Bucknell Names Sean Schofield Inaugural Freeman Family Associate Vice President and Director of Center for Career Advancement

Bucknell University has appointed Sean Schofield as the inaugural Freeman Family Associate Vice President and Director of the Center for Career Advancement (CCA). Schofield will join the University on Aug. 10 and will lead Bucknell's vision for preparing students to thrive in meaningful careers and lives of purpose.

In this newly established leadership role, Schofield will oversee the CCA and work collaboratively across the University to strengthen the integration of career development, experiential learning, academic excellence and employer engagement. His appointment reflects Bucknell's ongoing commitment to ensuring every student graduates with the knowledge, experiences and professional competencies needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.

"Sean is an innovative, collaborative leader whose passion for student success was evident throughout every stage of our search," said Maureen "Moe" McGuinness, vice president for Student Affairs and Fritz Family Dean of Students. "He understands that career development is not the work of a single office, but rather a University-wide commitment that connects classroom learning, experiential education, alumni engagement and employer partnerships in a transformative student experience. His vision aligns perfectly with Bucknell's mission, and I am thrilled to welcome him to our community."

Schofield brings more than 16 years of progressive leadership in higher education and an additional six years of strategic business and nonprofit management experience. Throughout his career, he has led innovative initiatives that help students connect their academic experiences to meaningful careers while building strong partnerships among faculty, employers, alumni and community organizations.

Most recently, Schofield served as assistant vice president for Life and Career Design at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., where he launched the institution's Life & Career Design Institute. In that role, he partnered with faculty and campus leaders to integrate career development throughout the student experience, created new experiential learning initiatives and helped secure more than $9 million in philanthropic support for career-focused programming.

Previously, Schofield served as executive director of Career Services at Muhlenberg College and held several leadership positions within the Cohen Career Center at William & Mary. Across these roles, he developed innovative career readiness programs, advanced assessment practices, strengthened employer engagement and championed high-impact learning experiences that prepared students for lifelong success.

Schofield earned a Ph.D. in higher education policy, planning and leadership from William & Mary and both a master's degree in counseling — student affairs & higher education and a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University.

"I am honored to join Bucknell University and grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of career development for its students," Schofield said. "Bucknell has a remarkable reputation for academic excellence, close faculty-student relationships and preparing graduates to lead lives of purpose. I look forward to partnering with colleagues across campus, alumni and employers to build upon the University's strong foundation and create innovative opportunities that empower every Bucknell student to confidently pursue meaningful careers."

As the inaugural Freeman Family Associate Vice President and Director of the CCA, Schofield will collaborate across the University to strengthen connections between classroom learning and the world beyond Bucknell, expand experiential learning opportunities and further position the CCCA as a national model for student career success.