Jessica Roffe, PSYC ’13

Everything changed for Jessica Roffe, PSYC ’13 during the fall semester of her senior year.

“I was working at the front desk of the undergraduate office, and I got really close with the advisors. They invited me to speak at Admitted Students Day, at a time when I was figuring out what I wanted to do after college,” said Roffe. “I had so much fun that day talking to students and parents about UMD—I remember my cheeks hurting from how much I smiled—and it was really a lightbulb moment for me realizing that I wanted to go into higher ed.”

Today, Roffe is the associate director of the University of Maryland’s QUEST Honors Program, a three-year program whose mission is to develop career-ready students and lifelong learners for undergraduates studying business, engineering, and/or science. Roffe has been a part of the QUEST program’s team for more than a decade now, leading a career that she didn’t know was possible for someone pursuing a degree in psychology.

“As a PSYC major, I felt like I should go to grad school, for research or something clinical. But I did a lot of internships and it just wasn’t feeling right. I knew I wanted to help people, but not in those ways,” she recalled. “That experience at Admitted Students Day, plus a one-credit class that helped me explore what to do after college with my psychology degree, and [PSYC Advisor] Steve Young, who has his master’s in student affairs, telling me about this field all helped me figure out what I wanted to do. I reflected on the experiences I had in college that left me feeling energized and they all had to do with helping students.”

Roffe moved to New York City after graduating from UMD to complete a nine month master’s degree from Columbia University in higher and postsecondary education. But even before her graduate program had concluded, she found herself back on campus interviewing to become QUEST’s program coordinator.

“I saw the job with QUEST and it was really attractive to me because I was so new to this field, and as a coordinator for an honors program I was able to experience all areas of student affairs in one job—advising, events, admissions, orientation, study abroad, career services, etc. Not to mention I’d get to return to the place I love, UMD! And, I was only a year out of school so I felt like I could really relate to the students,” Roffe said. “I’m so thankful that they took a risk on someone who was so young. I love QUEST. It’s a really special program that makes a difference for students.”

When Roffe joined QUEST, the program’s 20th cohort were seniors. The program is currently serving its 46th cohort of students, meaning that Roffe has helped roughly 1,200 students plan and prepare for their careers over the course of their sophomore to senior years.

Career development has become the aspect of her job she loves the most. Some students have even reached out to Roffe after they’ve graduated from UMD, asking her for help in navigating career changes. That’s just part of the reason why Roffe decided to launch her own career coaching business for college students and recent graduates a little over one year ago, Career Beginnings.

“I had heard from several college admissions consultants that their clients, once in college, would come back to them asking for one-on-one resume or interview help, which is not always their area of expertise. So I knew I had a business opportunity there and a potential pipeline of clients in addition to all of this experience under my belt,” explained Roffe, who became a Certified Career Services Provider of the National Career Development Association in 2021. “It took me a bit to come up with a name [for my business] and then it just came to me one day, ‘Career Beginnings.’ I really like the name because that’s what I’m trying to do, provide support and boost confidence at the often-confusing beginning stages of someone’s career.”

Roffe says that juggling her work at UMD, being a mom of two, and running her own business is “hard,” but worth it.

“I’m an impact person, so when I help a student with their resume and they leave my office feeling so much happier, or I brainstorm new networking techniques with a student and they tell me that the advice I’d given them actually helped them land an interview or make a connection with a recruiter, I love that I know I’m making a difference,” she said.

To those seeking career advice—whether they are in QUEST or not—Roffe offers these words of wisdom: “Take advantage of the people here who are trying to help you; that includes professors and staff. Get involved in all of the things that Maryland has to offer you, from activities to internships, so that you can explore your interests and be more confident knowing what you like before you graduate. Career development is a lifelong process but your college years are the best place to start.”