Jeff Burns named career development coordinator at OHIO Chillicothe

Ohio University Chillicothe has named Jeff Burns as its new career development coordinator. Burns brings his own diverse experiences as an educator and a passion for helping students navigate their career paths. In his new role, he will focus on student engagement, career readiness and building connections between students and employers.

“I am here to serve the students,” he said, noting that he hopes to meet students where they are, whether that may be in campus spaces like the library, out on the disc golf course, or in the community. “If you want to meet at the library and have a fireside chat, let me know. If you want to go disc golfing for half an hour and talk about what’s going on in your career, I’m open for that.”

Empowering students 

Drawing on previous work in peer support and student affairs, Burns sees his role as empowering students, not handing them ready-made answers. He also understands the long, sometimes bumpy road many students face as they pursue their degrees and explore their options for what comes next.

“It took me eight years to get through school, so I know that feeling of ‘I’m never, ever going to get done with this,’” he said. “Our job is to keep them excited.”

Burns is open about being Deaf and said he wants students to see it as part of who he is, not a barrier.

“One thing I do want to let students know is that I’m Deaf,” he said. “Yes, I do read lips. You just have to look at me when you talk. If I ask you to repeat yourself, don’t be offended. It just means I want to make sure that I got it.”

He noted that resources for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in Ross County and southern Ohio are limited, and he hopes to help bridge that gap.

“The resources for providing services for Deaf people in Ross County are pretty slim,” Burns said. “There are a lot of Deaf people in southern Ohio in general, outside of Columbus, who would really benefit from more opportunities to connect and socialize.”

He plans to explore ASL social events that connect students who are studying sign language with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community members.

Service and outdoor education roots

Burns’ approach to career development is grounded in a service-oriented upbringing and a professional background in recreation and outdoor education.

He grew up in Julian, California, an old gold-mining town in San Diego County known for its apple pies and snow.

His father taught third grade for more than three decades, and his mother was a social worker.

“Because my mom was a social worker, I spent a lot of my childhood helping other people in the community,” he said. 

Burns has worked in education, recreation management, and outdoor education, including roles as a physical education teacher and later dean of students at Bishop Flaget School, before joining Ohio University.

“I love taking people outside, putting them in vulnerable positions, and getting them to learn more about themselves in nature,” he said. “When we put ourselves in a vulnerable position, we tend to be more open about ourselves.”

Using humor as an icebreaker

Burns uses humor intentionally to build connections and reduce tension around difficult topics, including disability.

“Life is too short to be serious all the time,” he said. “We have to be serious at times, but we also have to have fun in life. It’s not all serious, not all funny.”

He often tells what he calls “deaf jokes” based on his own lived experiences.

“They’re things that really happen to me,” he said. “If I approached it in a serious way, people might get defensive,” he said, explaining that humor helps him educate and open the door to deeper conversations. 

“Being funny just comes naturally,” he said. “It’s a way for me to break the ice and then say, ‘Now that we’ve broken the ice, let’s talk about this.’”

Outside of work, Burns enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking and being outdoors with his children. 

Students and employers may schedule time with Burns using Microsoft Bookings, or email him at jeff.burns@ohio.edu.