I work collaboratively with student success staff and our campus partners to prioritize programs and practices that boost student persitence and retention, support timely progress toward degree completion, and encourage holistic student learning and development. I implement interventions, practices, and resources to support the student success network and academic advisors. This includes leading a network of academic personnel focused on students in need of robust support, such as those on academic warning or probation, students returning from withdrawal or required separation, or who have had multiple academic alerts. Another large part of my responsibility is to regularly create and provide crucial data analytics to undergraduate leadership regarding retention indicators. These analytics inform strategic decision-making regarding equity gaps in retention and completion. I also analyze and report on the withdrawal data we gather, as well as create and oversee systems to monitor and support students who are withdrawn or are returning from time away.

I provided direct oversight for the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) planning in collaboration with staff to my assigned sport program. I consistently monitored and maintained records related to these APRs and then provided academic counseling to my assigned student-athletes. This academic counseling includes coordinating any study hall, tutor activites, or book requests as well as working with student-athletes to establish realistic, attainable goals regarding course and major selection, study skills, time management, and career exploration. I helped identify at-risk student-athletes and collaborated with coaches, staff, tutors, and campus partners to ensure the necessary support and monitoring. I supported the full-time athletic counseling staff when they had questions or concerns about their responsibilities. It was my responsibility to adhere to strict NCAA, Department, Conference, and University philosophies and regulations. Finally, my mission in this role was to develop and coordinate an organized effort to enhance and nurture the relationship between the Academic Support Services in Athletics and the student-athletes, coaches, and faculty.

I located and disseminated internship opportunities from a variety of sociology-adjacent areas including but not limited to criminology and law, social work and mental health, advocacy/policy/organizing, the non-profit sector, demography and immigration, and education. I met individually with students, learned about their career aspirations, and helped them navigate opportunities and resources to assist them with their internship search.

My primary responsibility in this role was to meet with students for all advising inquiries regarding the Sociology major or minor, as well as any certificate programs the department offers. I was responsible for maintaining accurate records of these meetings and for processing overrides, exceptions, study abroad course approvals, and any other academic matters. I assisted students in course planning and helped them understand their academic requirements and how to best utilize their time at UMass to accomplish their goals. In addition, I helped recruit, train, and supervise our departmental peer advisors. I was also responsible for representing the department at University events such as Destination Days, Majors Fairs, and Commencement.

I taught a seminar designed to aid first-year students in their transition to college. Some of the topics covered in the course included major exploration, goal setting, and campus resources. In addition to developing my own syllabus, teaching the class each week, and grading all assignments, I also participated in professional development groups with other seminar instructors.

I worked primarily with students who were on the SBS Exploratory Track, meaning that they had not yet declared a major. It was my responsibility as their advisor to help them develop interests, provide them with information about relevant courses and majors, and assist them in making choices that will make them successful during their college career. I also met with students who are on academic probation; it was my responsibility to inform them of the next steps they can take to improve their academic performance and what will happen if their performance did not improve.

As head peer advisor for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, I not only met with students, but had many additional responsibilities. For instance, I helped coordinate schedules for all other peer advisors. I was also expected to assist in training new peer advisors. I was also required to work more hours than regular peer advisors, send out weekly e-mails containing training tips and updates to office protocol, and compile a biography for each peer advisor, which would be displayed in the office. I also helped develop the mission and values statements for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Advising and Resource Center.

As a peer advisor, my main responsibility was to assist students who visited the SBS Advising Resource Center. I helped them navigate their academic requirements, provided them with information on the college requirement, and arranged appointments with Deans or professional advisors when necessary. I also helped with generic office duties such as filing, making copies, and communicating with other offices on campus via phone and e-mail.