Ryan Taube arrives on campus with an extensive background supporting students seeking internships, career opportunities and professional success.
Ryan Taube is one of the new faces in the School of Communications, arriving this semester as the associate director of corporate and employer relations. In his external-facing role, he aims to build and develop stronger connections with employers to further develop career opportunities for students and alumni.
“I wanted to work at Elon University because it is a great university with a great culture committed to student success,” Taube said. “The university’s Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) offers so many resources and opportunities for students to engage with employers across a variety of career fields and majors. And I hope I can play a role in helping our students and alumni find the right match with potential employers.”
Before arriving at Elon this fall, Taube worked for Winston-Salem State University as an internship coordinator in the university’s Career Development Services office. He played a pivotal role in the coordination of the office’s fall 2022 career and graduate school expo, which drew 140 employers and more than 800 student participants. It was the largest such career event in the university’s history.
Previously, Taube worked for Averrett University in career counseling and employer relations, and he competed graduate internships with WSSU and Guilford Technical Community College. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Greensboro College and a master’s degree in career counseling and placement from North Carolina Central University.
Taube prides himself on being able to connect students from different backgrounds and academic programs, preparing them for internship and employment opportunities. At Elon, he plans to build upon his past experiences, developing strong relationships with employers and helping them identify talented Elon students through career fairs and networking events.
Taube expressed excitement at joining the Elon community and sharing his expertise with students. Likewise, the SPDC and his colleagues are thrilled to have him joining their efforts, including Ross Wade, senior associate director of career services for the School of Communications.
“Ryan has wonderful employer relations and career fair management experience, which will be a great resource to us and to our students,” Wade said. “I also greatly appreciate Ryan’s focus on finding and creating more paid internships for students in the School of Communications.”
While his office is located on the first floor of McEwen Communications Building, Taube will spend a significant amount of time traveling to make connections with potential employers. His future plans include trips to Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Additionally, he hopes to engage with employers who want to work both virtually and in-person with communications students.
Taube said his priorities in the coming year include identifying ways to support the school’s DEI initiatives, including assisting students and alumni that face systemic barriers and disparities in access to resources. Additionally, he hopes to increase alumni involvement, which will enhance access to potential employers and internship opportunities.
“I am really passionate about working in higher education and helping students find the right opportunities that allow them to begin their careers in the right direction,” Taube said.