Geralyn Heystek
Haworth College of Business
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5470 USA
- M.A., Counseling Education, College Counseling
- MBA, Marketing Concentration, Western Michigan University
- B.B.A., General Business, French, Western Michigan University
Geralyn Heystek is the director of the Zhang Career Center 51 Michigan University's Haworth College of Business. Heystek focuses on creating strong partnerships with employers, alumni, faculty, staff and registered student organizations and creating strong developmental events that support career readiness and the SPuRS Program. In addition to career advising, classroom presentations and career fairs, Heystek leads the nationally recognized Business Externship Program, an experiential learning opportunity for students. She works with the employer relations team to grow connections with new organizations as they host seven career fairs and a variety of unique employer activities each year to connect students and employers for recruitment purposes.
Most recently, Heystek has worked to develop a business preparation course for transfer students focusing on transition, providing resources and meeting the foundational level of the required SPuRS program for business students. Developing new ways to deliver career information to students, such as the Bring Your “A Game” to Work (work ethic), Build Your Brand initiative (professionalism, career management, oral and written communication) and the Escape Room (critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork) is the fun part of her job. Previous positions at the college for Heystek include career development specialist, academic advisor, internship coordinator and instructor in the marketing department.
Heystek is certified to administer and interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory assessments, as well as the Gallup Strengths Assessment. She completed the Global Career Development Facilitator Certification and has a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), in addition to her M.A. in counseling education. She has presented at conferences regularly with National Career Development Association (NCDA), Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers (MWACE) and Michigan Career Educator and Employer Alliance (MCEEA), about unique career readiness initiatives.