Meet Our Team
Career Services
Elizabeth Feary, MBA
Director of Career Services
Elizabeth serves as the Director of Career Services at Montana State University, where she leads university-wide efforts to connect students with meaningful, career-building experiences. She works closely with employers, alumni, faculty, and community partners to expand access to internships, on-campus jobs, and applied learning opportunities that align with regional workforce needs. Elizabeth is deeply committed to building talent pipelines that strengthen Montana’s economic resilience and ensure all MSU students are prepared for success beyond graduation.
Before joining MSU, Elizabeth led complex, multi-stakeholder workforce initiatives across high-risk and remote regions—spanning Arctic economic security, civil-military coordination, and cross-sector partnerships. She is a workforce strategist with over 25 years of leadership experience across public and private sectors, including work with USAID and the Outdoor Industry. She brings a global systems perspective to creating local impact.
Elizabeth holds a BSBA in International Management from Boston University and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Montana’s mountains with her husband and embracing an active, outdoor lifestyle.
Halley Perry, M.S.
Assistant Director, Industry & Employer Relations
Halley is a 3rd generation alumnus from Montana State University and has worked in the nonprofit sector for 10 years. During her time as a student at MSU, Halley worked as a student associate for Career Services. She is excited to return to The Allen Yarnell Center of Student Success and to apply her skills she learned throughout her career.
As the Assistant Director of Industry & Employer Relations, Halley is excited to help students find their career path by connecting them to industry leaders. She knows MSU students have a reputation of being innovators, critical thinkers, and all-around talented individuals. She will be working hard to develop on-campus recruiting efforts and opening opportunities to MSU students.
Cimberli Kearns, Ph.D.
Lead Career Education Coach
Cim works primarily with graduate students navigating career transitions, professional identity, and next-step decision making.
She holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College, a Ph.D. from Indiana University, and a master’s degree in Learning Technology from the University of St. Thomas. Her academic training grounds her work in inquiryand reflection, while her professional experience helps students translate advanced scholarly thinking into a wide range of career possibilities.
Over the course of her career, Cim broadened her path beyond traditional academic roles into learning design, onboarding, and professional development across industries including technology, life sciences, cybersecurity, and higher education. Through this work, she partnered closely with new hires, managers, and senior leaders—giving her a nuanced, real-world understanding of today’s workplace and the skills, mindsets, and stories that resonate most with employers.
Cim brings both lived experience and deep empathy to coaching conversations, particularly for graduate students who are exploring multiple directions, reframing their expertise, or navigating periods of transition. She believes careers are rarely linear and that clarity often emerges through thoughtful reflection, experimentation, and dialogue.
In coaching sessions, Cim focuses on helping students gain clarity, articulate their strengths, and move forward with confidence and intention in an evolving professional landscape.
Outside of work, Cim enjoys long walks, movement-based classes, and exploring a wide range of texts—academic, creative, and otherwise—that spark curiosity and new ways of thinking.
Nicole Bachich, B.A.
Career Education Coach
Nicole is a Career Education Coach within the AYCSS. With a strong philosophy of work/life balance, Nicole is excited to guide students through resources and self-exploration to choose a career path.
Nicole is looking forward to introducing as many students as possible to the services provided within the AYSCC, ensuring that all students have access to the tools that can help guide them to a more holistic approach to career exploration.
Nicole attained her Bachelor of Arts from Humboldt State University in Recreation Administration and has worked in the Outdoor Industry for over two decades.
Kristen Gregg, MPH
Career Education Coach
Kristen grew up on a working cattle ranch in Eastern Oregon where she was introduced to hard work early in life – by age 11 she was running a tractor and rake in the hay fields! She enjoyed the lifestyle and learning that came along with ranching alongside her family. She attended Oregon State University (another land grant university!) and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health. She spent a year working at an assisted living facility before moving to Washington, DC where she received her Master’s Degree in Public Health from George Washington University. In 2019, Kristen and her husband and three children moved to Bozeman to pursue career opportunities and enjoy the amazing Southwestern Montana lifestyle.
Kristen’s experiences have helped her understand how to collaborate, communicate and problem-solve with people. She has engaged with diverse groups and populations throughout her career and enjoys connecting with them all. She is excited to continue this engagement with students at MSU as they navigate the world of higher education and transition to their next steps in her role as a career education coach. Her varied career and life experiences in agriculture, youth coaching, public health, event management and planning, and education help her connect with students across many different areas of interest.
Kristen enjoys spending time with her family in her spare time. They enjoy hiking, skiing, fishing, and camping together. She also enjoys fitness, reading, volunteering her time for the Alzheimer’s Association and in Bozeman’s public schools, and cheering on her kids at sporting events.
Tracy Novak, M.S.
Career Education Coach
After a 35-year career as an environmental and natural resource scientist, Tracy is excited to now support and empower college students with tools, strategies, mindsets, relevant resources, and helpful feedback as they navigate career planning. She believes strongly that a fulfilling career, with all its twists and turns, adds immeasurably to a fulfilling life.
In her role as a consultant scientist, Tracy mentored and trained college-aged students in the areas of field investigations, data analysis, and developing recommendations – all to produce high-quality natural resource investigation reports for clients. From this experience, she understands students’ need for support and information on how to navigate their unique career path. She is thrilled to work with this age-group through MSU AYCSS.
Tracy has lived in Bozeman since 1990 and enjoys ALL of Montana’s natural resources—especially the snow! She has an M.S. in Land Rehabilitation from Montana State University (1999) and a B.S. in Forestry from Michigan State University (1984).
Molly Wood
Career Education Coach
Molly is a Career Education Coach dedicated to helping students explore their passions and unlock their full potential. With over 25 years of experience in education—including roles as a teacher, principal, school leadership coach, and school board member—she views each student as an individual with unique talents. She’s continually inspired by the creativity, resilience, and ingenuity of students at MSU.
Molly’s diverse background includes founding KIPP Bayview Academy, a middle school in San Francisco, and coaching principals for Aspire Public Schools. She holds an MBA and an MA in Education from Stanford University, which deepens her ability to support students in their academic and career pursuits.
Originally from Evergreen, Colorado, Molly has lived in Bozeman since 2021 with her family. When she's not coaching, she enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, reading, cooking, and tackling jigsaw puzzles.
Bobcat Student Employment Program
Tiffany Christensen
Bobcat Student Employment Program
Program Manager
Tiffany serves as the Student Employment Program Manager at Montana State University, where she helps students gain valuable work experience to prepare them for life after college. Tiffany holds a Master of Arts in Sport Psychology from Adams State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from the University of Northern Iowa. A two-time All-American and contributor to two national championship titles in NCAA Cross Country and Track, she is passionate about empowering others to achieve their best.
Her experiences navigating the transition from college to career inspire her dedication to helping students build their resumes with meaningful work experience, making their post-college career search less challenging. Tiffany believes it’s crucial for students to build skills in college that help them discover both what they’re good at and what they enjoy doing. She sees on-campus employment as an opportunity to foster both practical skills and personal growth. Tiffany is committed to helping students develop transferable skills and gain insights into their strengths, enabling them to confidently navigate their careers.