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Enjoying her cabin in Northern Minnesota, taking art lessons and traveling are all in the near future for Lois Schultz.

“I trust that there will be many directions that I will want to pursue, but I’m resisting over planning because I want to keep myself open to new directions,” said Schultz, the director of Counseling and Career Services.

After 10 years of helping students plan their future, Schultz will retire from her position at Simpson at the end of this academic year.

Freshman Nana Afriyie is one of the many students who have benefited from Schultz’s services.

“She has time for me whenever I stop in. She’s always been very helpful,” Afriyie said.

Schultz said she really enjoys getting to know the students that she counsels.

“Without a doubt, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is when I am able to establish a supportive relationship with a student that begins in the freshman or sophomore year and continues until they graduate,” Schultz said.

According to Schultz, the Counseling and Career Services and the Alumni office are working together to launch an online Web site to assist students.

“This program will make it possible for Simpson graduates and current students to establish mentoring relationships around career issues,” said Schultz.

“Students will be able to contact graduates who are working in career areas of interest to them through e-mail.”

Schultz said she hopes her replacement will help to make this site happen.

“I certainly hope the new director will continue to work on making this program successful. I think this will be an excellent program and offers the potential for all kinds of interesting possibilities,” Schultz said.

Freshman Joanna Tebbe said she has decided wants she wants to do for a career, but said she thinks it would be beneficial for people who are still searching for a career.

“I would probably use it, but I think someone who doesn’t know what they want to do would find it more helpful than I would,” Tebbe said.

While Schultz is enjoying her retirement, the alumni office hopes to have the program up and running.

“We hope to launch Career Net in June, at alumni weekend,” Director of Alumni Relations Coreen Witke said. “What it will do is hopefully connect our students with our alumni through a mentoring relationship and create more of a feeling of community.”