About CareerConnects
Career Connects was created to help students gain exposure to careers before they are expected to make life-changing decisions about college majors and professional paths. Too often, young people are asked to choose a future without truly understanding the options available to them. Career Connects was founded to bridge that gap by helping students explore industries, understand workplace expectations, and develop the skills needed to succeed beyond high school.
Through partnerships with schools, community organizations, and professionals across multiple industries, Career Connects introduces students to real career pathways while strengthening the confidence and practical skills they will need in the workforce. Our programs combine career exploration, professional development, and mentorship in ways that help students connect what they learn in school to real opportunities in the world around them.
Career Connects was founded by educator and scientist Shannen Tyson, whose experience in both education and healthcare shaped her commitment to helping students make informed decisions about their futures. After working in science education and laboratory medicine, she recognized how many young people graduate without meaningful exposure to the wide range of careers available to them. Career Connects was created to ensure students have access to the information, mentorship, and experiences that can guide them toward purposeful and informed career choices.
What makes Career Connects unique is our focus on how students actually learn, develop, and make decisions during adolescence.
Career Connects incorporates research on adolescent brain development and decision-making to help students explore careers in ways that align with how young people process information, form identity, and develop long-term goals. By understanding how the developing brain influences motivation, curiosity, and risk-taking, our programs are designed to engage students at a stage when exposure and mentorship can have a lasting impact.
This work is developed in collaboration with Dr. Robert Labril, a child psychiatrist whose expertise in youth development, emotional regulation, and performance psychology brings an important dimension to the Career Connects model. Together, we study how career exposure, mindset development, and emotional wellness can be integrated to support students during critical stages of growth.
Meet the Founder
Shannen Tyson founded Career Connects in 2023 with a vision to help students make more informed decisions about their futures. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree, where her research focuses on the adolescent brain and decision-making as part of a textbook she is developing.
Shannen’s interest in science began in high school, where she dreamed of building a career in the field. She started her professional journey as a laboratory assistant and worked her way up to becoming a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Along the way, she experienced firsthand the challenges many students face when navigating career paths. With limited mentorship, unclear guidance about career opportunities, and the challenge of continuing her education while raising her two sons, Shannen realized how difficult the journey could be without the right support system.
These experiences inspired her to create Career Connects, an initiative designed to help students explore career pathways before making major decisions about college and future careers. With a background in science, healthcare, and education, Shannen has worked closely with students and professionals and has seen how often young people are expected to choose a college major without fully understanding the careers behind those choices.
Career Connects was created to bridge that gap by connecting students with professionals, career advisors, universities, and industry partners who can provide real-world insight into different career paths. Through structured career exploration programs, mentorship opportunities, and industry exposure, Career Connects helps students gain the knowledge, confidence, and guidance they need as they prepare for life beyond high school.
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