About Maria José
My name is Maria José (MJ for short) and I am first-generation Latina professional working in higher education. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Career Education and Development at the UCLA Career Center and as Adjunct Faculty for the Psychology Department at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. Through these roles I am honored with the opportunity to create impact and change everyday in the lives of future generations. As a career counselor and professor my goal is to teach and equip students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to propel them forward to achieve academic and career success with confidence.
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I am excited to share and document this journey with you, as I want to go beyond my roles professionally to support and foster confidence within you, so you can successfully achieve your professional goals. ​CareerConfidence was designed with the purpose of inspiring and empowering confidence in all aspects of our lives, with a focus on career education. Confidence is not something that is prepackaged but developed and strengthened through our experiences, and can look and feel different for each and every one of us. I am hopeful that this platform will serve as a source of authenticity, inspiration, and as a resource in career-related topics. As a fellow Career Counselor and Societal Educator, my personal promise is to create a positive impact so we can all build and grow our CareerConfidence. ​
Education
Master of Science, Counseling Psychology
As a full-time graduate student I had the opportunity to begin to create change in roles within Student and Academic Affairs. I practiced roles such as a Career Advisor, Student Success Coach, Instructional Assistant, Graduate Student Liaison, and Peer Advisor and Mentor.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
While completing my undergraduate degree, I had the opportunity to select a specialization. I decided I wanted to specialize in the psychology of children and adolescents. Being so, I was trained as a researcher to code behavior and developed the very skills I use today in my counseling practice.
Maria José's Counseling Philosophy
As a counselor, I strongly believe every person has the ability to develop and advance towards their career and goals. The phases of career development look different for each person, and as a counselor, I will guide you with your best career interests in mind so you are always working towards your career aspirations.
My personal promise is to create a positive impact so we can all build and grow our CareerConfidence and achieve the goals we set out for ourselves.