Advisor of the month: August 2025

What do you enjoy about your role in advising?

I enjoy building relationships with students and value the diversity of their experiences. I am motivated by the energy and enthusiasm our students share and am inspired by their drive to make a difference. I also enjoy working with students to solve scheduling conundrums and helping advisees plan for experiential learning. I value the opportunity to work with students from orientation to graduation and through the many of the ups and downs they experience in between.

In what ways have you contributed to advising in your department/area?

In my role, I advise a caseload of students, coordinate a team of faculty advisors, and supervise an advising assistant. Some of the items I’ve worked on recently include presenting CEE curriculum and advising information in our department’s introductory course, working with our advising assistant to post fillable checksheets/roadmaps to our website to facilitate student access to graduation planning tools, and collaborating with our associate department head to improve Policy 91 procedures.

What advice would you give to other professionals who want to make a difference in the life of their students?

To best support our students, it is important that we listen actively and demonstrate kindness. Be open-minded and patient, ask questions and take interest in their experiences, and cheer them along to the finish. Clear communication is crucial and helps build rapport. Take advantage of professional development opportunities to renew and re-energize your advising practice. This will provide you with knowledge and insight needed to support and serve your students.