Q&A With CAEL Staff: Darrah Mugrauer

Darrah Mugrauer has been with CAEL since 2022. As director of initiatives, she oversees initiatives that scale the impact of postsecondary education and training, workforce partnerships, and experiential learning. A subject matter expert in the areas of recruiting and retaining adult learners, Mugrauer also works directly with campuses throughout the country.

Before joining CAEL, Mugrauer served as director of the Experience360 Program at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. In that capacity, she forged employer partnerships that engaged traditional and adult learners within rewarding experiential learning opportunities, helping to garner the “program of the year” award from the National Society of Experiential Education in 2019. Her professional experience also includes Montgomery County Community College, Penn State University-Brandywine, and at the Clemson University Michelin Career Center, where she held roles providing academic and career counseling to students.

Mugrauer earned a B.A. in sociology from Arcadia University and holds an M.Ed in Counseling: Higher Education administration from Clemson University. She has completed certification through the National Society for Experiential Education Academy and is a RYT-200 Certified Yoga Instructor.

What's your favorite example of CAELs impact?
I love that CAEL is a membership organization because I am reminded regularly how our work engages and connects professionals in a plethora of ways. It is continuously inspiring to have the opportunity to connect with professionals across fields who are committed to improving adult learner pathways and career outcomes To this end, I look forward to our annual conference every year.  The conference is such a showcase of the incredible work being done. It also provides an inspiring opportunity to learn together in community toward our mission and the organization’s common goals.

What drew you to CAEL?
Before joining CAEL, I worked in higher education, focused on career services and experiential learning. While looking for a new opportunity to grow professionally,  I found CAEL and immediately felt called to the mission and to the role. Working in my role allows me to help change-makers every day. I am so proud of the work I get to do with CAEL, and the opportunity to work with such dedicated and motivated individuals on our team and through our partners.

If there's one piece of advice you could give adult learners and one piece of advice you could give to institutions/organizations committed to better serving them, what would it be?
To both of these populations, I would suggest leaning into connection. There are so many opportunities available for growth, for improvement, for change. There are so many people committed to supporting one another in success. Look for those opportunities. Speak up about your goals, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. When I taught in a classroom setting, I always told my students that if you ask, the answer might be no. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. I lead intending to help empower those I connect with, and remind teams that we are always better when we share the work and utilize one another’s strengths.

What is the last book/movie you read/watched?
I just finished The Favorites, by Layne Fargo - it's a modern retelling of Wuthering Heights set in the world of competitive ice dancing- I ate it up. The story alternates between the characters’ point of view and annotated commentary from a documentary of their careers, so the audiobook is especially good, with a full cast of narrators. Highly recommend!  

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I love to stay active by lifting weights and practicing yoga. I’m a certified yoga instructor, though I don’t teach regularly these days. I’m an avid thrifter and collect vintage ceramic Christmas trees, among other things. In nicer weather, you can often find me in my backyard hammock, reading on my Kindle.