Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 8/14/01
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   106

Editors: Photo accompanies release   Please note local interest
RIDGEDELL TO HEAD SLU CAREER SERVICES
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University alumnus Kenneth W. Ridgedell has
joined the university staff as director of Career Services.
     Ridgedell, an Amite native and Hammond resident, was a member of the Southeastern
Marketing and Finance Department faculty for nine years. As head of Career Services, he fills
the position vacated by Sam Domiano, who is now director of Admissions and Financial Aid at
Southeastern. Ridgedell's first day on the job was July 23.
     Ridgedell earned bachelor's degrees in accounting and management in 1989 and a
master's degree in Business Administration in 1992. As a Southeastern student, he was involved
in a number of student organizations, including the MBA Society, which he helped found.
     "I have always been student-oriented," Ridgedell said. "In the College of Business, I was 
advisor to our chapter of the American Marketing Association for seven years and, at various
times, coordinated the Marketing and Finance Department's internship program. I'm looking
forward to helping Southeastern students and alumni explore their career options, set their career
goals and successfully market themselves in the job search process."
     One of the first projects that Ridgedell and Career Services counselor Beverly Sellers will
be working on is the office's Career 2001 Employment Festival, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
September 25 at the Student Activity Center, located at the corner of University Ave. and N.
General Pershing.
     Ridgedell said the annual job fair is expected to attract approximately 100 employers,
including many state, federal and local agencies. Participating companies and agencies will
provide students and alumni with information on careers and existing and future employment
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KENNETH RIDGEDELL   Add One
 possibilities. 
     Career Services has scheduled special seminars for students and alumni to help them
refine their resumes and career etiquette skills in time for the Career 2001 Employment Festival.
A resume workshop is set for 2-3 p.m., Thursday, September 6 and Wednesday, September 12 in
the Career Services conference room in the War Memorial Student Union annex, while a
professional etiquette seminar and reception is scheduled for 3-4 p.m., Wednesday, September 19
at the Student Activity Center.
     In addition to the Career 2001 Employment Festival, Ridgedell said he hopes to partner
with other departments, such as the Colleges of Education and Human Development and Nursing
and Health Sciences and the Industrial Technology Department, that also hold career fairs for
their prospective graduates. 
     "Longer term, I would like to assist other areas on campus in offering similar career fairs
for their students and alumni as well," Ridgedell said. "My primary goal at this time is to
increase awareness of the wide range of services we offer and, therefore, to increase student and
alumni participation in those services," Ridgedell said. "We also want to bring more employers
to campus for on-site interviews with our quality graduates. We strongly urge our students,
alumni, and, of course, employers to contact us."
     For more information, contact Career Services' programs at 985-549-2121 or
careerservices@selu.edu or visit the office online at http://www.selu.edu/Career/. 
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsm01.htm