Buffington has continued to build upon the success of the Student Professional Development Center with her more than 20 years of experience in industry and higher education.
Elon University has named Brooke Buffington assistant vice president for Student Professional Development Center. With her extensive experience and proven dedication to student success, Buffington has provided innovative leadership in guiding the Student Professional Development Center in its mission to provide transformative career development opportunities for Elon students.
In July 2021, Buffington was named director of the Student Professional Development Center, which has been recognized by The Princeton Review as a top-20 career services program for each of the past eight years and is currently ranked #9 in the country. She joined Elon in 2015 and brought to her role at the university both corporate and nonprofit experience. Her 15 years of work in higher education includes counseling, employer relations, programming, advising, and curriculum development.
“Brooke Buffington’s promotion to this new role is a testament to her outstanding contributions and leadership within the Student Professional Development Center,” said Jim Piatt, senior vice president for advancement and external affairs, who oversees the Student Professional Development Center. “Her expertise and commitment to student success has been reflected in her leadership of the SPDC and will be increasingly important as we navigate a rapidly changing world. I have full confidence in her ability to build upon the center’s achievements and support Elon graduates as they pursue their professional goals.”
As assistant vice president, Buffington will continue to provide visionary and strategic leadership while overseeing the development and delivery of innovative programs and resources for Elon students and alumni. Since being named director of the center in 2021, Buffington has led the transformation of the SPDC’s career events, bringing employers into academic spaces. This new event format has increased student and faculty engagement with key organizational partners. Under Buffington’s leadership, the Class of 2022 achieved a 96% outcome rate for jobs, fellowships, and/or graduate school, with graduates securing opportunities with organizations such as Bank of America, Deloitte, ESPN, Microsoft, Nike, and NBC Universal. Buffington is spearheading the creation of the SPDC’s next strategic plan which will be released in 2024.
“I am truly honored to take on this new role and to provide continued leadership to the Student Professional Development Center,” expressed Buffington. “I am excited to continue supporting Elon students and alumni as they navigate the evolving landscape of post-graduation opportunities. Together with a dedicated team, I am committed to furthering Elon University’s reputation as a national leader in career development within higher education.”
Buffington’s dedication to enhancing career development at Elon is rooted in her belief that all students should have access to the services and support necessary for them to achieve their post-graduation goals. Her collaborative approach while serving as senior associate director of corporate and employer relations in the Love School of Business led to the creation of innovative programs, such as the “Aspire to be Hired” course, which simulates the internship application process, and the “Charting Your Unconventional Career Path” course, which inspires students to explore their unique career aspirations.
Brooke Buffington earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s degree in counseling from Wake Forest University. Her corporate experience includes sales, marketing, and product management for a Fortune 500 company. Prior to joining Elon University, she held various roles at the Michelin Career Center at Clemson University, where she made significant contributions to career counseling and the development of career pathways for student-athletes.