Contact Us
Address
Old Main 1712
805 TRU Way
Kamloops, BC Canada
V2C 0C8
Phone
250-371-5627
TRU Career and Experiential Learning team
Shawn Read
Career Services Coordinator
250-371-5669Shawn’s career at the university began in 2003. As a tenured faculty member in the Career and Experiential Learning department, he has worked in Career Services and the Co-operative Education program. Shawn is actively engaged provincially and nationally in the experiential learning field and served as a National Director and President of the Canadian Association for Career Educators and Employers. He is very passionate about experiential learning in the post- secondary system and has continued to work on expanding these opportunities for students.
Shawn is one of the longest serving Chairs on campus and has helped the department to acquire national accreditation of the Co-op Educational program. He is very interested in Chair leadership and was the creator of the Chair Leaderships Group and Chair Leadership Award.
Outside of work, Shawn is an avid hiker and enjoys being in the mountains. He has travelled throughout the world and enjoys these adventures with his family and friends.
Larry Iles
Experiential Learning Coordinator (a.k.a Career Jedi)
250-371-5692Bachelor of Arts Honours | Double major in Social Psychology and US History | Carleton University
Bachelor of Education | Elementary Education | University of British Columbia
Master of Adult Education | Career Development | University of CalgaryLarry is an award winning Career Jedi. He has an extensive education and leadership portfolio that he has applied throughout his 22 years at TRU, all within Career and Experiential Learning. Larry works one-on-one with students and alumni, providing valuable career knowledge and career development support. Larry has said “My favourite moment working with students is when they have an experience and really connect it to their personal career development-and as a result, have this fantastic clarity about themselves and next steps. This happens so often when working with 1000’s of students in the career counselling model.”
Jamie Noakes
Tourism Co-op Coordinator
250-377-6115Bachelor of Arts – Thompson Rivers University
Masters of Environmental Studies – Lakehead UniversityJamie’s post-secondary career began with the Career and Experiential Learning Department in 2009. Over the years, she has taught within many Co-op programs and worked with BBA, Environmental Science, Computer Science, and Tourism students. Prior to working in post-secondary, Jamie gained management experience within both the tourism and hospitality management industries where she developed a keen interest in Human Resource Management. In 2019, Jamie joined the Central Interior CPHR advisory council where she focusses on developing further connections between post-secondary and CPHR. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys spending time at her cabin with her family, and socializing with friends.
Sarah Gibson
Arts, Sciences, Natural Resource Sciences and Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Co-op Coordinator
250-828-5151Master’s of Arts – International and Intercultural Communication - Royal Roads University
Bachelor’s of Arts – Communication - Simon Fraser University
Post Baccalaureate - Teaching English as a Second Language – Thompson Rivers University
Sarah has over 20 years of professional experience in public, private, and non-profit sectors. She has worked in BC post-secondary education since 2005 and has been faculty at TRU for ten years - teaching in the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Student Development. Sarah is currently the Co-op Coordinator for Sciences, Arts, and Tourism and has extensive experience in Co-op and Career Education. She has been a Co-op Student, Co-op Ambassador, Co-op Employer, and a Co-op Coordinator. Before working in education, Sarah had a career in communications and marketing. Sarah earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication from Simon Fraser University, received her Post Baccalaureate for Teaching English as a Second Language from Thompson Rivers University, and completed her Master’s of Arts in International and Intercultural Communication from Royal Roads University.
Robline (Robbi) Davey
Indigenous Experiential Learning Coordinator
250-828-5461Master of Education (TRU)
Bachelor of Arts (UBC)Robbi has been at TRU since 2011, working primarily in Open Learning in online education and supporting Indigenous initiatives across campus.
As the Indigenous Experiential Learning Coordinator, her initiatives make space for Indigenous students and strengthen relationships with campus and community organizations to create pathways for employment transitions.
Robbi is currently working towards a doctorate at SFU, spends her spare time with her son and volunteers as a women’s rep for the Métis community in Kamloops.
Leanne Mihalicz
Co-operative Education Coordinator
250-371-5982Master of Education Degree – Thompson Rivers University
Bachelor of Education Degree - Brandon University
Bachelor of Recreation Management - University of Manitoba
Leanne has been a secondary and post-secondary educator for over 18 years. She started at TRU in 2008 as a Student Employment Coordinator within the CEL department and then moved to an instructor and Work Experience Coordinator with the Education and Skills Training program in 2009.  Throughout her career, Leanne has been passionate about connecting students and community through a variety of experiential learning opportunities. Her aim is to build positive relationships and facilitate learning through strength-based approaches.
In addition to her professional life, Leanne enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, and loves spending time with her family and pets. She also likes meeting people, learning about other cultures, and eating a variety of local and international foods.
Rashmin Keshwani
Engineering/Computing Science & ARET Co-op Coordinator
250-852-7685Rashmin has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in information technology and computing science and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education.
While she was pursuing her master’s in education at TRU she also worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and was involved in several volunteering positions.
She has a decade of experience in teaching and providing career guidance to elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students at various institutions. She has published and presented research on several topics to incorporate best teaching practices and is passionate about bringing out the best in her students and helping them reach their true potential.
