Peter Alkatib

As higher education faces increasing pressure to demonstrate return on investment, universities are rethinking how students engage with career services. Traditional, office-based models no longer meet the needs of today’s learners. At Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), Peter Alkatib, Director of Career Services, Strategic Partnerships, is advancing a career-ecosystem model that embeds career-readiness across the student experience.

Alkatib’s leadership approach is shaped by a non-linear professional journey, one he openly shares with students to normalize career pivots and adaptability. He earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of California, San Diego, and originally pursued a pre-med track, gaining clinical exposure through hospital volunteering and physician shadowing. During his senior year, a layoff from a lab research assistant role coincided with MCAT preparation, prompting him to reassess his path.

That transition led him into education through one of the largest charter school networks in California, where he began as a tutor and quickly expanded into research initiatives, workforce programs, and business development. He supported the launch of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, and during this time, co-produced the award-winning documentary Chaldean Voices with students, reinforcing the value of experiential learning.

Alkatib later joined a second charter school network, focusing on growth, district partnerships, and school expansion. Legislative and regulatory changes ultimately eliminated the role, becoming another inflection point. He used the transition to pursue an MBA at PLNU, where relationship-building proved pivotal once again. A connection with the former director of career services led to his first higher education role as a program manager, followed by promotion to senior program manager and, ultimately, his current director-level position.

"Rather than waiting for students to come to us, we engage with them where they already are, in classrooms, co-curricular spaces, and through a strong digital presence."

Today, Alkatib oversees a comprehensive career development strategy for undergraduate and graduate students, anchored in five priorities: setting the office’s vision and strategic direction; managing operations, staffing, and budgets; embedding career education into academic and co-curricular spaces; driving student engagement; and building strategic partnerships with faculty, employers, alumni, and community stakeholders.

Expanding Career Access Through a Career Ecosystem

Alkatib’s strategy aligns with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 21st Century Career Services Framework and the Career Leadership Collective’s career ecosystem model, both of which emphasize a connected, institution-wide approach to career readiness.

“Rather than waiting for students to come to us, we engage with them where they already are, in classrooms, co-curricular spaces, and through a strong digital presence,” says Alkatib.

Career services works closely with faculty and campus leaders to deliver tailored, discipline-specific workshops, replacing a generic menu of offerings. Advising has shifted from one-on-one appointments to small-group sessions that increase reach while fostering peer learning and normalizing common challenges, such as articulating transferable skills or navigating a competitive job market.

To further institutionalize career readiness, Alkatib and his team developed a one-unit, asynchronous Career Readiness and Exploration course focused on lifelong career management. Grant funding has enabled these modules to be embedded into academic courses. Career services maintains a strong presence in first-year orientation and senior capstone courses, while current initiatives include mapping a four-year career education journey and streamlining internship processes across the university.

Building Sustainable Employer Partnerships

Employer engagement at PLNU is designed to be long-term and mutually beneficial. Industry advisory boards across business, STEM, psychology, and other disciplines provide insight into workforce trends, inform curriculum alignment, and help establish talent pipelines.

These partnerships are activated through internships, classroom engagement, panels, and experiential events. A notable example is a STEM biotech strategic showcase, which brought employers to campus to tour facilities and engage with students presenting summer research projects, culminating in targeted networking.

Employers and students connect through Handshake and Indeed, including Indeed Job Search Academy, ensuring equitable access to opportunities. Engagement is tracked using CareerForge, an employer relationship management platform that measures activity, outcomes, and partnership effectiveness.

Guiding the Future of Career Services

Career Services has consolidated AI-supported tools into a centralized digital hub serving approximately 5,000 students, including a significant online population. Tools include Jobscan for resume optimization, Google Interview Warm Up for mock interviews, and Google Career Dreamer for career exploration. Guided ChatGPT prompts support responsible AI use, while staff leverage AI for research, data analysis, and preparation for advising.

Looking ahead, Alkatib believes career services must respond directly to enrollment pressures, ROI concerns, and evolving employer expectations. His advice to fellow leaders: start small, pilot strategically, collect data, and align initiatives with institutional priorities. Experience combined with data-driven storytelling builds trust and accelerates buy-in.

Under Alkatib’s leadership, career services at PLNU has evolved from a transactional function into a campus-wide strategy, redefining how career readiness is delivered at a private liberal arts university.