Ellie Van Doornum joins the Student Success Center as the new assistant director of career services, helping students succeed after graduation with her wide range of connections.
In her short time at Piedmont, Van Doornum has already felt the impact of Lane Hall’s importance to students.
“The students are here to get some help for whatever reason and everybody who seems to walk out of here has left a load off their shoulders,” Van Doornum says about students who visit Lane Hall.
Van Doornum is originally from California. She owned a nationwide marketing company, specializing in social media marketing and website development. With her business being flexible enough to be hybrid, Van Doornum and her family moved to Georgia in 2020, right before the pandemic.
Shortly after, Van Doornum became president of the Habersham Chamber of Commerce because of her business background. During her time as president, she managed staff, ambassadors and volunteers and worked with the board of directors. She built relationships with community leaders as well as legislators on the local, state and federal levels.
With a background in owning a business and serving as a former president, Van Doornum has access to resources for students seeking connections. With those connections, she understands what business owners are looking for.
Van Doornum previously worked with Piedmont University’s advertising class prior to her arrival. Working with students allowed her to gain an understanding of the Piedmont community and build relationships with professors and other staff members.
“I love working with the people [in Lane Hall],” said Van Doornum. “The students are fabulous. Everyone in this building is in it for the students.”
Van Doornum assists students in resume and cover letter review, getting students in contact with future employers and prepares them for their careers. Students can make appointments with Van Doornum by visiting Career Services under “My Services” on Starfish.
“We are such a huge selling point for the university because not every college has these services,” said Van Doornum. “It is such a value-added piece to Piedmont.”
