Daneen Johnson thrives on building connections. More specifically, building connections with students. It makes it only fitting she serves as the Assistant Director for Career & Industry Engagement at the University of Florida Career Connections Center (C3).
Johnson discovered her passion for people while attending the University of Central Florida. She was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and working as a peer advisor at UCF’s Career Services assisting students with their cover letters and resumes. “I loved it,” she said. But when senior year rolled around, Johnson realized she needed to make a change in career paths. Naturally, she spoke with her supervisor, a career counselor, about her future.
“My goal at the time was to go to college, to stay in college, to work with college students forever,” Johnson said. And she has. Johnson went on to complete her master’s degree in educational leadership with a specialization in higher education and student personnel at UCF. Her journey led her back to career services — this time at UF.
Johnson has served at the C3 since April 2018 and is thrilled to offer career planning appointments to help others define their career paths. “I love to connect people to resources so that they are able to grow and develop in the way that they want to grow and develop,” she said.
Johnson’s role offers her the unique opportunity to act as the embedded liaison to the College of Education and connect students to customized resources designed to support the pursuit of a career in the education industry. Johnson is a part of a family of educators, librarians and others involved in the education field making it that much more meaningful to work to support future educators and leaders in education.
