Assistant Director, Career Management
Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Evanston, Illinois, United States
Starra Priestaf is a higher education professional with 15+ years of experience teaching, advising, and supporting domestic and international academic programs. She holds a PhD in French literature. She has studied, lived, and taught in France. While abroad, she taught cross-cultural communication classes to STEM undergraduate students with a focus on reducing misunderstandings, navigating cultural differences with empathy and flexibility, and working on teams with French faculty. Her background in cross-cultural management and experience supporting international students directly informs her current work as Assistant Director of Career Management at Northwestern University. With a caseload of 2,000 STEM students, a large majority of whom are international, she noticed an urgent need to bridge the gap between academia and industry. She subsequently designed and led a career series for international students bound for industry positions in the U.S. The workshops give participants the tools to navigate dominant communication practices, receive feedback, understand decision-making, and cultivate relationships in the U.S. workplace.
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Cultural Compass: Navigating U.S. Workplace Communication & Dynamics
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM EDT