Meet Our Team

Thank you for visiting the Laney Graduate School’s Office of Professional Development and Career Planning. Our mission is to provide opportunities for LGS graduate students to build professional skills and join professional communities that will serve them while at Emory and into their careers.  

Our team offers a range of professional development and career planning programming throughout the year in seven areas of focus: 

  • Teaching, including the TATTO program
  • Ethics, including the Jones Program in Ethics 
  • Career Development 
  • Communication 
  • Grant Writing 
  • Personal Development 
  • Mentoring 

We also connect advanced students to internal and external funding opportunities and offer special funding opportunities to support students’ professional development. 

The Professional Development and Career Planning Team

Dr. Katy Leonard, Assistant Dean

Katy oversees the development of all PDCP programming and resources and is available to meet one-on-one with graduate students about their career development plans.

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Katy Leonard

Dr. Mike Suh, Assistant Director, Professional Development and Career Planning

Mike oversees the LGS advanced fellowships competitions, the Professional Development Support Funds program, and the Jones Program in Ethics. Mike is available to meet one-on-one with graduate students who have questions about these areas.

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Mike Suh

Helen Klepac, Career Coach

Helen is a Career Coach whose approach to coaching is holistic, solution-focused, and strength-based. She is certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator as well as an integrative Wellness Life Coach.

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Helen Keplac

Dr. Ariela Freedman, Career Coach

Dr. Ariela Freedman is a proud Laney graduate, having earned her PhD in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education in 2011. Prior to joining LGS, she served on faculty at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health for several years.

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Ariela Freedman