Chalvonna Smith Teachey
Director
Chalvonna Smith Teachey is responsible for the overall strategic direction of SEAS Career Services. She believes that the most effective career services infuse professional development with the student experience. Chalvonna strives to create collaborative talent pipelines by connecting students to corporate, non-profit, government, and academic professional opportunities through hands-on employer engagement. Prior to her role at The George Washington University, Chalvonna worked at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in employer relations and event management.
Chalvonna graduated in 2014 with an M.S. in Management from the University of Maryland, University College, and in 2008 with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Rhetoric from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently a doctorate student at GW’s School of Education and Human Development in Human & Organizational Learning researching Trustworthy AI.
Jessica Palermo
Senior Career Counselor
Jessica Palermo is the Senior Career Counselor at The GW School of Engineering and Applied Science, W. Scott Amey Career Services Center. She is a Certified Career Counselor which is only awarded to those who have an advanced education in counseling and professional experience in the field. In her role, she oversees the learning and development initiatives and crafts the career readiness strategy, ensuring SEAS students embark on their professional journeys feeling confident and well-prepared. Additionally, Jessica adeptly manages the team’s student workers, guiding their training and development to deliver exceptional service. With a rich background in higher education, Jessica previously served as a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Humanities, and Mathematics Industry (STEAM) Career Coach and an Academic Advisor in business and STEM fields at another institution. Her love of learning is reflected in her graduate degrees in counseling and international peace and conflict resolution.
Specialties and Interests
STEM Students, International Students, Counseling, and Higher EducationNeeraj Magadum
Career Services Ambassador
Passionate about emerging technologies, AI ethics, and software development, I thrive at the intersection of innovation, business, and technology. With two years of experience building scalable software systems, I’ve embraced the challenges of working on cutting-edge projects and contributing to meaningful change. While I’m not out to change the world on my own, I take pride in being part of the transformative shifts happening in the tech landscape.
As someone who values continuous growth, I enjoy exploring how technology can drive excellence and innovation across industries. In my downtime, you’ll often find me diving into a good book, discovering new music, or engaging in activities that keep my mind sharp and curious.
Specialties and Interests
Resume & Cover Letter, JobscanSean Lee
Career Development Manager
Sunghyun ‘Sean’ Lee (he/him) serves as the Career Development Manager for the School of Engineering and Applied Science. He brings over 10 years of experience spanning higher education, private sector recruiting, and the nonprofit sector.
Before joining GW, Sean led the Career Development Center at the State University of New York, Korea—the first American university in Korea. He played a key role in establishing the center and overseeing its operations, including organizing various career programs and workshops, providing personalized career coaching, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and teaching courses on career and life design. During his tenure, Sean guided numerous students in discovering their purpose and achieving their career aspirations.
Sean holds a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Sterling College. As a fun fact, he has traveled to over 15 countries across five continents and visited more than 40 states in the U.S.
Joe Genens
Career Coach, STEM & Health
Joe Genens (he/him) is an Industry Career Coach at George Washington University’s Center for Career Services, where he is excited to serve students pursuing careers in the STEM and health fields. He came to GW after serving as a Pre-Health Professions Advisor at the University of Missouri, where he enjoyed helping guide students as they developed their candidacies and demystifying the processes of applying to and interviewing for professional schools. He served on Missouri’s Health Professions Committee and as a staff member of the School of Medicine’s Pathways to Success program, through which he had the opportunity to provide additional support to under-resourced pre-medical students.
Coupled with his time as a Pre-Health Advisor, Joe’s education and graduate teaching experience in the History Department at the University of Missouri inform his passion for helping undergraduate students and alumni reach their postgraduate goals.
