Rebecca Gomez, associate dean for academic affairs for the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, announced that Erin Cantrell-Martinez will serve as the permanent Director of the DiNitto Career Services Center and Alumni Relations.
The decision comes following a competitive search. Cantrell-Martinez joined the Steve Hicks School in May 2023 as a Career Education Specialist and has served as Interim Director of the DiNitto Center since October 2023.
“The DiNitto Career Center is a pathfinder in social work career development, and I am honored to be its next leader as we guide and nurture a new generation of social workers,” said Cantrell-Martinez. “I’m excited to continue to cultivate community with our incredible SHS alumni, create pathways to rich and expansive opportunities for our students, and to build upon the amazing legacy of this institution.”
In her time at SHS, Erin has supported student career development and advising, putting together workshops and leading programming for students seeking a career in social work. She has also been instrumental in supporting the elevation of Social Work Advocacy Day, in implementing the transition to Handshake for students, and in increasing collaboration and visibility with Texas Career Engagement.
“We are thrilled that Erin will continue to lead our career services efforts and support our alumni engagement,” said Gomez. “Erin is a valuable leader in our school, and we look forward to her continued work in service of our mission and values.”
Dean Gomez also thanked the search committee for “their excellent work in managing an efficient, thorough, and inclusive search process.” The committee members included Marian Mahaffey and Andrea Montgomery, with Isaiah Jones providing support.