Kiara Goggin, Assistant Director of Professional & Career Development, is known for her calming and warm presence, hard working nature, and passion for the things and people she cares about.
Kiara, an employee of the College for two years, is being recognized as this month’s Terrier STAR for providing a personalized experience, her institutional inventiveness, her career focus, her care, and her sense of community.
“Kiara is a force to be reckoned with. She tackles her work, school, and passion projects with an air of competence, warmth, and tenacity. A rare talent,” said a colleague.
“Kiara is a ray of sunshine. She is a calm, warm, and generous presence to our students during the often stressful experience of searching for internships and careers. She is a kind and dependable colleague who we are lucky to have on our team,” said a coworker. “She has truly immersed herself in the Thomas culture. When she’s not in her office, you can often find her at sporting events, club events, or walking the Thomas trails.”
“She is the kind of team member every office hopes for—hardworking, dependable, and always ready to step up without being asked. Her dedication has not only supported me but also made a meaningful impact on our students. Her work on the Professional Clothing Closet this year has been remarkable, and it’s been such a joy to watch her take ownership of the project and run with it. I’m incredibly proud of her growth and the professionalism she brings to everything she does,” said a coworker.
“Whether dealing with students, faculty, staff, or stakeholders outside of the Thomas College community, Kiara is an absolute pleasure to work with. Her knowledge of all things Thomas, stemming from her days as a student and extending into the present as an employee, has proved to be an invaluable member of the Professional and Career Development team. Her upbeat personality makes our office very welcoming to students and staff alike and we as a school are very lucky to have her!” said a colleague.
“Kiara is a wonderful partner with Advancement; she is one of the first to offer her volunteer time or join us for community events. She represents everything that Thomas wants its students and staff to embody. Recently, Kiara Goggin had the idea to create a professional clothing closet to support students who need new clothing for interviews and as they enter the workforce. She wrote and was successful with a community grant that allowed her to shop for those first clothing pieces. Kiara was recently recognized by the Skowhegan Women’s Club as they donated suits, shirts, ties and pants. Her vision for this clothing closet will set students up for success now and well into the future,” said a senior colleague.
“Kiara is a master of detail and thorough planning. She gives careful thought to those around her, especially students. She is a kind and persistent advocate,” said another coworker.
Congrats, Kiara!