How Kathy Natelborg Is Advancing Workforce Readiness
Cornerstone University continues building momentum as it expands opportunities for students and increases the value of a Cornerstone education. Students and families increasingly want more than a degree alone. They want education that leads to market readiness and lasting opportunity.
Helping advance that work is Kathy Natelborg, M.M., vice president for people, culture & careers.
In her role, Natelborg helps build the foundation behind Cornerstone’s commitment to students and families. That work begins internally. By attracting mission-aligned faculty and staff and cultivating a culture of excellence and service, she helps create the environment where students experience The Cornerstone Advantage™ through strong mentorship, career preparation and opportunities that prepare them for meaningful work and lives of influence for Jesus Christ.
Bringing nearly four decades of leadership experience in workforce strategy and organizational growth — including 28 years in leadership roles at General Dynamics and its predecessor organizations — Natelborg built a career helping organizations improve performance and guide teams through change.
“I was looking for an organizational mission that I could get behind, somewhere ready to adopt best practices and a great team of people to work with,” Natelborg said.
Since joining Cornerstone in 2024, she has brought her people and talent development experience to create services and support that help students connect their education directly with their calling and a future of influence in their industries and communities.
“Every student has unique gifts, strengths and experiences that God can use in meaningful ways,” Natelborg said. “Our opportunity is to help students discover where those gifts intersect with their calling and prepare them to step into work and lives that make a difference.”
For Natelborg, workforce readiness extends beyond preparing students for a first job. She is passionate about helping students gain experiences and resources that prepare them to lead and serve throughout their lives and careers.
Already, her work has produced visible results. Natelborg supported broader university efforts that accelerated growth, including organizational initiatives surrounding Cornerstone’s launch of SOAR™, an innovative degree pathway that grew significantly in its first year, helped attract community business partners and is gaining national recognition for its radical affordability, radical flexibility, and alternative workforce development value.
Through a new Career & Life Calling (CLC) website hub, Natelborg has expanded opportunities that connect classroom learning with careers and meaningful work.
Under her leadership, student meetings with career coaches increased by 300%, giving more students access to personalized guidance and practical support early in their time as students. Her team also launched an online resource connecting all students regardless of learning path, with résumé support, interview preparation, career exploration, internships and employer connections.
“In Career and Life Calling, we meet students who can’t wait to get their career going, and others who are just beginning to understand their strengths and skills,” Natelborg said. “We have the opportunity to work with faculty, colleagues and employers who love sharing their knowledge and experience with the next generation.”
The dedicated team is also creating stronger connections between students and employers through on-campus engagement, internship coordination, professional networking and experiential learning opportunities. Overall, strengthening the regional workforce pipeline through Cornerstone is an accelerating goal.
For Natelborg, one of the most meaningful aspects of joining Cornerstone has been discovering a place where faith, purpose and work naturally come together.
“The surprise that God had for me was the open invitation to bring together my Christian faith with my work life,” she said.
She especially values the shared sense of mission and community found across the university.
“I celebrate our opportunities to worship together in chapel, and to pray together before meetings or when a colleague shares a personal joy or challenge,” Natelborg said. “Most of all, I celebrate the unity that I observe in our community as we live out our mission to prepare men and women to influence the world for Christ.”
Helping people become who they were created to be in Christ remains work worth investing in, according to Natelborg.
Explore Cornerstone’s career opportunities by completing an online application, or learn more about our more than 65 accredited degree programs by requesting information today.
