Meet the Staff

Rose Coppola-Conroy | Director

800D SEO | 312-355-5174 | rcconroy@uic.edu

Rose’s LinkedIn

Pronouns: She/her

Rose started her UIC career in 2014 as an assistant director in the ECC and became the director in 2016. Prior to UIC, Rose was a career advisor and full-time faculty member teaching career management courses at another university. Rose is continually excited to help students launch meaningful careers, as well as help employers to connect with our talented engineering students. When she’s not working, Rose likes to hang out with family and friends, try new recipes and explore her neighborhood on her bike.

Jonna (Cottrell) McHugh | Associate Director

800F SEO | 312-413-3873 | jonnac@uic.edu

Jonna’s LinkedIn

Pronouns: She/her

Jonna advises students of all Engineering & CS majors who come to the ECC seeking tips on career-related topics. She also works with employers who actively recruit students at UIC and plans events like career fairs, career skills workshops, and employer information sessions with the rest of the ECC team. She earned her M.Ed. in Urban Higher Education from the College of Education at UIC in December 2022. Jonna has obtained most of her jobs through networking and enjoys teaching students about this useful topic. Her experience prior to working with the ECC includes a career as a recruiter and as a paralegal in an immigration law firm. In her free time, she loves cycling, reading, baking, and powerlifting.

Alejandra Salas | Career Advisor
Pronouns: She/her

800A SEO | 312-355-5142 | asalas9@uic.edu

Alejandra is a Mexican-American first generation student, who graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Latin American and Latino Studies. Some of her research interests are immigration, gender politics and identity in Latinx communities, women’s studies as well career development and advancement. She enjoys helping students navigate their academic and career paths while helping them become successful students. Alejandra is a former graduate student worker at the UIC Engineering Career Center with over two years of experience.  In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, music and loves a good movie night!

Marytza Aranda | Career Advisor

800E SEO | 312-996-2238 | marand9@uic.edu

Pronouns: She/her

Marytza graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Some of her interests include Higher Education and Social Media Marketing. During her undergraduate experience, Marytza worked on a project focused on identifying the resources and support systems Latinas were using to navigate their undergraduate education at UIC. As a result of her project, she established an Instagram page, @thelatinacollegejourney, to share resources Latinas are seeking to assist them throughout their college journey. She enjoys helping students navigate their career path, realize their true potential, and feel confident in their skills. Marytza enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends. She also is a big Harry Potter and Marvel fan. Marytza strongly believes in connecting, learning, and growing.

Ramon Zachary Noriega | ECC Peer Mentor
Pronouns: He/Him

Zach is a third-year Computer Science + Design student. He is interested in pursuing a career in UX/UI design and hopes to work with well-known companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. During his free time, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family, working out at the gym, listening to music, going to concerts, and eating chicken wings. He also enjoys watching TV shows and anime such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack On Titan, and Regular Show.

Safa Patel | ECC Peer Mentor
Pronouns: She/Her

Safa is a senior majoring in Computer Science, with a focus in software engineering. She is passionate about coding and has a strong belief in the power of technology to drive positive change. She hopes to establish a career at a company that values inclusivity and growth. In her free time, Safa enjoys reading romance fiction, baking new recipes, and exploring nature through hiking. She also loves watching Netflix shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and All American. She is also actively involved in Women in Computer Science, an on-campus student organization.

Avanthi Anand | ECC Peer Mentor

Avanthi is an ECC Peer Mentor and graduate student pursuing an M.S. in Computer Science at UIC, with a focus on AI and data analysis. She has a strong background in mentoring and teaching and is passionate about supporting students as they navigate their academic and personal goals. As a first-generation international student from India, Avanthi values inclusive support and is excited to help her peers feel connected and confident at UIC. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city, tending to her plants, and experimenting in the kitchen.