麻豆传媒社区

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in French, Covenant College,  2014.

Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics & English as a Second Language, Georgia State University, 2017.

Master in Education in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development, University of Georgia, 2023.

Certifications/Training: I am a staff member on the Wellbeing@KSU Coalition which is a team of dedicated faculty, staff, and students who promote health and wellbeing at KSU.  

Three words that describe your approach to mentoring: Encouraging, Empowering, Resourceful.

Specialty Areas: I am here to help all first-year students succeed, but I have over eight years of experience working with the international student population, multilingual students, and multicultural students. I also have a special interest in teaching first-year students the importance of developing a growth mindset and building self-confidence.  

Advice for first-year students: Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help. Building connections with professors, advisors, and peers can open doors you didn鈥檛 know existed.

What is your favorite memory from your first year of college?  It鈥檚 hard to pick just one, but I remember being very active during my freshman year. I went to a lot of campus events to meet new people. I particularly enjoyed participating in intramural sports, even ones I didn鈥檛 think I would be good at or enjoy, as a way to branch out and try new activities. I was fortunate to have met three of my closest friends by attending events, talking to classmates, and joining clubs. 

What campus resources or services do you believe first-year students should take advantage of and why? First-year students should take advantage of all the tutoring services available, the SMART Center, the Writing Center (WC), Supplemental Instruction (SI), Learning Assistants (LA), Coles College of Business Tutoring, the Foreign Language Resource Center (FLRC), College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) Tutoring Lab, the Collaborative Learning for Undergraduate Engineering (CLUE) Center, and the Student-Athlete Success Services (SASS) Tutoring Services. College academics will be very different from high school and may be more difficult, but KSU wants to see its students succeed and offers a variety of FREE tutoring services that students would be remiss not to take advantage of.  

Quote that inspires your work:  Again, it鈥檚 hard to pick one, but here are three great quotes. I hope these quotes will encourage first-year students to push forward when school gets tough. 

"The expert in anything was once a beginner." 鈥� Helen Hayes.

"You belong here, and you have something valuable to offer." 

"Practice makes permanent鈥� not perfection." 

When you're not mentoring, how do you spend your time? 
When I am not mentoring, I enjoy spending my time exploring Atlanta, volunteering, scrapbooking, and sharing budget travel tips online. I also love all things dogs! I don鈥檛 have a favorite breed, but a few I am considering when I get my next dog are an Australian Shepherd, a Samoyed, or almost any version of a Doodle.  

Education: Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a concentration in Criminology, 麻豆传媒社区 University, 2014
Master of Social Work (expected Spring 2027)

Certifications: CliftonStrengths Certified Coach

Three words that describe your approach to coaching: Strengths-Based, Transformational, Collaborative

Specialty Areas: Financial Aid, Conflict Coaching, Strengths

What was the biggest lesson you learned in college outside of the classroom? The biggest lesson I learned in college outside the classroom involves self-discovery and personal transformation. For me, it would center around embracing change and building resilience. Growth happens beyond our comfort zones.

Life advice to developing young adults: Discover your true self and seize every opportunity to nurture your personal growth.

What鈥檚 a book, movie, or TV show that you think every student should experience at least once? Every student should watch Inside Out and Inside Out 2. These films beautifully illustrates that every emotion plays a crucial role in shaping our experiences and identity鈥攑erfect for fostering self-awareness and growth in students!

Favorite quote: "The world will ask you who you are, and if you don't know, the world will tell you." 鈥揅arl Jung

When you're not coaching, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy most? Spending time with family, reading, and taking walks.

Education: Bachelor of Applied Arts in Integrative Public Relations, Central Michigan University

Master of Arts in Interpersonal and Public Communication, Central Michigan University

Certifications: Global Disc Certified Facilitator and Coach, Certified Professional Life Coach

Three words that describe your approach to coaching: Educate, Encourage, Empower

Specialty Areas:  My specialty is helping students uncover small pockets of time within their busy schedules to make meaningful changes aligning with their personal and academic goals. I enjoy guiding students to the heart of their challenges along with working together to find practical solutions that empower them to feel more confident and successful.

What was the biggest lesson you learned in college outside of the classroom? The biggest lesson I learned outside of the classroom was the power of self-awareness and honoring my core values. College brought the constant change of new people, challenges, and expectations, but it also taught me how to embrace uncertainty as a growth opportunity. I learned to set healthy boundaries and step into intimidating opportunities rather than talking myself out of them. Life beyond the classroom rarely follows a clear and linear path like a college course syllabus, and it's in those unpredictable moments that some of the most meaningful growth takes place.

Life advice to developing young adults: Focus on Growth. Mistakes and challenges are a part of growing up. When you stumble, focus on what you can learn instead of beating yourself up. Every experience has the potential to make you stronger.

What鈥檚 a book, movie, or TV show that you think every student should experience at least once? Every student should watch The Matrix. 

