Natalie Champagne

Natalie Champagne serves as director of the Career Management Center at Illinois Tech’s Stuart School of Business. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education spanning enrollment management, career management, and employer engagement, she is dedicated to advancing student and alumni career success through strategic partnerships, innovative programming, and personalized career coaching.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a concentration in human resource management, and a minor in marketing from Loyola University Chicago, as well as a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from National Louis University.

She began her career in higher education in enrollment management, developing expertise in student recruitment, admissions, and student success initiatives. Her passion for helping students achieve their long-term professional goals led her to transition into career management and employer engagement, where she has built a strong track record of connecting students with meaningful career opportunities and industry partners.

Prior to joining Illinois Tech, she held leadership roles focused on corporate engagement, career advising, experiential learning, and student success. At Northwestern University, she managed employer relations, advised students on career development, and designed a professional development course for engineering students, preparing them for internships and successful careers after graduation.

As director of the Career Management Center, she oversees career services strategy, employer relations, career education initiatives, and student engagement efforts for undergraduate and graduate business students. Her work centers on strengthening employer partnerships, expanding experiential learning opportunities, and equipping students with the skills, confidence, and professional networks needed to thrive in today’s global workforce.

A frequent presenter on career development and employer engagement topics, she is passionate about creating innovative programs that foster student success and strengthen connections between academia and industry.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring new cultural experiences.

Education

M.S. Community Counseling, National Louis University

BBA Human Resource Management, Loyola University Chicago