Staff Spotlight: Michele Tuck-Ponder

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Meet Michele Tuck-Ponder, one of our dedicated team members.

1) What kind of appointments do you take?
Any undergrad can schedule an appointment with me in the HireTigers system. I’m the liaison for Wilson College, as well as the history, Near Eastern studies and philosophy departments. I also oversee the Career Services Student Advisory Board.

2) What was your undergrad major?
My undergraduate major was journalism, earned at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. I also earned a J.D. at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

3) What was your first job out of college? What was your most memorable job?
My first job was as a press secretary on Capitol Hill to the late Rep. Louis Stokes (D-OH). Since then, I’ve worked in media relations, non-profit, public policy and government. My most memorable job was serving as the mayor of Princeton.

4) Where can students find you on campus?
Most of the time I’m at Career Services, but I am starting office hours at the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding library on Thursdays from 7:30-9 p.m. I’m taking walk-in appointments to assist with job and internship strategies, resumes and cover letter reviews, LinkedIn profile critiques and for general career conversations.

5) What is one of the things that you are passionate about in your job?
My husband, a member of the Class of ’81, was a first-generation, low SES student here at Princeton. Knowing his experiences, I am passionate about supporting students from similar backgrounds and helping them to launch a career filled with meaning, purpose and service to others.