Unlike previous years, this year, I decided to not come up with a New Year’s resolution. Instead, I decided to select one word to simply help me achieve my 2018 goals. In choosing this one word, I use this word as a reminder of who I want to and what I hope to achieve. By now, you are either saying what does my personal goals have to do with TennACADA or what was the one word I selected. I hope that you will continue reading this article to under- stand my response to the questions I have previously posed. To answer the latter, I selected the word presence as my one word.
As I write my last article as the President of TennACADA for the 2017-2018 school year, I look back on how TennACADA has helped me achieve my pro- fessional goals and elevate my presence in the advising and UT community. It is sometimes easy to get in a routine and become robotic. In becoming robot- ic, it is easy to become absent. Being surrounded by people who encourage me and inspire me, I am constantly motivated to be present, specifically to have a presence. By being present, I am becoming a better colleague, super- visor, and advisor. For this, I thank you, the advising community for entrusting the presidency to me.
I also would like to reflect on the work the TennACADA E-Committee and I have done and continue to do in this spring semester. When the TennACA- DA E-Committee gathered in the summer to discuss what goals we hoped to achieve for the 2017-2018 school year, we repeatedly talked about establish- ing a stronger advising community and being an advocate for both advisors and coaches. In order to achieve our goals, I knew we had to (re)establish TennACADA’s presence. In the beginning of our terms, we met with different campus partners to show our presence. In these meetings, we worked hard to establish and maintain new and old partnerships. We listened to the feed- back we received about what we could do to establish a more impactful Ten- nACADA presence. We used the feedback to develop programming events to help elevate TennACADA’s presence. In establishing TennACADA’s presence, I notice the change in the advising community’s presence at our programming events. I thank the advising community for continuously being present and supporting our efforts to be advocates for us and to build a stronger advising community. I especially would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the TennACADA E-Committee. Ali, Merrill, and Morgan—although our time as an E-Committee is almost over, I appreciate the time and energy you have given to TennACADA to ensure we meet and fulfill the advising community needs.
Ryessia Jones Russell,
TennACADA President
Recommended Readings
To professionally grow as an advisor, it is critical to keep up to date with the scholarship in your field. Here are a few short articles, which have provided keen insight and furthered scholarship in the field. We hope that you are able to apply some of these philosophies and techniques to your advising strategies. Happy reading!
Letter to the Editor: Is Advising a Political Activity? by Ilya Winham, University of Georgia
Strengths-Based Advising Approaches: Benefits for First-Year Undergraduates by Krista M. Soria,
Nicole L. Laumer, Dale J. Morrow, and Garrett Marttinen, University of Minnesota
“That’s not what I said:” Communication gaps in advising by Ann Lieberman Colgan, Ed.D., West Chester University
Self-Authorship Theory: Using Challenge and Support to Inform One’s Advising Practice by Alli- son Quinn, University of St. Thomas
Updates and Announcements
Demetria Mells has been selected to serve as the Professional Development Workgroup Liaison. In this role, Demetria will act as a liaison between the Professional Development Workgroup, TennACADA, and the Advising Community. She will attend both TennACADA and PDWG events during her two-year term.
We are excited about this new position and look forward to work- ing with Demetria this semester. Please join us in congratulating Demetria on her new leadership position!
The Tennessee State Drive-in Conference will take place Friday, March 9th at the Volunteer State Community College campus in Gallatin, TN. The theme will center around advisor competency, sup- porting community college advising, and the com- munity college to four-year transfer process.
Anyone interested in submitting a proposal or serv- ing on a panel about transfer students, please con- tact Jeff Elliott at [email protected].
Advisor Spotlight:
Emilie Aslinger
Emilie Aslinger is an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences. She completed her graduate coursework at UTK and has been in her current role since May 2017.
How did you get into the academic advising profession? When I was researching graduate programs, I didn’t know much about professional academic advising because I always had a faculty advisor. I worked as a Peer Career Advisor at MTSU, which confirmed my interest in the higher education field. When I read the GTA position description for Arts & Sciences Advising, I saw that it combined several of my interests: working one-on- one with students, working with exploratory students, discussing career trajectories, and working with a wide variety of majors.
After a few months in the GTA position, I knew I would be look- ing for similar positions upon graduation!
What is your favorite thing about working at UT-Knoxville?
