staff,” she says. “But Al helped me through both my personal and professional growth at UCLA, advised me on my job search, and introduced me to key alumni that really made an impact on my career.”

"The greatest gift we can give to students is to make them aware of their options, then help them navigate the process."

Former Career Center colleague Carl Martellino (BA ’87, MA ’92), now director of the Pomona College Career Development Office, is equally grateful to Al, saying, “I have been able to do some great things in my career because of Al’s motivation, guidance and inspiration.”
Al’s mantra has always been to “get involved,” and he encourages everyone on campus — students, faculty and staff — to take advantage of all the University has to offer. Leading by example, in his

  
 
spare time he serves on the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for Disability; is a board member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center; and is Treasurer of both the University Credit Union and the Black Faculty and Staff Association. “This sort of involvement benefits everyone — we learn from each other,” he explains. “The diversity of UCLA means we have many opportunities to broaden ourselves, both personally and professionally.”
With so many commitments, Al can’t keep in touch with every student he comes across, but to him that just goes with the territory. “Counseling is a bit like parenting. If you do a good job of it, you prepare people to leave you.” Fortunately for UCLA, Al Aubin plans on staying awhile longer.

Find more information about the UCLA Career Center online at http://www.career.ucla.edu.

While some students are very clear about their career paths, he also knows that many simply aren’t ready to decide on a career after four years. That’s where internships come in. Al says, “It’s very important for students to realize that there’s a whole variety of internships offered through the Career Center.”
Al has always worked to promote the services of the Career Center to students who otherwise might not consider using its services. For example, a few years ago with Al’s encouragement, a group of students established FAST (Fashion and Student Trends). Each spring the group puts on a fashion show of designer clothing by both young and established designers in Ackerman Union for an audience of 500, with a disc jockey and full runway.
Positive Impact
He continues to advise some individual students on a regular basis, like Regent Scholar Society member Brian Bilford, a senior with a triple major in philosophy, sociology and psychology. “I've never met a university official who is more connected to his students,” says Brian. “His office is filled with photographs—some of his family, but mostly of students he’s advised through the years. He’s been to their graduations and even to their weddings.”
Former student Regina Cheung ’00, now a financial analyst with Panda Restaurant Group, credits Al with much of her academic and career success. “When I was getting ready to attend a large university like UCLA, I wasn't expecting to build strong relationships with faculty and
 
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