Center for Professional Development Mission
The mission of the Center for Professional Development, University of Hartford, is to enable individuals to identify and explore life choices and to empower them to attain their career goals through counseling, education, training and support. Its programs, designed with a focus on women, serve women and men from diverse backgrounds, ages and abilities.

Since its inception the Center for Professional Development has embraced the values of its founding organization, Hartford College for Women. As such, it has and will continue to provide educational and career development services and programs that:

		focus on women and men and their needs that are not being met elsewhere in the community
		are inclusive of women and men of diverse socio-economic backgrounds
		attend to the individual and helping each person develop to their best potential
		are recognized for their quality and standards of excellence
		are founded in service to the local and regional community

Business Concept
Colleges and universities usually have three parts - academic, research and community outreach. The mission of the Center for Professional Development is community outreach. The Center meets the career and educational needs of the community through career counseling, continuing education, job training and support .

History to the Present
Women built our history of self-enhancement, self-empowerment, and self-fulfillment for individuals from all walks of life. Today, men and women discover and enjoy the services and programs of the Center that change and remain relevant as the employment/career and educational needs change.

We have a rich history and a stellar reputation that stems back more than 40 years to Hartford College for Women. Over these years, we have established ourselves as an industry leader and professional development innovator.

The Center was founded in 1968 by then President of Hartford College for Women, Laura Johnson. Over its 40+ year history, also known as, The Career Counseling Center, it has served the career and educational needs of women and of men through career counseling, continuing education, job training and support. The Center's full history is described in the timeline (click here) where innovative programs established by Center staff are chronologically listed and show the variety and relevance of all the Center has provided to Connecticut residents and organizations.