Rachel Bernard, PhD, Director of GSAS Compass. After earning her PhD in history at the University of California, Berkeley, Rachel began at Columbia’s Center for Career Education as Assistant Director of Graduate Career Development. She later joined American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) to manage fellowship and grant programs for humanities and social science scholars at every stage of their career—from graduate students to senior academics. Rachel helped run the Mellon/ACLS Public Fellows program, which offers positions in nonprofit organizations and government agencies to recent PhDs in the humanities and social sciences. When she is not on campus, you might find Rachel jogging around the reservoir in Central Park, enjoying a croissant and coffee at Hungarian Pastry Shop, or chasing her two young kids at a playground in Morningside Park.

Francesca Fanelli, Associate Director of GSAS Compass. Francesca comes to GSAS after five years at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP), where she founded and developed the GSAPP office of Career Services. She instituted a career advising program and a robust suite of workshops and events, including a mentorship program and career fair. Francesca is currently pursuing at Teachers College a Master’s of Education in Counseling Psychology with a focus on mental health; she has a particular interest in the intersection of gender, race, and career development. When not helping students explore their career interests, Francesca can be found cooking elaborate meals or running in Central Park.