51社区

Sarah Dreitzler-Swenson, a Chillicothe native, has returned to her roots at 51社区 Chillicothe as the new Career Development Coordinator, bringing with her diverse experiences and a passion for guiding students on their own paths to success.

Dreitzler-Swenson started her college career at 51社区 Chillicothe and finished on the Athens campus, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in education from the Patton College of Education.  

鈥淚 loved the small campus atmosphere of OHIO Chillicothe,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 felt very connected to my instructors and classmates. I was pleasantly surprised when I relocated to Athens that a lot of the support I was worried about leaving behind was still there. I quickly found my place in my classes and among peers.鈥�

After graduating from 51社区鈥檚 Patton College of Education, Dreitzler-Swenson worked as a high school English teacher before holding roles as a youth leader, librarian, and social services worker.

"I'm one of those people who wants to try a little bit of everything," she said. 鈥淚 have loved working in every one of these roles, and love having the ability to apply my 51社区 degree toward other fields that interested me.鈥� 

Now, as the career development coordinator at OHIO Chillicothe, Dreitzler-Swenson is excited to guide students as they explore career paths and opportunities.

"I am most excited to work with students who are trying to narrow down career options and look for new opportunities," she said.

Dreitzler-Swenson鈥檚 family plays a central role in her life. She and her husband Paul have two sons; Joe, age 18, and Ben, age 11. Their household is also home to an assortment of rescue animals, including dogs, cats, and a grumpy hedgehog. The family shares a love for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and swimming, and they are all enthusiastic readers and creative writers.

As a student on the Athens campus, Dreitzler-Swenson became an avid hockey fan and she recalls attending every home game with her roommates and spending an amazing week cheering, freezing, and supporting fellow Bobcats as the hockey team made it to the final game of the conference tournament.  

Dreitzler-Swenson invites OHIO Chillicothe students to with her for career exploration, resume review, interview prep, and more. She advises students to think outside of the box and look at new ways that their education and experience can apply to fields that they would like to try.

鈥淢y college diploma says I am a high school English teacher, and while that is a part of my career story, it isn鈥檛 the whole story,鈥� Dreitzler-Swenson said. 鈥淚 am grateful for the skills that I obtained while earning that degree including organization, writing skills, public speaking, and a myriad of others.  They have all served me well in my continued work in serving the community that I love.鈥� 

Students and employers may schedule time with Sarah Dreitzler-Swenson using , email dreitzler@ohio.edu, or call 740-774-7241.