I love the people I work with in Arts & Sciences! Collaborating with other offices on campus, like the Center for Career Devel- opment, and the larger advising community has been enjoyable and rewarding as well. UT-Knoxville’s surroundings are great; the proximity to countless hiking opportunities is wonderful, and
there is always something fun and new to do in the community.
Tell us about your proudest moment that has occurred while working with a student.
My proudest moments are when students feel better, more focused, more confident, etc. after an advising meeting. It’s challenging to pinpoint a single moment!
Tell us one fun fact we wouldn’t know about you.
I love horses! I used to take riding lessons and participate in competitions in the Knoxville area. I unfortunately haven’t been able to do that in a long time, but my sister recently adopted a horse named Gianni. He’s a super tall thoroughbred who loves treats!
What are some of your hobbies?
I really enjoy reading. I don’t know that I have a favorite genre, but it has always been one of my favorite pastimes. Hiking is another activity I love, whether in our own GSMNP or elsewhere in the US (one of my favorite hiking trips was visiting Glacier National Park! 10/10 recommend). I like to cook, bake, and try new restaurants- though I would not say I’m a particularly talented cook or baker!
Advisor Spotlight:
Mary Virginia Ireland
Mary Virginia Ireland is an academic advisor in the Tickle College of Engineering. She completed her graduate coursework at The University of Alabama and has been in her current role since May 2017.
How did you get into the academic advising profession?
In my graduate assistantship with the Office of Orientation and Special Programs, I was mentoring students. I really enjoyed meet- ing with them to discuss anything from academics to their involve- ment on campus to their favorite musician. This experience along with my love for helping students and my graduate coursework made me consider becoming an advisor. So, I took on a second graduate assistantship in the Capstone Center for Student Success. I mentored and advised students who were either conditional ad- mits or academically at risk. Additionally, the University was under- going an academic advising review process in which I was able to participate. The culmination of these experiences led me to the field of academic advising.
What are some of your hobbies?
I love volunteering and using my gift of language. I have spoken Spanish since I was 12. Therefore, I volunteer at Centro Hispano to teach ESL. Additionally, I love to read, especially autobiographies. Most recently I have finished Radric Davis’ (Gucci Mane) autobiog- raphy and am in the midst of finishing up Leah Remini’s autobiogra-
phy. I also love to play tennis and cook.
Tell us about your proudest moment that has occurred while working with a student.
My students are why I do what I do. There are too many moments to pick but they all stem from students’ learning moments or times of triumph. Whether a student drops by to tell me that they have received a leadership position on campus, they passed their calculus exam, overcame a semester of personal hardship, or just became more self-aware, those are all moments that I am proud of. I pride myself on ensuring that students leave my office not only having a better grasp on their academics and the advising model, but know that they are valued and they matter. A vic- tory for a student, no matter how small, is a victory for us all.
What is your favorite quote?
My father is a huge history buff, especially when it comes to WWII. So I have grown up loving Winston Churchill. Therefore, it is no surprise that my favorite quote is from him: “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Tell us one fun fact we wouldn’t know about you.
I love to travel, I’ve been to 26 different countries!
Advisor Spotlight:
Jenny Ludwig
Jenny Ludwig is an academic coach in the Student Success Center. She completed her graduate coursework at UTK and has been in her current role since June 2016.
How did you get into the academic advising profession? While I was an undergraduate student at James Madison Uni- versity, I had the opportunity to work as a Psychology Peer Ad- visor. During this time, I learned that there was a lot more that goes into advising than just class registration! I found out that
I really enjoyed the creative thinking and problem solving that came with advising and with working with students. I knew that when I applied to grad school, I wanted to find a program that would give me the opportunity to continue with advising and found myself at UT and in the College of Arts and Sciences!
What is your favorite thing about working at UT-Knoxville? The SSC team! I get to work with a great group of people day in and day out. You also have to love the passion the students have for this institution.
Tell us about your proudest moment that has occurred while working with a student.
I had a student who first came to see me because of his academic probation requirement in the Spring. He shared with me his story and together we developed a plan that would help guide him towards his goals. We worked together every week through the spring and the sum- mer and watching him grow and develop in his academics and gain more confidence in him- self during that time is probably the most rewarding experience I’ve had in any job!
What is your favorite quote?
“Anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” – J.K. Rowling
What are some of your hobbies?
Reading, testing out new coffee shops, Barre3, petting all the dogs I can, and cheering on our Vols.
Tell us one fun fact we would not know about you.
I spent a year living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam after graduating from James Madison University and it was the best experience I’ve ever had!