Dr. Markel Quarles joins Arkansas State as director of Career Management Center
JONESBORO, Ark. — Dr. Markel Quarles, a career counselor at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) for the last nine years, is the new director of the Arkansas State University Career Management Center. The announcement was made by Dr. Lonnie Williams, ASU’s associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs. Dr. Quarles officially began his duties Nov. 26.
“We are proud to have Dr. Quarles as a member of the ASU staff,” said Dr. Williams. “He comes to us with stellar recommendations as forward-thinking and self-motivated with proven success in counseling and career development. He has a proven background of strong leadership skills and fully understands the needs of students.”
ASU’s Career Management Center helps students realize career and life goals and provides quality services and programs to employers. Dr. Quarles’ yearly salary is $70,000.
“I’m excited to be part of the ASU family and look forward to helping students develop and realize their career-related goals,” said Dr. Quarles. “ASU is a special place with high-quality students. I want our employers to know that when they hire ASU graduates, they’re getting that same high-quality.”
Dr. Quarles comes to ASU from Cal Poly where he served as a career counselor for students in the STEM disciplines since 2003.
He has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Cal Poly and Cuesta Community College and led the Music Arts Department at Santa Maria Foursquare Church.
Prior to that, he served as the Academic Services and Life Skills Coordinator for the athletics department at Cal Poly. Dr. Quarles managed advising and academic support services for the entire student-athlete population and administered and implemented academic policies and procedures in accordance with NCAA and university regulations.
He was an academic advisor and instructor for Cal Poly’s Educational Opportunity Program from 1999-2001, has spoken at numerous conferences, and has served on a wide range of committees and advisory boards.
Dr. Quarles has experience and training in organizational management, recruitment and retention, career development, strategic planning, community relations, counseling and motivational speaking.
A 1998 graduate from Cal Poly with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and then a master’s degree in Education, Dr. Quarles attended college on a football scholarship. He earned a doctorate of education in Educational Leadership in 2010 from University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and was the program’s first-ever Graduate Opportunity Fellow.
Dr. Quarles and his wife, Theressa, have five children: Drake, Ebony, Monique, Simone, and Elliott.
