What is your job title?
Senior Academic Advisor for the Arts & Sciences Office of Academic Assistance
Would you care to share a little background on your immediate family or family history?
I live in a great in-town neighborhood in Atlanta with my partner and two cats. We are currently waiting and hoping to complete our family through open adoption. Our adoption profile is listed with the Independent Adoption Center.
How long have you been working at Georgia State University?
I first joined the Georgia State family in 2002.
What do you do on a typical day?
I advise art, film, and speech students, providing guidance on class schedules, career paths, goals, and future plans, handle administrative tasks related to evaluation of credit, coordinate with academic departments, and check records to make sure students are clear to graduate. I am blessed to be able to say that I feel like I help someone every day.
What is your background?
I have a B.A. in English from the University of Mississippi and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology from University of Southern Mississippi. While at USM, I was a graduate assistant hall director for the Department of Residence Life, which led to my interest in working in higher education. I moved to Atlanta for a job in the Housing Department here at Georgia State after working professionally in Residence Life at the University of Memphis, a similarly diverse, high energy, urban institution. I definitely believe residence life is a wonderful foundation for a career in higher education, but, currently, I am very happy that there are no 3am emergency pager calls involved in academic advisement.
What do you do when you're not at work?
I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible – working in the yard, going for a walk or run in local parks, hiking in the north Georgia mountains. Having grown up in rural Mississippi, I’m a country girl at heart. I’m also active in my church and enjoy reading, traveling, painting, and spending time with friends and family.
What's your favorite thing in your office?
Because I strongly believe in keeping a fun and youthful spirit alive, I have a collection of Happy Meal toys. (I promise I didn’t personally consume all of those burgers and fries – many of the toys were given to me. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
What don't people know about you?
I have a special affinity for first generation college students and love to see them succeed. I’m proud to say that I come from a working class family and was the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
If you weren't working at Georgia State, what would your ideal job be?
Another job in higher education that gives me the opportunity to be a positive influence and assist young people during such an exciting period of growth and change in their lives. Working with college students and being an advocate for education are truly my passions.