Design Your Pathway with Rian Jackson
With a rich foundation in student leadership, residential life, and career services, Rian Jackson brings passion and purpose to her role at Roger Williams University. A dedicated advocate for student success, Rian supports undergraduates as they navigate their academic and post-graduate journeys. From helping students build strong resumes and LinkedIn profiles to coaching them through interviews and employer networking, Rian empowers individuals to take confident steps toward meaningful careers. Rian’s approach is grounded in empathy and experience. With nearly four years of hands-on involvement in campus life, she has built a deep understanding of the student experience. That insight fuels her ability to meet students where they are and provide personalized guidance that goes beyond the surface.
Are you ready to curate a professional plan and strategy?
Whether you’re exploring a new industry, preparing for graduate school, or just figuring out what’s next, Rian is here to help you find clarity and direction.
Why Connect with Rian?
Rian’s career development style is approachable, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in her background in psychology and organizational behavior. Through her roles as both an Assistant Career Advisor and Career Specialist, she’s helped hundreds of students explore opportunities, enhance their professional branding, and engage confidently in career-related conversations. She believes in creating safe, inclusive spaces for students to reflect on their goals, try new things, and grow into their potential. Whether she’s staffing career fairs, running resume review sessions, or helping a student prepare for a big interview, Rian brings consistency, creativity, and compassion to every interaction. Her ability to adapt her approach based on each student’s unique path is part of what makes her such an impactful advisor.
Practice in Action
Rian’s influence extends beyond one on one appointments. She is a key contributor to campus-wide events and initiatives that shape the student experience, organizing Career Fairs, leading LinkedIn workshops, and helping students research companies ahead of major networking opportunities. With strong working knowledge of platforms like Handshake, Canva, and Microsoft Suite, Rian ensures that the resources students receive are both accessible and effective. Her commitment to bridging academic and professional life is clear in every conversation, every workshop, and every piece of feedback she provides. As a mentor and resource, Rian excels at translating big-picture career concepts into tangible steps students can take today.
A Champion for Student Growth
Rian’s dedication to student development has always been at the heart of her work. Whether calming the nerves of incoming students during Orientation, serving as an on call advocate in the residence halls, or working behind the scenes to coordinate career resources, she has shown an unwavering commitment to student support and well-being. She now brings that same energy and expertise into her full time role as a Career Advisor helping students in the social and natural sciences discover their interests, align their values, and build fulfilling career paths.
Empowering Students to Own Their Stories
By aligning personal values with career goals, she empowers students to build confidence, articulate their strengths, and present themselves authentically. She works holistically with each student, helping them connect the critical thinking and versatility of a liberal arts education to real-world, applied occupations. Through the lens of design thinking, she guides students in exploring their interests, experimenting with possibilities, and creating intentional, purpose-driven career pathways. Her approach ensures that students not only feel prepared for the next step but also understand the “why” behind their journey, making each decision informed, authentic, and meaningful.
Serving the School of Social & Natural Sciences:
As a proud alumni of the School of Social and Natural Sciences, Rian is thrilled to give back to the very community that shaped her own academic and professional journey. Now in her full-time role as a Career Advisor, she brings a deep understanding of the interdisciplinary education that defines SSNS, where students cultivate critical thinking, research skills, quantitative reasoning, and a nuanced understanding of the world around them.
Rian is passionate about helping students across disciplines like psychology, sociology, environmental science, and math translate their academic experiences into confident, compelling professional brands. Whether through career exploration, resume development, or interview preparation, she is committed to empowering students to align their passions with their purpose and confidently pursue meaningful paths after graduation. With every advising session, Rian channels her energy, empathy, and expertise to support students in becoming not just career-ready, but future-ready.
Rian is deeply committed to supporting RWU’s mission of fostering powerful combinations within the School of Social and Natural Sciences. She works closely with students to help them connect their interdisciplinary academic experiences with their post graduate goals, whether that means entering the workforce, applying to graduate or professional school, or pursuing pre-health pathways. By tailoring her guidance to each student’s unique background and ambitions, Rian ensures they feel confident and prepared to take their next steps beyond RWU.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re a student looking to explore your passions, prepare for life after RWU, or simply talk through your options with someone who truly listens, Rian Jackson is here for you. With her guidance, you won’t just plan your next step; you’ll walk into it with confidence. Let Rian help you uncover what’s possible and take control of your future, one intentional move at a time.
