Don’t Discount a College Degree: It’s a Key to Opportunity
Two COH alumni leading collaboration to help students leverage diplomas into jobs
By Sarah Shebek
It can be expensive, it’s certainly time-consuming, and it’s absolutely worth it.
A college degree from the University of Utah means that new professionals will earn an average of $64,000 a year—significantly more than someone who didn’t get a college diploma. The job market favors degrees, and that means graduates are also more likely to be financially stable and have more options on graduation. Not to mention the wealth of social and educational experiences that come from a college community and can shape an entire life’s perspective.
Two College of Health alumni are using that experience to help current Utah students land that invaluable first full-time job. Katie Hoffman-Abby is the vice president of U Career Success, created to help every U student maximize their future opportunities. Amy Duquette has recently joined the U Career Success team to work closely with College of Health students.
“We want students to take advantage of all the services we offer—coaching, workshops, and career courses,” Hoffman-Abby said. “Then once they get a job offer, they can come make an appointment with us so we can work with them on a specific negotiation strategy.”
Unlike a traditional career services office, the U Career Success model designates coaching contacts for departments across the University. That means they can provide more tailored advice and build relationships with students where they are.
From the Slope to the City
As the COH career coach, Duquette knows the value of a degree. A longtime Brighton Ski Resort employee, she started taking classes in exercise and sport science at the U in the 1990s. But the workload was overwhelming, so she put a pause on her college career. A few years later, she came back to finish her program and used that network to connect with Hoffman-Abby. That connection led to a career in physician staffing, and eventually brought the two to work together at the University of Utah.
“In my own job search, my degree gave me an upper hand,” she said. “Employers see that you’ve taken the effort to complete something, and it can really set you apart. It opened a lot of doors for me that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.”
Today Duquette averages three to five appointments daily with students. She’ll meet with them in person at the COH’s Center for Student Success or virtually and help them make sure they’re on track to graduate, tweak their resume, prepare for an interview, and more.
“We’re here to help you figure things out,” she said. “I try to reassure students that it’s going to be ok. I want to put myself in their shoes because I know how stressful it can be.”
It’s never too early for COH students to book an appointment with Duquette and start prioritizing a plan for career success. Beyond career planning, Duquette can connect students to other on-campus resources for mental and physical support. Her work doesn’t go unnoticed.
“I recently got a very heartfelt email from a student who was able to secure three interviews after we met and said he appreciated our work so much,” she said. “A lot of our career coaches actually get emails like that, and it’s really nice to hear.”
A Pivotal Career Flip Benefits U
On the leadership side of U Career Success, Katie Hoffman-Abby is a friendly, familiar face for many in the COH. She got her degree in nutrition and food science and spent years transforming the physician staffing industry, promoting a culture of employee wellness. She returned to the U in 2015 to work as assistant dean in the David Eccles School of Business, and after years of serving as special advisor to President Taylor Randall, she helped open the expanded center in 2023.
“I have found tremendous value in the degree I received from the College of Health,” said Hoffman-Abby. “Like many students, I entered the college with the intention of doing one thing and then ended up doing another. Although I was certain my destiny would lead me to be a health care provider—physical therapist was top on my list—life had different plans.”
“Turns out, there are many ways to work in healthcare and many career paths available to individuals with degrees from COH. I found a rewarding and fulfilling career as an entrepreneur and business executive who brought quality healthcare to communities in desperate need. My altruistic need to help others was fulfilled. Rest assured, not a second of my learning was wasted. The experience I gained both inside and outside of the classroom has been used throughout my life, personally and professionally.”
As vice president, Hoffman-Abby spends a lot of time marketing U Career Success’s services and the value they add. That includes average salary increases for students who use the services versus those who don’t. Of course, college students are already at an advantage when it comes to compensation after they graduate.
“While it is true that someone without a college degree can get a high paying job, we spent a lot of time looking at those opportunities that exist, and the percentage is very small,” Hoffman-Abby said. “When you compare that to the number of entry-level opportunities for an undergrad with a bachelor’s degree, the odds are significantly better that someone is going to be financially secure if they have a degree versus if they don’t.”
Networking is also hugely important, and U Career Success delivers in that category by facilitating more than 150 events every semester, including career fairs, targeted expos, workshops, panel discussions, and employer visits to campus. As students return to more in-person opportunities, the center had record attendance at almost every event they hosted last fall.
“We really strongly encourage students to take the years they’re here to explore,” Hoffman-Abby said. “Come to events, talk to people, all of these things can help students discover what they’re good at and what they enjoy doing.”
Investing in COH Student Success
Hoffman-Abby takes her investment in COH students seriously, creating the Iron Will Scholarship in memory of her son. “When my beautiful son Will was suffering with a rare disease, my experience in COH helped me navigate our difficult and intimidating healthcare system, an advantage that many families do not have.
“The scholarship honors both Will and the college which supplied me with the knowledge to persevere in the most challenging of times. Even though Will has now passed, he truly valued higher education and stayed in school to the very end. I know he is smiling down on us and thrilled to be helping other students achieve their academic dreams.”
As the flagship university in the state, the University of Utah is a strong partner on a local, national and global level. A degree from the U and the College of Health puts new graduates in high demand, something Hoffman-Abby can back up.
“I am a proud graduate of the College of Health—every single person is tremendous, and it’s palpable how much everyone cares about the students,” she said. “It’s a warm, welcoming place where they’ll receive an incredible education, and they have the U Career Success Center to help them become successful alumni.”