Career Services at Eastern celebrates new space with ribbon cutting

Career Services at Eastern celebrates new space with ribbon cutting Categories: News Career Services at Eastern celebrates new space with ribbon cutting Koria Downs, Reporter • October 8, 2026 Koria Downs Career Services held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Life Design Studio on the first floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union’s east wing on Monday. A ribbon cutting for EIU Career Services’ new location was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union on Monday. The new location officially opened in the union’s east wing on Sept. 14. Director of Career Services Bobbi Kingery said the ribbon-cutting ceremony gave staff a chance to thank the administration for its support and to bring awareness to the new space. Career Services was previously located in the Student Services Building, and Kingery said the new space has a more student-focused feel. Career Services now has its main office space on the third floor and an additional space on the first floor of the east wing. Several other departments were also relocated as part of the move. Fraternity and Sorority Life moved to the second floor of the east wing, and the Office of Leadership and Engagement moved to the first floor of the west wing. The Housing and Dining office moved from the first floor of the west wing to the Human Services Building. Director of Career Services Bobbi Kingery looks at all of the sticky notes left by students and staff for the activity “What Do You Want 2 Be” before the ribbon-cutting ceremony began. (Koria Downs) Kingery said that career services has never had anything like this in the past 22 years. “We thought being on the first floor was great. It also allows our student career staff to help students with appointments, resumes and cover letters,” Kingery said. “This new area gives us visibility. Anyone who comes to campus is going to see the institution’s commitment to career development and opportunities for students.” Inside the main office are activities, like puzzles or coloring, that help create a feeling of home, said Kingery. According to Eastern Illinois University President Jay Gatrell, the goal of the moves was to make the union a more student-facing building. “It tells prospective students as well as current students that we’re preparing to help them with life beyond campus,” Gatrell said. Kingery said that while the new space may not have the same capacity as the previous one, the move is positive for students. “Our old area had enough capacity for employers to hold interviews. We might’ve lost that, but we gained this, which I think is beneficial for the students,” Kingery said. Kingery said she hopes that students will use the new space every day. She also said that staff will use it for workshops or presentations in the evenings. Koria Downs can be reached at [email protected]. View Story Comments 1 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment Tags: Career Services Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony More to Discover More in News Over 70 vendors attend Small Business Fest at Eastern Eastern’s fall enrollment decline sees similiarities, differences from statewide trends Student Senate asks university to regulate use of AI by faculty Limited access to accessible entrances in Coleman Hall raises concerns  Charleston Fire Department Celebrates Fire Prevention Week at Linder Sports Complex Administrative reorganization announced at EIU president’s fall update About the Contributor Koria Downs, Reporter Koria Downs is a junior broadcast journalism major and can be reached at [email protected].