Adrian Ramirez is the associate director of the Career and Professional Development at St. Edward’s University. He is also a skilled juggler, a card collector, music lover and a pop-culture specialist, according to one of his colleagues.

“He’s a wealth of information,” said Andrew Harper, the manager of employer relations. “He knows a lot about a lot of things.”

As associate director, Ramirez helps connect students with internships, jobs and other opportunities. He works with students one on one and helps coordinate events around campus.

Prior to his employment at St. Edward’s, he managed an employment services program and worked in the career development office at the University of Dallas.

After his managerial experience, he decided to shift his focus to university work.

“I wanted to transition to higher education,” Ramirez said. “I always felt like I wanted to work in a university setting.”

Ramirez said that he enjoyed working with students at the University of Dallas and that transitioning to St. Edward’s was a natural move given the school’s similarity to his previous workplace.

“I wanted to continue expanding my experience,” Ramirez said. “St. Edward’s was a chance to take on more of a leadership role. I’ve always admired the institution.”

Before Ramirez knew that he wanted to work in Career Services, he was like most of his current advisees: still trying to figure it out.

“It’s okay not to know. As long as you are taking steps to figure out what you like,” Ramirez said.

He suggests that students join organizations on campus to help explore their interests. Ramirez credits his interest in service to the service-centered fraternity he joined when he was in school, Alpha Phi Omega.

“If I hadn’t joined that organization in college, my career would look very different. Beyond studying, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Ramirez said. “But I began to enjoy community outreach.”

Ramirez said that his goal was to work with a non-profit and do some community service.

A Dallas native, his decision to move to Austin and work at St. Edward’s was “an interesting challenge,” Ramirez said.

“I was born and raised in Dallas,” he said. “[This is] my first non-Dallas job.”

However, Ramirez’s love for music and familiarity with the city ultimately made Austin a perfect fit.

“Dallas has quite a vibrant arts and music community,” Ramirez said, “[so] it has definitely been a plus being in Austin. I try to keep music as much as possible in my life.”

But the music scene is not the only element holding sway.

Ramirez said he liked working at St. Edward’s because the students are very concerned with their community.

“Every student that I’ve encountered has been service and community outreach driven,” Ramirez said. “Given my background, that has resonated very deeply with me.”

“It is invigorating being with students who have some of the same interests as me,” he added.

Ramirez’s advice to students: “[They should] begin thinking about their long-term interests as soon as they can.”