Career Advising

Stephanie Boomhower

Director
sboomhower@ucsd.edu

Stephanie Boomhower joined the GPS Career and Professional Development Center in June 2014. Since 1997, she has worked with graduate students on career development and how to navigate through the internship and career search process, from developing a search plan to negotiating salaries. Her collaborative coaching style focuses on helping students develop a career plan by working to highlight what they want to achieve in their career and developing the skills required to seek out employment opportunities. Boomhower holds a master’s degree in college student personnel and a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in architecture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She also has a certificate in human resource management through UC San Diego Extension. Boomhower spent the majority of her childhood living in Asia and various cities throughout the U.S.

Laura Leach

Senior Career Consultant
lleach@ucsd.edu

Laura Leach is a certified career coach who works with a portfolio of over 300 graduate students + 3K Alumni. She helps students build the career skills that don't get taught in the classroom — how to tell their story, network with purpose, and walk into interviews with real confidence. Her role extends well beyond one-on-one counseling: she designs and facilitates workshops on job search strategy, interview preparation, and professional development, and leads monthly interactive inclusive business professional sessions in partnership with the Rady School of Management. She also cultivates employer partnerships that connect students with organizations aligned to their career goals. With over two decades of experience in technology recruitment, Laura brings a distinctive lens to coaching, specializing in empowering emerging leaders to pursue purpose-driven careers and negotiate the salaries they deserve.

When Laura is not hiking trails or exploring the latest culinary hotspots, you might catch her attempting to surf with her husband.

Amber Reinhart

Employer Relations Specialist
areinhart@ucsd.edu

Amber Reinhart builds employer partnerships across major markets to expand recruitment and career programming for graduate students. She previously served as program coordinator, where she designed and led more than 100 annual career development workshops, employer events, and networking programs. Amber launched a global student-alumni platform serving 4,000+ users, managed conference and internship funding, and spearheaded a cross-departmental task force to strengthen collaboration between career resources, alumni relations, and marketing. With a diverse background in publishing, public media, and civil litigation, Amber effectively creates and facilitates career-related workshops, programs, and employer-facing events to build and support students' professional skill sets. In her free time, Amber enjoys hiking with her chihuahua, always with a Stephen King book in tow.

Martha Welby

Program Coordinator
mwelby@ucsd.edu

Martha Welby has built her career in higher education, with experience in admissions, Faculty operations, and program administration. After relocating from England to San Diego in 2023, Martha quickly found a home at GPS and hasn't looked back! She has continued supporting students throughout their academic journey by creating welcoming, student-centered experiences and providing exceptional service. With a background in student-facing roles and program coordination, Martha is committed to helping students navigate their path to success.

In her free time, Martha enjoys discovering San Diego's coffee shops, exploring the quiet beauty of California's mountains, and making the most of the sunshine. While she loves her new home on the West Coast, she still occasionally finds herself missing the English rain.