Ben Hansen begins by listening—intently. With a ceaseless thirst for learning and the lessons of his worldly travels, the University of Minnesota (UMN) career counselor knows it’s vital for students to feel seen and heard. His intentional approach is one reason he was honored with the prestigious 2025 John Tate Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.
Hansen has honed this practice over many years, a dedication that is reflected in the feedback of those he serves, 100% of whom rated their appointments with him as “very” or “extremely effective.”
“Ben’s effectiveness with students individually stems from his empathy, active listening, and humble curiosity,” says award nominator Sara Nagel Newberg, executive director of Career Services Administration for the University. “These natural gifts … hold transformative power and are especially impactful for those facing barriers to career development.”
Students worried about staying competitive in the job market often meet with Ben for guidance, though the most common concern he hears is from those who fear they've waited too long to start their job search.
“They see the value in their senior year, wishing they had started building their network in the first year of college or not waited to do an internship. Part of this is hindsight, but I think with students having so many obligations, it is easy to keep kicking the can on career [planning]."
Other universal questions include: “How do I get an internship?” “What’s the best way to format my resume?” “Can I get a job with this major?” “How do I tell my story in an interview?”
“Career consultations are a complex, dynamic human interaction,” says Liz Hruska, associate director for Student Career Development in Career & Internship Services (CIS). “Through his authentic, gentle, and thoughtful style, Ben’s consultations facilitate both affirmation and empowerment in his students.”
“I’m aware of the barriers my students face,” Ben offers. “I strive to find the balance between challenge and support in order to help students grow and develop.”
Engaging Employers
In addition to providing one-on-one career counseling, Ben excels in administrative roles. He designs and promotes data-driven programs and initiatives that benefit countless students and alumni while also expanding the expertise of his CIS colleagues.
As CIS associate director of Employer Relations, he oversees employer engagement and communications for three academically diverse colleges: the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS), the College of Design, and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.
In this role, Ben curates opportunities that strategically connect recruiters and employers with students through classroom visits, professional clubs, career fairs, and preparatory courses and assessments, all leading to unprecedented employer engagement with CIS.
“Ben reaches out proactively to meet with the major coordinators of his students on a regular basis, which builds mutual understanding and trust,” says Sara. “The resulting credibility pays off through regular invitations to speak in academic courses and student referrals. His long-term relationships with students continue when they become alumni who eagerly respond to his requests to share their wisdom in CIS classes and as mentors.”
His work also extends to marketing and communications, including a growing portfolio of digital resources, events, and services for a newly revised CIS website, which drew nearly 200,000 views in the past year.
When considering the full scope of his work, Ben stands out for his deep care for those he serves. He's a true multihyphenate who moves between supporting individuals and working with large groups, each with diverse needs and interests, yet all navigating both shared and singular paths.
Map Maker
Ben’s pride in the world map that fills his office wall is unmistakable. He painstakingly assembled the wooden puzzle, piece by piece, measuring distances between continents and bodies of water before mounting it in place. Personal travel photos rest in the open spaces of would-be oceans.
To date, Ben has visited 36 countries and 30 US states. His lifelong passion for travel once prompted him to make a big decision: he left a University position he loved to take a six-month journey through Europe, the Middle East, and Morocco.
The entire experience—from vacating his job to embarking on the trip to returning home—”had a profound impact on my life and ultimately shaped my philosophy of advising students in their career development,” he says.
One of his first post-trip tenets: “I put individuals first, knowing companies will always do what is in their best interest.”
According to Sara, the journey also helped Ben “understand how it feels to be in the minority and struggle to communicate in an unfamiliar language. He has a new appreciation of the challenges inherent in entering a new culture. He attributes this experience to developing an inquisitiveness that helps him ask better questions, adapt to new situations and show up better for all students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college."
Approximately 58% of incoming CCAPS undergraduates are first-generation college students. Ben’s own experience as a first-gen student gives him insight into some of the systemic challenges they may face.
“People often speak in acronyms and use industry jargon … I work to remove any barriers to understanding by spelling everything out for my students and not making any assumptions in what they know.”
Connections are also key. Through events and personal referrals, Ben introduces students with employers to get advice or conduct informational interviews. “I know the weight words carry from employers, so I want our first-gen students to make these connections.”
Challenge and Support
Today’s students face a multitude of choices, possibilities, and responsibilities as they consider future careers, worlds that include different industries, geographic locations, economic outlooks, and educational paths. Add to that their personal aspirations and skills, and it becomes clear: they’re navigating an entire ecosystem they must build for themselves.
“I've met with a ton of students who went to college to get into a good career, yet very few gave themselves time to truly reflect upon what life after graduation looks like,” says Ben.
And while he often sees students at their best, he skillfully introduces humor to help change the perspective when the stressors of a job search come up. “I’ve always found humor to be a great tool to make something dry or difficult to discuss much more palatable.”
During College Day “undeclared major” sessions, he once playfully challenged students by “assigning” them careers on the spot—joking that, as a career services expert, he could tell their perfect fit the moment they walked into the room.
“When students would look at their assigned careers, almost no one was a fit for what I had given them,” he shares. “I used that as a lesson, telling them that no one can tell you what to pursue for a career, and about the importance of being empowered with the information and skills to explore all their options.”
Ben’s takeaway advice for every student: “Make time for yourself to think things through and please contact us (CIS) for help. You owe it to yourself to find work that's meaningful.”
Anastasia Faunce is a writer and content strategist with the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, where she covers pre-college, ESL, long-term care, and applied undergraduate degree programs, as well as alumni engagement and development initiatives. A former director of several CCAPS programs, Anastasia previously served as the director of public relations for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and continues to collaborate regularly with artists and designers. Connect with her via LinkedIn.