Outside work, she is an avid reader, enjoys adventure, listening to music and spending time with friends and family.
Corinna Bartucci
Business/Post Baccalaureate Co-op Coordinator
250-828-5461Corinna has been involved with the Career and Experiential Learning Department for over two years before becoming a Business Co-op Coordinator in 2023. She has also been a Career Ambassador, Mock Interviewer, and Research Assistant within the department. She has been a Co-op student, completing two work terms as an accountant at KPMG, one with TRU Student Life and one with Career and Experiential Learning. At TRU, Corinna has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Bachelor of Business Administration in general studies. She is also currently enrolled in the Master of Education program at TRU and is planning to graduate by 2025.
Harshita Dhiman
Business Co-op Coordinator
250-852-7685Bachelor of Arts - Panjab University, India
Advanced Diploma in Career and Counselling - Panjab University, India
Master of Psychology - Punjabi University, India
Master of Education - Thompson Rivers University
Harshita has been a Sessional Business Co-op Coordinator with Career and Experiential Learning since 2021.
She received a Master of Education from TRU in 2019 and a Master of Industrial Psychology from Panjab University, India, in 2017. She has two years of experience working with diverse populations and has developed instructional, counselling, and career coaching skills with Open Door Group and the Academy of Learning Career College. She also worked as a Graduate Research Assistant with TRU in a peer-mentoring project for Early Childhood Educators across BC. Outside of work, Harshita enjoys swimming, music, and yoga.
Jackie Mullen
Career & Experiential Learning Assistant
250-371-5627Jackie has been an employee with TRU since 1984. Jackie has worked in the Library, Finance, Computer LRC, Trades LRC, Print Shop, the Faculty of Arts, and Career and Experiential Learning, which she joined in the summer of 2016. Her extensive experience has made her an extremely valued employee and CEL is lucky to have her. Jackie enjoys working and connecting with people, family time, traveling, exploring, hiking, photography, cooking and teaching dance!
Katelin Pietrusinski
Co-operative Education Coordinator (On Leave)
250-371-5547Career Development Practitioner Certificate – Simon Fraser University
Master of Arts: Theology, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy - Wilfrid Laurier University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Simon Fraser University
Katelin joined Career and Experiential Learning as a Co-operative Education Coordinator in September 2022. Before relocating to Kamloops, she worked as a Career Centre Programs Coordinator at Douglas College for 3.5 years. Also a Canadian Certified Counsellor, Katelin believes that experiential learning and mental wellness go hand-in-hand. She aspires to mentor students on their journeys to build their best potential into dream careers through thoughtful decision-making, intentional development, and continued direction checks and re-mapping. Katelin's current co-op portfolio includes supporting students in computing science, software engineering, math, physics, and the ARET program.
Outside of work, you can find Katelin enjoying walks in the park, playing games (all sorts), or baking.
Nicolas Bosworth
Career & Experiential Learning Assistant
250-828-5276Nicolas was born in El Salvador and moved to Canada in 2018 to pursue his Bachelor of Arts. He graduated in 2023 with a Major in English and a Minor in Language and Global Studies. As a student, he was eager to connect with the TRU community and had the opportunity to spend four years as a mentor to new-to-TRU students with the Orientations and Transitions team. Nicolas would connect with anywhere from 15 to 20 students each semester and guide them as they navigated their first semester at TRU. He also worked as an ambassador with the Future Students office and volunteered on various occasions with TRU World. On top of this, he has six years of experience working as a student leader with the National Honor Society in El Salvador. Nicolas is passionate about helping others succeed in their academic or professional lives.
Outside work, he enjoys horror films, musicals, video games, and reading.
Bhavna Bhola
Career Services Coordinator
250-828-5286Bhavna has two decades of experience in the education industry across the globe in various leadership and counselling roles. She has two bachelor's degrees in psychology and education, a master's in psychology, an MBA, and a Master of Education from TRU. Bhavna's Master of Education thesis focused on understanding students' self-perception and self-actualization during their post-secondary journey. Bhavna strongly believes that if career education supports creating a self-aware student, a student feels empowered. She has successfully ventured into understanding a diverse population's needs in a post-secondary setting at TRU. Her co-op classes are a powerhouse of self-reflective exercises. Bhavna is a natural leader and a brilliant team player. Her leadership style is democratic and personable. Bhavna joined Career & Experiential Learning in November 2023; in a short period, she became the lead faculty for Job Fair 2024, which was a huge success. Keen on student-centered approaches to learning, Bhavna strives to nurture and support every student she meets. She is so glad that being a career counsellor allows her to be a part of their beautiful journey.
Bhavna also enjoys yoga, long walks, music, and cooking in her leisure time.
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Career & Experiential Learning Department | careereducation@tru.ca |
| Business Co-op | bus_cooped@tru.ca |
| Computing Science, Engineering, Physics and Math Co-op | it_cooped@tru.ca |
| Sciences/NRS | bsc_cooped@tru.ca |
| Arts Co-op | arts_cooped@tru.ca |
| Tourism Co-op | tourism_cooped@tru.ca |
