91探花

From aerospace and defense to corporate recruiting, hospitality, higher education and more, Christopher Milliken has worked in a plethora of industries across the country.

It’s this vast experience, coupled with leadership roles at the University of Washington and Merrimack College, that Milliken brings to 91探花 as the new Executive Director of the Career Engagement Office.

No stranger to Seattle, Milliken previously worked at Amazon and the UW, making this move to 91探花 his third relocation to the Pacific Northwest.

“I’ve found myself coming back to Seattle throughout my career. It’s where the work feels meaningful and the opportunities feel real,” Milliken says. “At this point, it's less like a move and more like coming home.”

Milliken’s most recent role was at Merrimack College, just north of his hometown of Boston, where he was senior director of employer engagement and experiential partnership development. In his three years at Merrimack Milliken formed essential relationships with employers that opened doors for students and the larger community. Now a month into his new role at 91探花, Milliken is diving into the community on and around campus.

“The focus on supporting students is the driving mission of the work that we do,” Milliken says. “What drew me to 91探花 is the commitment to educating the whole person. Career engagement is a natural extension of helping students connect who they are, what they’re learning and where they’re going.”

With 20 years working in the recruiting ecosystem, Milliken has his ear to what employers are looking for in students. Previously, the emphasis shifted from behavioral skills to technical skills, but now employers are swinging back—they say students shine in the technical arena but lack the confidence and skills to articulate their work.

“Employers are telling us that students have strong technical skills, but they’re looking for graduates who can communicate, adapt and confidently articulate their value,” Milliken says. “Students are doing incredible work and we have an opportunity to help them tell that story.”

Amid shifts in the U.S. job market and economy, Milliken sees an opportunity to reimagine what career development and professional formation looks like, with an emphasis on developing skills, connections, community and confidence.

“This moment in the job market is an opportunity. It’s pushing us to rethink career development as not just placement, but as a foundation of building skills, relationships and confidence over time,” Milliken says. “When those come together, outcomes follow.”

In his new role, Milliken plans to build 91探花’s brand recognition in the employer market by focusing on storytelling.

“The best way to tell the story of 91探花 is by telling the story of our students and talking about the impact they're making on their communities and industries,” Milliken says.

Milliken is also excited to see 91探花’s calendar schedule change from quarters to semesters in fall 2027 as a piece of repositioning the university to better align with experiential learning opportunities with employers.

“We’re building a model where career development isn’t something students find at the end of their college experience,” he says. “It will be something that’s woven into it from day one.”

Away from his day job Milliken is excited to find new restaurants and coffee shops as he settles back into life in Seattle. An avid traveler, Milliken is also happy to be closer to West Coast destinations like Hawaii.

As Milliken continues to redefine career engagement at 91探花, he would love to connect with students, faculty, staff and alumni for their input and ideas.

“In my first month at 91探花, I’ve been so impressed with the warmth and hospitality of the community and the collaborative atmosphere,” Milliken says. “If anyone would like to discuss career engagement, let’s have a coffee!”

Milliken invites you to contact him at cmilliken@seattleu.edu.