CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERIES – Roots & Routes: Supporting Career Aspirations of Rural Appalachian Students
Event Details
For the 2025-2026 school year, SOCHE will host a special Career Development Series of virtual presentations that is designed to
Event Details
For the 2025-2026 school year, SOCHE will host a special Career Development Series of virtual presentations that is designed to support higher education personnel as they help develop the Workforce of Tomorrow.
The first session of the SOCHE Career Development Series will be “Roots & Routes: Supporting Career Aspirations of Rural Appalachian Students,” hosted on Friday, Oct. 3, from 12-1 p.m. ET via Zoom. Aaron Sturgill, Executive Director of Career Services at Ohio University, will be presenting.
Rural Appalachian students often face distinct tensions as they balance cultural identity, deep place attachment, and evolving career aspirations. These students may feel torn between honoring familial and community ties and pursuing opportunities that require them to leave their home region.
This session invites higher education professionals — especially those in career services, advising, and student support — to examine how culturally responsive, student-centered practices can better serve Appalachian students as they navigate these complex decisions. Drawing from both scholarly literature and lived experience, the session highlights core regional values such as family loyalty, community interconnectedness, and self-reliance, and examines how these influence students’ perceptions of success, mobility, and belonging.
Attendees will explore the implications of place-based identity on career planning and consider the nuanced role higher education plays in either reinforcing or challenging students’ sense of home and possibility. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of Appalachian culture and with actionable strategies to support students in ways that honor their identities while also expanding their vision for the future.
Attendees of this session will:
- Develop a deeper understanding of the cultural values, identities, and place-based factors that shape career decision-making for rural Appalachian students.
- Recognize the tensions students may experience between pursuing new opportunities and maintaining strong ties to family and community.
- Explore the role of higher education professionals in validating diverse definitions of success and supporting student agency in post-graduation planning.
- Identify practical, culturally responsive strategies that career services and other student support professionals can use to honor Appalachian students’ backgrounds while broadening their career pathways.
- Reflect on personal and institutional practices to assess how they may unintentionally reinforce or challenge student perceptions of belonging, mobility, and professional identity.
Whether students choose to stay in their communities or seek new horizons, professionals can play a critical role in making all career paths feel valid, visible, and attainable. Register now to join us in learning how to provide a supportive educational environment for this unique group of students.
Registration for this event will close on Sunday, Sept. 28.
[If you are unable to attend live, a recording link will be sent to all registrants]
When: Friday, Oct. 3, from 12-1 p.m. ET [if you are unable to attend live, a recording link will be sent to all registrants]
Where: SOCHE Zoom platform (link sent at least 24 hours prior to event)
Cost:
- Personnel from SOCHE member schools: $5
- Personnel from NON-member schools/organizations: $10
- Students: FREE
Questions? Contact Mindy Claggett at SOCHE
Student Registration Fee Policy
Registration Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 28.
About the Presenter

Aaron Sturgill
Executive Director of Career Services
Ohio University
Aaron Sturgill is a higher education leader with over a decade of experience advancing student success through career development, strategic partnerships, and campus-wide collaboration. As the Executive Director of Career Services at Ohio University, he leads efforts to create a “Career Competent Campus,” ensuring every student has access to meaningful career support. Aaron is passionate about equity, innovation, and empowering students to envision futures that align with their values and goals. He regularly presents and consults on best practices in career coaching.
Time
October 3, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm(GMT-04:00)