Aaron Graham
Associate Director, Student Career Development
Francis King Carey School of Law
1. Please introduce yourself and describe your role at UMB.
As the Associate Director of Career Development at the law school, my main focus is really on helping our students figure out their next steps and land fulfilling jobs after graduation. A lot of my day involves direct student counseling – reviewing resumes and cover letters, running mock interviews, and mapping out job search strategies, whether they're looking at big law, public interest, or something else entirely. I also handle key parts of our legal recruiting programs, track and analyze student outcome data,and work on building stronger connections with employers and alumni. I try to leverage my own law background (my JD) to develop resources and programming that genuinely prepares students for the legal market. Then there's my volunteer work with the UMB Staff Senate. I'm currently serving as President, although my term is actually wrapping up in just a few months. In this role, I lead the Senate, set our strategic direction, and serve as the primary liaison to university leadership, including President Jarrell. It's about ensuring staff voices are heard when it comes to university policy and work-life issues. Before becoming President, I was heavily involved in other areas, particularly as Co-Chair for Community Outreach, where I managed our budget and directed campus-wide drives and partnerships, like our work with WJZ, and as the Equity & Action Officer, focusing on DEI initiatives within the Senate. It's a significant commitment, but it feels important to advocate for staff interests and contribute to the broader university community.
2. Why are you interested in serving on the Staff Senate?
Honestly, looking back at the last few years, especially my time as President, I feel like we've built some real momentum. I've invested a lot in this – advocating for staff, working on policy, building those bridges with university leadership – and I genuinely believe the Senate is a crucial voice for us. We've gotten initiatives off the ground, particularly around community outreach, our work pushing DEI forward, and even innovating with AI. Running again feels like a responsibility to see things through. There are definitely conversations and initiatives that aren't quite finished yet. I want to use the experience I've gained, and maybe that unique perspective I have as a staff member who has served in several different leadership roles on the Senate, to help get some of those across the finish line. It feels like there's still important work to do, and I'm committed to seeing it through for one more term.
3. What do you hope to accomplish during your term?
My main goal for this last term is really about solidifying progress and ensuring sustainability. It's less about starting brand new things and more about making sure the positive changes we've worked on become embedded in how the university operates. Specifically, I'd hope to: Lock in Key Policy Recommendations: Really push to see concrete action and implementation on recommendations related to employee well-being, work flexibility, and staff equity that have come out of various committees and task forces. Strengthen Staff Voice and Influence: Continue building the Senate's relationship with senior leadership to ensure staff perspectives are not just heard, but consistently valued and integrated into university decision-making processes. Ensure Continuity of Impactful Programs: Make sure initiatives like our community outreach efforts have stable footing and clear structures to continue effectively beyond my term. Empower Future Senate Leaders: Focus on mentorship and smooth transitions within the Senate leadership, ensuring the next group is well-prepared to continue advocating effectively for staff. Ultimately, I want this final term to be about consolidating the gains we've made, making tangible improvements to the work-life of UMB staff, and leaving the Staff Senate in an even stronger position to serve our colleagues moving forward.
4. Describe your hobbies and interests outside of work.
Beyond my roles at UMB and with the Staff Senate, my time is definitely full. A significant creative outlet for me is making miniature dioramas – I actually run makebenchminiatures.com to share that work. Life at home keeps me incredibly busy as I'm a dad to three young children: two-year-old twins and a four-year-old. Additionally, I'm involved in some consulting work on the side when time permits. It's a busy mix of detailed creative work, active parenting, and professional consulting.
