Senior Management Team
Meet the Director and Assistant Directors of the Careers Centre.
Director
Lorna Dargan
As Director, Lorna focuses on the overall leadership, strategy, and service delivery of the Careers Centre, and provides leadership within the institution regarding student and graduate employability and career management. She co-chairs the University's Employability Working Group with the AVP Dean of Learning and Teaching, and Provost, and is a member of University Court and trustee for the University's pension scheme.
Lorna has worked in universities since 2002, first as a researcher and lecturer and, from 2007, as a careers and employability professional, taking on the role of Director of Careers at St Andrews in 2018. She has also been actively involved in the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) throughout her career, including training, quality standards, and Board membership.
- Email:
- dircar@st-andrews.ac.uk
Assistant Director (Career Management)
Jim Campbell
Jim has responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the Career Management team. He also contributes to the leadership and management of the Careers Service overall, alongside the Director and Assistant Director (Opportunities). Additionally, he delivers careers advice, guidance and education for students in the Business School.
Jim has worked in the higher education sector since 1998 in a variety of universities and roles, namely Lancaster (Careers Adviser), Stirling (Careers Service Manager), Glasgow (International Careers Adviser), Abertay (Student Services Manager) and now St Andrews. Throughout that time, he has been active within the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS). He served on its Board of Directors from 2007 to 2010 and is currently a member of its Internationalisation Task Group.
- Email:
- jdc21@st-andrews.ac.uk
Assistant Director (Opportunities)
Sharon Cant
Sharon leads the Opportunities Team within the Careers Centre, overseeing a variety of initiatives designed to connect students and graduates with employers and alumni. These opportunities include careers fairs, internships, work shadowing, and networking events, all aimed at promoting career exploration and enhancing employability. Sharon is responsible for shaping the strategy in this area, ensuring the development of strong relationships that benefit our students.
With over 17 years of experience in higher education careers, including her role in the Employer Engagement Team at the University of Edinburgh, Sharon also brings recent experience as a recruiter, offering a unique perspective to her work.
- Email:
- slc35@st-andrews.ac.uk
Assistant Director (Professional Skills)
Ruth O'Riordan
Ruth leads initiatives that help students develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to thrive during and beyond university. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in careers guidance, employability and higher education leadership, she is committed to ensuring that employability and professional skills development are an integral and unavoidable part of a University of St Andrews education.
Ruth works collaboratively with academic colleagues, professional services staff, students, alumni and employers to embed professional skills development across the student experience and to ensure equitable access to opportunities for all learners. She is particularly passionate about ensuring that employability and professional skills are recognised and valued within all curriculum areas, enabling every student to develop the capabilities needed for success in a rapidly changing world. Her award-winning research into curriculum-based careers education reflects her belief that evidence-informed practice can make a meaningful difference to student outcomes, confidence and future aspirations. Ruth is the current holder of the Graduate Futures Institute's "Careers and Employability Professional of the Year" award.
- Email:
- ro53@st-andrews.ac.uk