Jennifer Shaffer is an accomplished higher education leader with over twenty-five years of experience. As the Director of the Career Development Center, she provides strategic vision and operational leadership to empower students in achieving lifelong career success. Jennifer leads a dynamic team of professionals who provide services in coaching, internships, student employment, and employer relations, builds strong institutional partnerships, and steers data-informed initiatives to expand career readiness and engagement across campus.
Before joining the Career Development Center, Jennifer served as Senior Associate Registrar at Appalachian State University, overseeing academic records, graduation services, and directing university commencement. Earlier in her career, she held progressively responsible leadership roles at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, with a strong focus on admissions, academic program administration, and student services.
She holds a Master of Science in Management from the University of Maryland, University College, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is an active contributor to university-wide student success initiatives and serves on multiple advisory and strategic planning committees. Jennifer has presented nationally on career development and employer relations and is a graduate of the AppState Chancellor’s Academic Leadership Development Program.