Heidi VandeHoef-Gunn

Heidi VandeHoef-Gunn joined the Student Success team in July 2021 to specialize in career development for UVA student-athletes.  As a certified career counselor (NCDA) and global career development facilitator (CCE), she works with UVA teams to prepare for post-collegiate transition and also maintains relationships with alumni who are interested in offering career mentorship. Heidi is passionate about helping student-athletes pursue their career goals, and the UVA Pathways platform has been pivotal in expanding connections between current and former Hoos. 

Some of the initiatives that Heidi is integral toward at UVA include Student-Athlete Recruiting Nights, Football Career Kickoff, CEO Academy, Alumni Career Advisory Board, Athletes in Medicine, career treks, mock interviews, resume clinics, LinkedIn work sessions and individualized career counseling. In terms of assessments, she is NCAA-certified to administer the DISC and also serves as a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths Coach. In 2022, Heidi was selected by the N4A to represent UVA in the Professional Development Institute and in 2024 she was chosen to join the NCAA Effective Facilitation cohort. 

Before returning to Virginia Athletics, Heidi (or Mrs. V. as some of the students call her) spent several years with the nonprofit organization Lynchburg Beacon of Hope, fostering equitable access to higher education for first generation and historically marginalized students plus providing career transition after graduation.  She was also a board member for the Bryan-Wade Student-Athlete Fund during this time.  In recognition of her dedication to student-athletes, in 2019 Heidi was named one of six professionals nationwide to join the NCAA HS Advisory and served a 3-year term.   

Heidi’s robust college and career access background was honed in her years administering the National Football Foundation’s Play It Smart Program, National Football League’s HS Player Development, and NFL National 7-on-7 Teams. Her initial training as an athletic academic coach was completed under the tutelage of Dr. Al Petitpas, esteemed professional in athletic counseling. A native of Iowa, Heidi earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology as a Liberty Honors Scholar, master’s degree in Education at the University of Virginia and the University of Minnesota, and is pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education at UVA.