Don Graves

Biography

Don Graves serves as the Associate Director of Employer and Alumni Engagement. In this capacity he focuses on building new relationships, and expanding existing partnerships, with employers at a local, regional, and national level to help cultivate internship and employment opportunities for Oberlin students.

Prior to Oberlin, Don spent nineteen years in the workforce and economic development sectors. His primary experience has been with non-profit workforce development agencies delivering employer and jobseeker services under the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Don's roles have involved employer engagement throughout several counties across Northern Ohio, providing talent acquisition and training assistance through the public workforce system, as well as helping support job seekers along their path to new employment. He has supported business retention and expansion efforts in the Greater Cleveland area through a non-profit focused on helping manufacturing sector employers, coordinating efforts with local, county, and state economic development agencies. Additionally, Don has been a part of several business networking groups and an advisory committee member for a local re-entry training program.

Outside of the office, Don enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children on numerous pursuits including kayaking, photography, gaming, and travel. He also enjoys reading, fishing, and projects around the house and yard.