New CPVA Career Coach Strengthens Student Success
Published: February 12, 2026 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
As part of Southern Utah University’s ongoing budget reinvestments under HB 265, SUU has expanded its career advising resources to better prepare students for life after graduation. One key initiative is embedding career coaches directly within academic colleges, and the College of Performing & Visual Arts (CPVA) is proud to welcome alumna Laurel Buxton as its dedicated Career Coach.
In this role, Buxton will work one-on-one with CPVA students to help them explore career pathways aligned with their passions, strengths, and creative training. She will support students in preparing professional application materials, including resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and audition materials, and collaborate with departments to create events that connect students with alumni and industry employers.
“As artists, our students develop adaptability, discipline, collaboration, and creative problem-solving—skills that translate powerfully into the workforce,” Buxton said. “I’m excited to help students recognize the value of their training and learn how to articulate it as they pursue fulfilling careers in and beyond the Arts.”
Buxton is a graduate of SUU’s Interdisciplinary Studies program and originally came to campus to pursue classical acting. After earning her degree, she remained at SUU in administrative and student-support roles, including serving as a Financial Wellness Coordinator. Through that work, she discovered a passion for helping students with goal-setting, decision-making, and building sustainable lives after college. This experience now directly informs her work as a career coach.
Deeply involved in SUU’s arts community as a student, Buxton served on the board of Second Studio, SUU’s student-led theatre company, and worked closely with faculty mentors across disciplines. She credits those experiences with teaching her to balance creative practice with professionalism, an approach she now brings to career coaching.
“Students in the performing and visual arts are navigating a complex and evolving industry,” Buxton said. “Having been in their shoes, I want to support them as emerging professionals and help them imagine what’s possible for their futures.”
The addition of college-assigned career coaches reflects SUU’s commitment to student success and workforce readiness. By placing career coaches directly within academic units, the university is strengthening the connection between academic training and meaningful career outcomes, ensuring students graduate with both artistic excellence and practical preparation.
Students in the College of Performing and Visual Arts can begin working with Buxton in the coming months through personalized career coaching appointments and career-focused events. For more information, visit www.suu.edu/careercenter/.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Contact Information
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu