Office of Career Management

CAREER COUNSELOR AND ADJUNCT FACULTY PROFILES

CHARNA FLANZER, adjunct faculty and job search strategist
Charna Flanzer is an adjunct lecturer at New York University, and is a career strategist and information specialist with the Office of Career Management (OCM) at New York University. She is a career coach in private practice in New York City. Her clients include artists, writers, executives, career changers, and individuals reentering the workforce. As a vice president in two New York executive search firms, she specialized in the recruitment of top-tier management consultants transitioning from consulting into industry. Ms. Flanzer draws on 25 years of experience in New York City in both the artistic and business worlds. Charna received a Professional Certificate in Adult Career Planning and Development from New York University.

JUDY M. HERNANDEZ, adjunct faculty and career counselor
Most recently Judy worked as Sponsor Liaison and Presenter Coordinator at the Monster Diversity Leadership Program (DLP) where she spent time managing online communities covering such topics as job searching on the internet, flexible work force, and general career development. Prior to DLP she was a member of the Nelnet Campus Solutions team working with both high schools and colleges to expand awareness of student financial aid, particularly federal programs. Judy has also worked with the Center for Career Education and Life Planning at NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies for over 10 years, developing their Internet Retrieval and Referral service and serving as a lecturer and counselor. Prior to working with the world wide web, she served as a traditional career counselor at a college, counseling students on job search and career development and coordinating a senior recruiting program. She has held positions in the external relations office of the NYU Stern School of business, and in the San Diego Unified School District. Judy received her M.A. in applied psychology from the NYU School of Education and a B.A. in Psychology and History from UCLA. In addition, Judy is active in several alumni and professional organizations.

PATRICIA MCDONALD, adjunct faculty and career counselor
Patricia is a certified career counselor, coach, and psychotherapist in practice since 1985. Her approach uses Existential, Wholistic, EcoPsychological, and Cognitive-Behavior models. Areas of interest and expertise are in the artsitic, nonprofit, educational, and environmental fields. She is an adjunct instructor and counselor with the Center for Career Management at NYU, where she gives workshops on “Mid Career Transitions” and “Career Alternatives for Teachers.” McDonald has recently retired from the New York City Department of Education where she spent the last twenty five years designing, implementing, and funding School To Work programs. She is on the board of directors of the Sustainable Careers Institute, which offers training to college career centers on careers that create a sustainable world. 

ELL MIOCENE, adjunct faculty and career counselor
Ell has been with the School of Continuing and Professional Studies for over 10 years.  She works individually with clients who are in career transition and/or job search mode. She presents classes and workshops on career and work-life balance topics on a regular basis. They include: Interviewing, Networking, Cover Letters and Résumés, and Time Management. Among her special interests are cross-cultural communications, recent graduates, and new beginnings for retirees. Miocene has an M.A. in Coaching and Guidance from NYU and she interned in outplacement at Chase Career Services. She also has an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language. She’s licensed as a mental health counselor in New York and is a member of the Association for Psychological Type, the Association of Career Professionals International, the Career Management Alliance, and is MBTI qualified. She is currently a part-time career counselor in a nonprofit agency and has a private coaching practice. Her background includes 10 years as a human resources manager. Ell is a former actress and acting techniques coach.

AMANDA O'BRIEN-BROWN, résumé specialist and adjunct counselor
Amanda has worked in Capital Finance, Commercial Aircraft Leasing, and Commercial Finance in New York City since 2002 and founded O'Brien-Brown Consulting in 2007. Amanda is an active committee member for several modern art, literary, and historical institutions within Manhattan and has particular interest in membership retention and expansion, as well as individual giving campaigns. O'Brien-Brown holds a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics and an M.B.A. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is currently president of O'Brien-Brown Consulting.

REBECCA SCHNALL, career counselor and adjunct instructor
A career changer herself, Rebecca Schnall has a passion for helping people find their professional fit. In addition to providing career services at New York University, she counsels undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni on career issues at Pace University’s NYC campus. An adjunct instructor at NYU, Rebecca created and facilitates “Green Careers” – a seminar about emerging fields in environmentalism and sustainability. She also teaches a course at Pace University as an adjunct professor on career exploration and decision making. After obtaining her BA in Art History and Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University and working in Corporate Communications, Rebecca completed an MA in Mental Health and Wellness at NYU. She is a member of professional organizations including the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association and the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers, and a volunteer with one of her favorite non profits, City Harvest.

JOE SIMMONS, adjunct faculty and job search strategist
Joe Simmons is an adjunct faculty member in the SCPS Office of Career Management (OCM), life coach, and independent arts consultant. He currently provides individual career coaching to SCPS degree students on a part-time basis. At New York University, he has served as Assistant Director of Education Advisement and Prep Programs in the Center for Career, Education, and Life Planning; associate director in the Tisch School of the Arts Department of Performance Studies; and as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Drama. He also facilitates career planning and education success seminars for healthcare workers in Hospital League 1199. Joe received an M.A. from New York University and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University.

LINDA D. STONE, adjunct faculty and career counselor
Linda has over twenty-five years of strategic and hands-on generalist human resources experience in start-up and turnaround management situations, working with global organizations both in the technology and media industries. In addition to her corporate experience, she has had her own human resources consulting practice and has worked in a variety of industries including not-for-profit and outplacement transition support. She has been an adjunct at New York University (Center of Career, Education, and Life Planning) for 14 years and has also been a career counselor in their Career Center. She holds certifications as an Achieve Global Trainer, Benchmarks 360 from The Center for Creative Leadership, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. She received a M.A. in Human Resources Management from The New School University and a B.A. in English from Hartwick College.

ELINOR WILDER, adjunct faculty and career counselor
Elinor Wilder holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling Services from Bank Street College and has been a career counselor for over twenty-five years. She is currently employed by the SCPS Office of Career Management (OCM) at New York University. She does individual counseling and, as an adjunct faculty member, leads workshops on subjects such as mid-career change. She has been director of counseling at the Council for Career Planning, and co-director of the Career Development Center at Marymount Manhattan College. She has national certification in career counseling and is licensed in New York State as a Mental Health Counselor. She is a member of the American Counseling Association, the National Career Development Association, the Career Development Specialists Network, and the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association.