Dr. Tiffany Bitting named interim director of University Career Services

DSAES News
July 21, 2022

Dr. Tiffany Bitting has been named the new interim director of University Career Services, taking over day-to-day oversight from Dr. Monica Thompson, who is now serving as interim assistant vice president for student affairs.

Bitting, who has been associate director of UCS since 2015, will continue to serve in that role as well. As interim director, she leads department operations and day-to-day leadership of the employer development and relations, career counseling, and alumni career services teams. Thompson is also serving concurrently as executive director of UCS and her new role in the vice president’s suite.

Dr. Daniel Maxwell, interim vice president for the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, named Bitting to the role effective November 1.

“I am excited to serve in this new capacity and grateful to Drs. Maxwell and Thompson to have instilled their trust in me as interim director of our University Career Services team,” Bitting said.

Bitting has served in various roles in public and private universities for the past 15 years, focusing on implementing career readiness initiatives that prepare students entering a global workforce. Bitting earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Long Beach; and her Ed.D. in ethical leadership with a social justice focus from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. She focused her doctorate research on retention, sense of belonging and career readiness of first-generation college student success.

Dr. Bitting’s interim responsibilities also include overseeing the administrative and budget functions of UCS while providing support to UH at Sugar Land and UH at Katy career services operations.

In her time as associate director, Bitting has helped increase student utilization of the department’s services by 40 percent by collaborating with academic and student affairs staff across campus, partnering with alumni and employers, and increasing career development programs.

She began her career at UH in 2014 as a career counselor, and prior to joining the UCS team she worked at National University and for the California State University system in Southern California, where she oversaw admissions, academic support teams. Bitting has also served as an adjunct faculty member at UH since 2018, teaching a first-year college success course.

Thompson, who was also named to her new role on November 1, retains ultimate oversight for UCS and continues to lead its strategic function. Thompson’s new role came after Maxwell was named interim vice president by President Renu Khator, taking over for Dr. Richard Walker, who is currently serving as interim president of UH – Clear Lake.

Bitting, she said, is an influential leader at UCS and helped transform how the department both serves employers, students and alumni and collaborates with UH faculty and staff.

“Tiffany is a model leader for our department, the division and the UH campus,” Thompson said. “It is a delight for her to be recognized for her distinguished work and dedication to our team. I have full faith and confidence she will do an exceptional job overseeing the day-to-day operation of UCS while supporting the counseling, alumni and employer development and relations leaders and their teams.”