Alexander Syum joined the Career Development Services team at Springdale Job Corps three months ago. Alex stepped in to the shoes of Liliya Svirzhevsky, who is now Springdale’s Health Occupations Instructor. Danny Stoddard, Career Development Services Manager, is excited to have Alex on his staff. “Alex has taken on the task of guiding students in Health Occupations and Pharmacy Technology through their time here at Springdale. It’s great to have him with us.

Alex came to Portland via Eritrea, a county in eastern Africa on the Red Sea between Sudan and Ethiopia. While he was born in Eritrea he grew up in Portland and attended Parkrose High School there. After high school he attended Clackamas Community College on a basketball scholarship before transferring to Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. He continued to play basketball at Bethany College and graduated with a double major in Psychology and Health.

When asked how he decided to become a counselor, he said, “I’ve always considered myself an inspirational person and reaching out to people has always been a natural ability of mine.  Plus I’m really outgoing and pretty good at visualizing goals for others.”

Alex enjoys working with the students and enjoys their individual perspectives. “I believe the students are very optimistic and know what they want they want in life. And that makes it a lot easier for me to help them out!” He can frequently be seen sitting with students in the cafeteria during lunch, talking basketball. “I’m a big fan of sports and enjoy watching them, but basketball has always been my one true love.”

We are thrilled to have Alex with us!