Beth Jameson, MA
Administrative Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her/hers
As Administrative Coordinator for the Block Career Services Center, I coordinate event and workshop logistics, communicate vital Career Center information to students, alumni, staff, and faculty, and provide resume reviews and feedback for Friedman students & alumni. With an academic background in food studies and a passion for workforce development, I love working with Friedman students and alumni to support their discovery and learning throughout their career path! I hold a BA in Sociology from Boston University, and an MA in Food Studies from Chatham University’s Falk School of Sustainability.
Before coming to the Friedman School, I worked in program administration for an eastern Massachusetts youth development and food justice nonprofit, managed and implemented a career development program for young people at a local housing authority, and worked in office administration at a community center in downtown Boston. In my free time, you’ll usually find me talking about, reading about, or making food. I also love traveling, crafting, and spending time in the outdoors.
Food Fun Fact
I once made 500 homemade marshmallows (in multiple flavors) for a friend’s wedding reception.
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Recent Posts
- Webinar Series: Finding Your Future in Food Systems
- How to Make the Most of an Academic Conference
- Opportunities of the Week: Graduate Writing Practice for Bilingual and Multilingual Graduate Students
- Opportunities of the Week: Graduate Writing Retreat
- Featured Webinar Series: Finding Your Future in Food Systems
Melissa Palmer, MS, CPC
Director of Career Services

Pronouns: she/her/hers
My lifelong passion is helping people better understand their unique skills, interests, personality, and passions, and how to connect these to the changing world of work in ways that are meaningful as well as economically viable. As a certified coach, I consider it an honor to walk alongside students and alumni as they clarify their career & life goals and learn the skills of lifelong career management.
I joined the Friedman School in October 2020 as the inaugural Director of the Block Career Center. Before that, I spent three years as the Associate Director of Career Services at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. With 20+ years of experience across higher education, talent acquisition, leadership development, and entrepreneurship, I am excited to build a career center for The Friedman School that leverages technology, facilitates equitable access for all students, and provides the tools needed to navigate tomorrow’s job market.
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, lived in Dallas, Texas for 8 years, and love all things international. I have an M.S. in College Student Personnel and a B.A. in International Studies (with minors in French and Economics), both from Miami University (Oxford, OH). When I’m not reading or thinking about career and life development, I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with my husband and our 3 (almost grown) kids!
Food Fun Fact
My husband and I eat a whole food, plant-based diet. In 2014, we stumbled upon the documentary, “Forks over Knives,” and read the amazing book, “How Not to Die,” by Tufts alumnus Dr. Michael Gregor. We immediately changed the way we eat, have never felt better, and haven’t looked back since!
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Recent Posts
Lori Rodriguez, EdM
Associate Director of Career Services

Pronouns: she/her/hers
I have been at the Friedman School since 2003 and spent the first five years working as part of a research team on two studies. One was a longitudinal study that evaluated a wide range of health behaviors and outcomes among Tufts undergraduate students. Another focused on elementary school children in after school programs with the goal of improving eating habits and increasing physical activity levels. I then transitioned to the Office of Student Affairs (the result of an informational interview!) and quickly realized how much I enjoyed helping students grow professionally.
As part of the Block Career Services Center team, my goal is to ensure that students have the support that they need as they explore their areas of interest and become better prepared for the job market. My work involves guiding and coaching students as they seek internships and jobs, providing skill building and networking opportunities through workshops and events, and developing relationships with employers and partners.
I have my Ed.M. from Boston University in Policy, Planning, and Administration with a specialization in Higher Education Administration. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children, traveling, music, and baking yummy treats.
Food Fun Fact
I am allergic to cantaloupe, despise blackberries, and, if only allowed to have one food if stranded on a deserted island, it would be vanilla soft serve ice cream. Also, I am originally from Buffalo, New York, the famed birthplace of Buffalo wings and home of the Beef on Weck sandwich. It’s worth the trip (unless you are vegan)!
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Recent Posts
Sarah Stockwell, MA
Associate Director of Career Services

Pronouns: she/her/hers
I am excited to join the Block Career Center (BCC) as an Associate Director of Career Services. In my role, I partner with students to help them assess how to leverage their talents to make a tangible impact on the world. Via skill-building workshops and one-on-one coaching, I help drive career dreams and aspirations into reality. The BCC team provides a portfolio of compelling career development tools including career exploration events, connections to accomplished alumni, and internship and job search opportunities.
Prior to Friedman, I worked for nine years at The Fletcher School and six years at The Gordon Institute to build career development programming that helped graduate students improve self-awareness, investigate compelling career opportunities, and obtain the essential skills to conduct successful career searches. Prior to Tufts, I worked with executives in the private sector where I established the European headquarters of a company in Amsterdam, The Netherlands by attracting the best talent to grow the team. Throughout my career, I’ve pushed myself and others to embrace a growth mindset, capitalizing on opportunities to live and work abroad, help people grow and develop into their best selves, and connect and facilitate diverse groups.
When not at work, I love exploring the outdoors, spending time with my teenage daughters and husband, traveling to new locations, and gathering with friends. I am a Tufts double jumbo with a B.A. in American Studies and an M.A. in Museum Education.
Food Fun Fact
I love to bake with alternative ingredients. I frequently use various flours such as almond, oat, and buckwheat; different sugars such as Medjool dates, coconut sugar, and maple syrup; and vegetables in my baked items! Highlights include a chocolate beet cake for my daughter’s birthday and chickpea chocolate chip cookies. The running family joke is “what healthy ingredient did mom sneak into dessert this time?”
Ingrid Zhou
Student Ambassador

Pronouns: she/her/hers
I am a first-year student in the Food and Nutrition Policy and Program (FANPP) program. My dream is to feed the world and tell stories about food and community everywhere I travel. I received my B.S. in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am a passionate food entrepreneur, writer, and social activist. While working at the Block Career Center, I enjoy finding great job opportunities for students, connecting students with alumni/future employers, and writing career-related blog posts. I believe in the law of attraction: our work in Career Center is to help students move positively in the direction of their ideal jobs.
Outside of work, I spend my free time reading, writing, spending 4 hours making dinners, and taking endless road trips.
Food Fun Fact
I love peeking into people’s shopping carts in the grocery store. It felt like a bad habit, but I turned it into a fun project! In the winter of 2021, I road tripped to 24 states in 25 days on my own. In each state, I picked a Dollar Tree store and a Walmart. I interviewed 2 strangers in each of these stores about their dinner plans and took pictures of their shopping carts. Ask me about it. I will show you my grocery store Odyssey.