The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business welcomes Joseph Arton as the new executive director of the Jones Career Center. With a rich background in higher education, global experience, and a passion for student success, Joe brings dynamic vision rooted in empathy and innovation.
Arton joins Scheller from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he led transformative career development initiatives. At VCU, he worked closely with a diverse student body, many of whom were first-generation college students. “What I loved about VCU was that we made a real difference,” he shared. “We helped students break through systemic barriers and build lives of opportunity. We helped them build educational and social capital that transformed their lives. That kind of real, transformational impact is what drives me.”
Originally from London, England, Arton’s journey to Scheller has been anything but linear. With two master’s degrees and a Ph.D., his academic path has taken him through anthropology, theater, and media studies. He’s taught at institutions like the University of Virginia and the University of Edinburgh, where he helped shape curriculum and graduate outcomes across disciplines. “I love learning,” Arton said. “I don’t see education as transactional. It’s about discovery, inspiration, and asking better questions. As long as I’m learning, I know I’m doing something right.”
Arton’s unique blend of academic insight and industry engagement has made him a bridge-builder between students and potential employers. At VCU, he collaborated with companies like Ford, Allianz, and LEGO to co-create leadership development programs. “I loved working directly with companies to understand their challenges and help shape not just the future of their organizational strategy but also the future of work locally and globally,” Arton shared. “That’s something I’m excited to continue at Scheller.”
Arton was drawn to Georgia Tech and the Scheller College of Business because of the clear sense of community and the powerful network. “There’s something about Georgia Tech that feels like a hive — connected, efficient, and impactful,” Arton said. “One of the things I really like about being a Yellow Jacket is that I get to be a node in a network of that hive. That's quite cool. I think we can strengthen relationships with alumni and employers to increase opportunities for our students. The alumni network is global, and the students are extraordinary. I knew I wanted to be part of that.”
His approach to career coaching is about creating personal connections. Arton’s already begun meeting with students weekly, asking them not just about their next job, but about the life they want to have lived by age 60. “Career coaching isn’t about giving students the answers, and it’s not about placement metrics,” he explained. “It’s about helping students ask the right questions, articulate their value, build meaningful careers, and live lives of purpose.”
When asked for the piece of career advice he offers most frequently, Arton doesn’t hesitate: “Make friends. Build relationships. Be the light in someone’s day. That’s the foundation of a meaningful career and a meaningful life.”
Arton’s vision for the Jones Career Center is expansive and inclusive. He’s focused on:
- Expanding Experiential Learning: From immersive VR-based interview training to real-world consulting projects, Arton is passionate about giving students safe spaces to practice, fail, and grow.
- Strengthening Employer Partnerships: Arton sees the Jones Career Center as a bridge between student talent and industry needs, especially in a rapidly evolving job market shaped by AI, automation, and global competition.
- Empowering Entrepreneurial Thinking: Arton wants to support not just startup founders, but also intrapreneurs — students who bring innovation into existing organizations.
- Enhancing Alumni Engagement: Arton has seen that alumni are looking for ways to give back, and students are craving meaningful, less transactional conversations. Combining the two is a perfect path to create powerful mentorship ecosystems.
- Scaling Personalized Support: With growing student populations, Arton is exploring AI tools to augment — not replace — career coaching, ensuring every student receives tailored guidance.
As he settles into Atlanta, and braces for the humidity, Arton is eager to collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to elevate the Jones Career Center’s impact. “This role puts me on the front lines of student transformation,” he said. “And that’s exactly where I want to be.”