Director of the Center for Learning & Advising: Mike Williams
mawilliams@thiel.edu
724-589-2039

As the Director of the CLA, Mike is responsible for the daily operations of the office, the program budget and various strategic initiatives. 

Mike began work with the CLA in August 2009. Prior to coming to Thiel College, Mike directed the Journey Project, a Lilly Endowment Initiative at St. Bonaventure University that combined service, experiential learning, leadership development and vocation exploration. Mike also directed a similar program at the Wesley Foundation at Ball State University and worked for some time with the University of Indianapolis’ Crossings Project, another Lilly-funded initiative. 

Outside or work, Mike enjoys sharing time with his wife, Rhonda and their four children: Ela (8), Dietrich (6), Jacob (4) and Isaac (1). They live in Greenville. 

Mike has interests in ecology, ethics and sustainable agriculture. Mike enjoys writing about nature and ethics and has presented papers at several professional conferences. He is currently working on an essay for the book, Working on Earth: Exploring the Intersections between Working Class Studies and Environmental Justice, edited by Jennifer Westerman and Chris Roberts.

Mike received a B.A. in Social Thought from Allegheny College and a M.A. in Theology from St. Bonaventure.

Thiel College Americporps VISTA: Christie A. Zwahlen
czwahlen@thiel.edu
724-589-2008

Zwahlen is at Thiel under the auspices of the Americorps VISTA program. Serving for one year under a VISTA grant won by the CLA, Zwahlen's task is to promote and facilitate service-learning courses, build partnerships with local nonprofit organizations and spread awareness of poverty and homelessness in the greater Greenville area. Zwahlen received her B.A. in English from SUNY Stony Brook and her M.A. in Literature from SUNY Binghamton with a graduate degree in Asian and Asian American studies. Before joining Americorps, Zwahlen taught English at an elementary school in Seoul, South Korea.

Director of Career Services: Heather Balas
hbalas@thiel.edu
724-589-2014

In order to provide a seamless transition from school to work, Thiel's Career Center is now part of the Center for Learning and Advising. The interim director for career services is Heather Achenbach Balas ’01. Balas holds a master of art in counseling and educational psychology, with an emphasis on student personnel, from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor of arts in communication and business communication from Thiel College. She was most recently coordinator of orientation and transitional programs and director of student activities at
Thiel.

Dean of Educational Outreach: John Rindy
jrindy@thiel.edu
724-589-2181

Now a part of the CLA is Thiel’s Internships Program, coordinated by Dean for Educational Outreach John Rindy. In his capacity as the Dean of Educational Outreach Rindy directs the experiential education program at Thiel. He holds undergraduate degrees in business management and environmental studies, and a master's degree in public health, all from Youngstown State University. He is presently enrolled in a doctoral program in Higher Education Leadership at Capella University.