School Liaison: School of Education

Simone Jackson joined Career and Professional Development as the Associate Director of Graduate Programs and Education Professions in April 2023. Her role at CPD is to support, advise, and advocate for LMU’s graduate student population as it relates to their career and professional development. Specifically, she is the designated career coach for the School of Education and curates engaging student programming for those pursuing a career in the education profession. Simone is passionate about creating transformative career opportunities for graduate students and is dedicated to their success as leaders. Before LMU, Simone worked at UCLA as the Assistant Director of First-Generation Student Initiatives, through their First To Go program. A student affairs professional at heart, she has extensive experience working in Fraternity and Sorority Life, First Year Experience, New Student Orientation, and Multicultural Student Programs and Services. Simone is a Los Angeles native and received her Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Speech and Hearing Sciences and Family Human Development and her Master’s degree in Higher Education from California State University, Fullerton.

Career Coaching Focus: Communications; Government & Public Policy; Legal Professions; Media; Nonprofit & Social Services; Public Relations; and Undecided
School Liaison: Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and College of Communication and Fine Arts

Thuy joined Career and Professional Development at Loyola Marymount University in March 2022. She provides career coaching to students and alumni in career transitions. Her professional background includes public policy, negotiations, and sales in tech, real estate, and mental health counseling. This rich work tapestry enables her to bring professional development programs and services to students and alumni who have a variety of interests. Thuy’s previous roles in higher education were with USC Viterbi School of Engineering and El Camino College. She has a Master of Education in Educational Counseling from USC and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wellesley College. She is deeply passionate about career development and is excited to serve LMU Lions in pursuing their professional endeavors.

Career Coaching Focus:  Accounting & Finance; Entrepreneurship; Management, Consulting & Human Resources; Marketing & Sales; MBA; Business Analytics; Information Systems; International Business; Undecided
School Liaison: College of Business Administration

Naomi Shibley is a passionate Higher Education professional dedicated to helping individuals achieve their educational and professional goals. Naomi joined Career and Professional Development at Loyola Marymount University as the Assistant Director of Business Professions, June 2023. In addition to working in Higher Education and Career Services since 2018, both at CSU Fullerton and now LMU, she has also worked with middle school students both in the public and private sectors as an educational counselor and holds an additional 6 years of experience in customer service management and recruitment with Panera Bread. Naomi believes in a person-centered coaching approach and endeavors to support each person’s individual goals and aspirations in hopes to pursue meaningful professional opportunities. Having worked as a Business Careers Advisor for 5 years, Naomi’s knowledge of the industry landscape and market trends allows her to provide comprehensive support and guidance to undergraduate students, graduate students, and LMU alumni. Naomi holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from California State University, Fullerton and a Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Career Coaching Focus: Health Professions; Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Program, STEM Professions
School Liaison: Seaver College of Science and Engineering

Erika joined the LMU Career and Professional Development team in June 2023 as the Assistant Director of STEM Professions. With a diverse background in geology and teaching, Erika is passionate about building inclusive and positive spaces for students in STEM. She has worked as a researcher in the geosciences, an advocate for the environment via nonprofit and museum efforts, a high school educator, a qualitative education researcher, and before LMU, was providing support to STEM students at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Through her M.S. program at Northern Illinois University, Erika’s prior research in undergraduate persistence in STEM provided her with a framework for developing programs and intentional support to address the unique challenges faced by STEM majors. She is committed to using this experience as a dedicated career coach and to help the Seaver College community create the best possible environment for student success. Outside of her work at LMU, Erika enjoys making music, art, and exploring nature.

An alumna of Loyola Marymount University, Emily returned to the bluff in April 2024 as Senior Operations Coordinator for CPD after graduating in May 2020. While at LMU, Emily majored in International Relations and minored in Philosophy, while taking an active role in a sorority as well. The combination of those two areas of study allows Emily to take a more holistic approach to her work. Prior to returning to Loyola Marymount, Emily worked in multiple fields spanning from technology to medicine; having experienced a wide range of professions has made Emily into a catchall for all operational tasks she may encounter. Off the Bluff, Emily is an avid foodie and balances that out with national fencing tournaments. She is ecstatic to be back on the Bluff and is looking forward to contributing to LMU and young Lions again but now as staff!