In Aug. 2023, Smith College’s Lazarus Center welcomed Heather Deland, its first career specialist in law, government, policy and international affairs. Before joining the Smith community, Deland worked as the Internship and Career Coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass).
In comparing her experiences at UMass and Smith College, Deland said, “The energy around career education feels very different.” She pointed out the enthusiasm Smith students possess about their professional goals and the variety of resources at Smith College.
“Another difference between my work there and my work now is that I’m part of the team,” Deland said. “At UMass, I mostly worked alone, which for an introvert like myself can be good — but I really do enjoy being part of a team and I love the people at the Lazarus Center.”
Deland, who began her Ph.D. in History shortly after turning 21, spoke about her regret for bypassing a gap year post-graduation. “I used grad school to figure out what I wanted to do, rather than using grad school as a way to get there,” she said.
“If you need to get into the professional world first, need some more experience or if you kind of just want to take the mental break of the gap year, then I would say it’s a great way to figure out and clarify some of your career goals,” said Deland.
Deland’s interest in government, law, policy and international affairs stems from her interactions with students in her previous position and her doctoral research, which intersected with regulatory laws during emancipation. Deland noted that the fields she specializes in “notoriously lack diversity and are exclusionary.” Driven by her passion for diversity and inclusion, she is excited to work with students to bring more diverse perspectives into these fields.
For many students, entering a particular field may seem daunting. Deland advises students to speak to Smith alums and take on internship opportunities.
“I see the first step as doing informational interviews and job shadows, and then once you have more clarity on what sort of internship would fit into your professional trajectory, then go and do some internships for a semester, for a summer,” said Deland. “Internships are an important part of the process either to develop a specific skill or to learn more about a particular career.”
Deland envisions introducing more job shadowing and site visit opportunities for students to explore varied work environments. Additionally, her journey as a first-generation college student has shaped her mission to support those facing similar challenges.
“I grew up in a small town, where the examples of professionals were a doctor, a lawyer and a teacher. So when I started college, I didn’t have reference points at home or within my immediate circle of people to ask about how to navigate college,” said Deland.
“I worked multiple jobs as an undergrad. I graduated in three years because in my mind getting out as quickly as possible was the most important thing. But, if I could go back and do it now, knowing what I know, I would go back and do the experiential learning and do some internships and really get a clearer idea of what I wanted to do.”
Any student interested in government, international affairs, law and policy is encouraged to reach out to Deland at hdeland@smith.edu to learn more about available resources or schedule an advising session.
