GBC Professor Nicole Evans Helps Students Build Experience, Connections and Career Confidence

A degree can help students qualify for opportunities, but succeeding in the workplace also requires experience, professional connections, adaptability and a strong reputation.

Nicole Evans, associate professor of business management and chair of the Business Management Department at Goldey-Beacom College, works to build each of those elements into the student experience.

In a recent episode of the Practice to Profession podcast, Evans spoke with host Dustin Ramsdell about her path from financial services to higher education, the importance of professional organizations and how GBC’s human resource management programs prepare students for the workforce.

Evans has taught at GBC for approximately 10 years. In addition to her work at the College, she serves as a consultant and provides training seminars to companies. That continued involvement in the professional world helps her connect classroom concepts to the challenges employers and employees are facing today.

Her academic background includes a master’s degree in human resources and a doctorate in business administration. She also holds two professional certifications in human resource management. Before entering higher education, Evans worked in the financial services industry for companies including Principal, Prudential and MetLife. She also held several financial licenses. While completing her doctorate, she began teaching as an adjunct instructor and discovered that she enjoyed bringing her professional experience into the classroom. That experience allowed her to offer students more than theory. She could explain how concepts appeared in real organizations, workplace decisions and professional relationships.

Evans was teaching at several Delaware colleges when she saw an opening for a full-time position at GBC. Although that position was temporarily placed on hold, the College invited her to teach as an adjunct faculty member. She accepted the opportunity. When the full-time position reopened, she applied again and was selected. Members of the interview committee later told her that her adjunct experience helped distinguish her from other qualified candidates because they had already seen her work and knew she would fit well within the College. For Evans, the experience demonstrated how accepting one opportunity can lead to another.

Her own introduction to GBC also had a personal connection. As a Delaware native, she had known about the College since childhood, and several of her relatives and ancestors had attended GBC. When she joined the College full time, a longtime professor named Pat Buehler helped her adjust to the new role. Buehler mentored her, answered questions and helped her understand the expectations and culture of the institution. That support became one of Evans’ earliest meaningful memories at GBC.

Over time, some of her most rewarding experiences have come from providing similar support to students and watching them develop. She recalled meeting one prospective student and her family at a GBC open house. The student eventually enrolled, became involved with the College’s student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, served as its president, completed her degree and later earned a master’s degree.

Today, the former student has built a successful career in human resources, and she and Evans remain in contact. Stories like that stand out because Evans has the opportunity to see students at multiple points in their development. She may first meet them as prospective students or first-year undergraduates. Later, she sees them assume leadership roles, complete internships, begin their careers and return to share what they have accomplished.

GBC’s small environment helps make those lasting relationships possible. Students, faculty and staff know one another, and faculty members can remain connected with students as they progress through college and into their careers. Evans also helps students understand that selecting a career involves more than choosing a job function. Someone working in human resources at a bank may have a very different experience from someone performing the same function in manufacturing, health care, education or a nonprofit organization. The size, industry, culture and mission of an employer can all influence the work.

Nicole Evans in a classroom, Computer lab, with students teaching them

In her classes, Evans asks students to consider whether they would prefer a large or small organization, a for-profit company or a nonprofit, and what type of workplace culture would suit them best.

Undergraduate students may not yet have enough experience to answer those questions with certainty. Internships, entry-level jobs and exposure to different employers can help them discover what works for them and what does not. Professional organizations also play an important role in that process.

Evans is actively involved with the Society for Human Resource Management, commonly known as SHRM. The organization connects HR professionals and provides education, certifications, research and professional development. Her involvement helps her remain current on trends, challenges and employer expectations within the field.

She attends workshops and conferences, conducts research, publishes articles and works with SHRM at the national level. Her contributions have included serving on expert panels and helping develop questions for SHRM certification examinations.

She brings that experience directly into her courses through updated content, guest speakers and discussions based on real workplace situations. Her involvement also creates opportunities for students. Her involvement also creates opportunities for students. Evans brings students to conferences, introduces them to HR professionals and encourages them to become comfortable participating in professional settings. Those interactions can lead to meaningful connections with employers and GBC alumni working in the field.

At conferences, Evans often reconnects with former students and sees how their careers have developed. Current students can meet those alumni and begin building their own professional networks. GBC’s human resource management programs are also academically aligned with SHRM standards. Maintaining that alignment requires the College to continually review and update its programs to reflect emerging issues, current practices and new expectations within human resources. That connection helps ensure that students are studying material relevant to the profession they plan to enter. Career preparation also extends beyond the content of individual courses.

In Evans’ classroom, students work on projects, case studies and simulations designed to reflect real workplace situations. They develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills while also practicing résumé writing, interviewing and networking. She frequently works with GBC’s Career Services team and invites professionals to speak with students.

She also consults members of her HR network to ask what knowledge, skills and abilities they are looking for when hiring. She then brings that employer feedback into the classroom. The undergraduate human resource management program includes required internship experiences near the end of the program. Those internships give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned, gain professional experience and add relevant work to their résumés before graduating. At the graduate level, Evans added a SHRM certification preparation course as a capstone experience. The course helps students prepare for the professional certification examination and build an additional credential beyond their degree.

The College’s updated HR programs received an Innovation in HR Award in 2024. Evans also encourages students to attend and volunteer at professional events.

At one networking event, she instructed students to separate, sit with professionals they did not already know and begin conversations. One student was offered a job during the event. For Evans, the experience demonstrated the value of getting students outside the classroom and helping them practice networking with support nearby.

Students may understand that networking is important, but attending an event and approaching unfamiliar professionals can be intimidating. Faculty guidance can help them move through that discomfort and develop a skill they will use throughout their careers. When asked what she hopes every student learns, Evans emphasized flexibility and lifelong learning.

Professor Nicole Evans, and other professors posing on commencement

Industries evolve, responsibilities change and new challenges emerge. Students who remain curious and willing to develop new skills will be better prepared to navigate those changes. Her own career did not follow one clear, predetermined route. It developed as she accepted new opportunities and remained open to different possibilities. She also encourages students to value professionalism and integrity.

Skills and credentials can help someone secure a position, but character affects the relationships and reputation they build over time. That is particularly important in a closely connected state such as Delaware, where professional networks frequently overlap. A strong reputation can create opportunities throughout a career. A poor one can close doors just as quickly.

For students preparing to enter the workforce, the lesson is broader than learning how to perform a specific job. Career readiness also means building experience, developing relationships, continuing to learn and becoming the kind of professional others can trust.