HWS News
23 December 2025 • STEM Shaping STEM Futures at HWS
Associate Director Jessica Townley guides STEM students through career exploration grounded in community and curiosity.
When Jessica Townley gazes out over Seneca Lake from the Hobart and William Smith campus, she doesn’t just see water and sky — she sees possibility. That same sense of possibility defines the work she does with STEM students, helping them navigate evolving career paths and guiding them toward futures shaped by curiosity, creativity and meaningful relationships. As Associate Director of STEM Career Coaching, Townley recognizes the dedication HWS students bring to their commitments. “STEM students are incredibly passionate and balance so much — academics, research, athletics, family expectations,” she says. “When I meet with a student, I want to know who they are, not just what they do. That authenticity comes first.”
Her approach blends pragmatism and optimism, encouraging students to aim high while exploring the many entry points in STEM fields. “Students have wonderful aspirations,” she explains. “My role is to help translate those dreams into clear, achievable steps. Early roles are opportunities to explore different areas, build skills and gain confidence.”
Townley draws from her own journey to illustrate this philosophy. Before joining HWS, she worked in human resources at Cornell AgriTech, where she discovered how much she valued supporting others. “When I saw the STEM Career Coaching position at HWS, it aligned with everything I cared about — supporting students, fostering connections and helping others uncover what’s possible,” she says.
Her experience reinforced a lesson she now brings into advising relationships matter. At HWS, she encourages students to “build relationships, get involved, support others — those connections make an enormous difference.”
Networking, she says, begins with curiosity. “I help students explore LinkedIn not just for someone’s job title, but for the stories behind their work — projects they’ve completed, passions they’ve pursued, companies they follow. Those details spark more meaningful conversations.”
She also encourages engagement beyond the classroom. “Low-key events, talks, employer visits or even a casual introduction can lead to authentic connections,” she says. “Sometimes I introduce students to someone I know, then step back. Watching them navigate those conversations with confidence is one of my favorite parts of this role.”
Supporting students through uncertainty is central to her work. “From a student’s initial interest, I help explore what that path could look like while surfacing related opportunities they may not have considered,” she says. Reflection helps students identify the environments and work that feel meaningful. “HWS students are incredibly involved, and I encourage them to carve out small moments of reflection.”
Townley often illustrates this through her own undergraduate experience at Nazareth College, where one elective shifted her academic trajectory. “Taking time to pause can be transformative,” she says. “A quiet walk along Seneca Lake can reveal direction and purpose.”
Her guidance extends to students preparing for advanced study. “Faculty want to see curiosity and genuine interest,” she notes. “AI can help shape ideas, but a student’s authentic voice is what makes their application compelling.”
Authenticity also matters in application materials. “If a student has faced an academic challenge, sharing how they grew from it can demonstrate resilience.” She encourages conversations with peers, mentors or student writers to deepen reflection.
Townley begins every appointment with a brief set of questions. “Curiosity and connection drive everything. Understanding what inspires a student builds trust, and that foundation makes our work far more impactful.”
A lifelong resident of Geneva, Townley enjoys the outdoors with her husband, Brian, and their children, Lauren and Kevin. Whether exploring Seneca Lake or snowmobiling in the Adirondacks, her love of nature continues to shape the encouragement she offers students: take time to explore, to pause and to learn from every interaction.
Top: Associate Director of STEM Career Coaching Jessica Townley meets with a student in her office.
