Meet Your Faculty
Lauren Jones,
NCC, CSCDA, LPCc, MCC
Lauren Jones is a career development leader, counselor, and facilitator who helps education and workforce professionals strengthen their leadership while advancing learner success. Drawing on her experience in school counseling, career-connected learning, and supporting special populations, Lauren equips counselors, advisors, career coaches, and student success professionals with practical strategies to guide learners through increasingly complex education and career decisions. Her work
emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and translating career development theory into
meaningful action that improves outcomes for learners. 
Jennifer Jirous, PhD
Vice, President,Career Pathways & Professional Learning, CORD
Jennifer Jirous, PhD is a leader in career pathways, systems alignment, and cross-sector collaboration who helps education and workforce organizations build stronger connections between education, workforce, and industry. As a member of the CORD leadership team, Jennifer partners with state agencies, colleges, school districts, workforce organizations, and employers nationwide to strengthen career pathways, advance systems change, and improve learner outcomes. She brings extensive experience helping leaders align strategy with action, build sustainable partnerships, and create pathways that respond to workforce needs while expanding opportunities for learners. 
Lauren Jones, NCC, CSCDA, LPCc, MCC
Lauren Jones is a career development leader, counselor, and facilitator who helps education and workforce professionals strengthen their leadership while advancing learner success. Drawing on her experience in school counseling, career-connected learning, and supporting special populations, Lauren equips counselors, advisors, career coaches, and student success professionals with practical strategies to guide learners through increasingly complex education and career decisions. Her work emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and translating career development theory into meaningful action that improves outcomes for learners.
Jennifer Jirous, PhD Vice President, Career Pathways & Professional Learning, CORD
Jennifer Jirous, PhD is a leader in career pathways, systems alignment, and cross-sector collaboration who helps education and workforce organizations build stronger connections between education, workforce, and industry. As a member of the CORD leadership team, Jennifer partners with state agencies, colleges, school districts, workforce organizations, and employers nationwide to strengthen career pathways, advance systems change, and improve learner outcomes. She brings extensive experience helping leaders align strategy with action, build sustainable partnerships, and create pathways that respond to workforce needs while expanding opportunities for learners.