Favorite quote: "Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen." 鈥� Bren茅 Brown

When you're not coaching, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy most? I enjoy crocheting, coloring, and Crossfit.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Northern Illinois University, 2020
Master of Science in Sport Psychology, Northern Illinois University, 2023

Three words that describe your approach to coaching: Collaborative, Supportive, Empowering. 

Specialty Areas:  Mindfulness, Motivation & Goal Setting, Neurodivergency, Professionalism, Networking, Communication Styles, Learning Styles, and Study Strategies.

What was the biggest lesson you learned in college outside of the classroom? Always seek challenge. Success comes from doing a great job at hard things consistently. The hard things are easier if you know 鈥測our why.鈥�

Life advice to developing young adults: 1. If you find yourself in the right place at the right time, be intentional with your surroundings. 2. If you don鈥檛 like doors 1 or 2, do everything you can to build door number 3 yourself. 3. If you fail, reflect on things so you have a better chance of succeeding next time.

What鈥檚 a book, movie, or TV show that you think every student should experience at least once? Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Favorite quote: "Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling." 鈥揔obe Bryant

When you're not coaching, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy most? When I鈥檓 not coaching, I like traveling with my fianc茅e, being active, and spending time with friends and family.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education, Shorter University, 2012
Masters of Counselor Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Valdosta State University, (expected) 2027

Certifications: Teaching Certification

Three words that describe your approach to coaching: Accepting, Innovative, Friendly. 

Specialty Areas: Neurodivergency, Time Management, Mental Health, Gentle Accountability, Major Exploration, Growth Mindset

What was the biggest lesson you learned in college outside of the classroom? The biggest lesson I learned in college outside of the classroom was the importance of balance and being truly present. I spent a lot of time focusing on personal goals and trying to improve myself, thinking that achieving certain things would solve my problems and make me happy. But after a while, I realized that all this focus on self-improvement was keeping me from really connecting with the people around me and enjoying the experiences I was having.

What I came to understand is that personal growth isn鈥檛 just about checking things off a list or perfecting every part of your life. It鈥檚 about accepting yourself and being in the moment鈥攔eally being there for the people around you and soaking in the experiences you have. I spent so much time thinking about what I needed to do next that I wasn鈥檛 actually living the life in front of me. Over time, I learned that happiness and fulfillment come not from being perfect, but from finding balance and building real connections with the people and moments that matter.

Life advice to developing young adults: Step out of your comfort zone. It's so easy to get complacent, but you will learn and grow so much when you take opportunities to challenge yourself, meet someone new, or try a new way of doing something.

What鈥檚 a book, movie, or TV show that you think every student should experience at least once? I think every student should read The Gifts of Imperfection by Bren茅 Brown. In these times, it is so easy to compare yourself to others instead of pursuing your own authentic life. This book gives tangible ways to live vulnerably and authentically, and it has been groundbreaking in my life.

Favorite quote:  What's the best that could happen?

When you're not coaching, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy most? Reading, crocheting, working out, going to the movies, cheering on the Braves and Falcons, playing with my dogs

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English with double minors in International Studies and Religious Studies, University of Miami.

Master of Science in Secondary Education with a focus on English Education, Johns Hopkins University. 

Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, expected 2027, University of Virginia.

Certifications and Training: I spent ten years as a high school teacher, so I am uniquely positioned to know the environment that first-year students just left and how to support them through their transition to college. I am also currently earning my doctorate, so I understand the student experience鈥攁nd how to make it a joyful and successful one, too! 

Three words that describe your approach to mentoring: Relational, Invested, Goal-oriented.

Specialty Areas: Building connection and relationship through focusing on strengths, values, purpose, and humor. I鈥檓 here to partner with you and support you as you lay the foundation for an incredible college experience. 

Advice for first-year students: Take the class. Join the club. Try out for the team. Go on that adventure. Try harder in class than you thought possible. You will never know all that you are capable of until you take some productive risks. You may find a calling and purpose in what used to be way outside your comfort zone. (And then come and tell me about it!).

What is your favorite memory from your first year of college?  Changing my major to Political Science after taking an introductory class and loving it; performing in my first college musical 

What campus resources or services do you believe first-year students should take advantage of and why? Discover that the people who work here do so because it is their life鈥檚 work to teach you, support you, and advocate for you. Hopefully, that shifts the thinking from asking for help to making our day! Great places to start that is with us at Student Success Programs and also with Wellbeing@KSU and the Office of Undergraduate Research. 

Quote that inspires your work:  Winston Churchill is perhaps the most quotable person aside from Dwight Schrute. These two Churchill quotes guide my thinking as a mentor: 

鈥淭o improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.鈥� 

鈥淎ttitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.鈥� 

When you're not mentoring, how do you spend your time? Spending time with my family, cheering on my kids, gardening and enjoying the outdoors, reading with my dog next to me, listening to music and dancing in the kitchen.