In an effort to build upon the University’s already robust ecosystem of support, Wittenberg has elevated its advising model where dedicated student success advisors form the core. Starting this fall, all incoming students will be paired with one of six new success advisors, all of whom will personally help students navigate their Wittenberg experience and further their career development.
“Success advisors are a direct reflection of our student-centered experience and the personal attention that characterizes a Wittenberg education,” said Grace Sever, senior director of academic services and student success. “We know our success advisors will be valuable campus resources to our newest Tigers, which will make settling into Wittenberg more meaningful all around.”
Led by Wittenberg’s COMPASS: Sweet Success Center in Thomas Library, the program will maintain a strong connection to the Office of the Provost in order to create a seamless student-success model that promotes collaboration with academic departments, faculty, staff, and service offices across the institution.
“Such an approach will enhance the faculty-student relationship valued at Wittenberg, while also allowing faculty to focus on helping students understand their major and future possibilities,” said Assistant Provost and Professor of English Mike Mattison.
In addition to serving as a first point-of-contact, success advisors will proactively partner with students in exploring their academic interests, along with all the curricular and co-curricular opportunities available at Wittenberg. Additionally, success advisors will assist students with the overall transition to college, the navigation of University processes, the management of their health and wellness, life skills development, and the path for discovering their passion, purpose, and future career within the context of a liberal arts education. The early partnership between students and success advisors will also help students be better prepared when they declare a major, thus allowing for an easier transition to their respective faculty advisors.
The new success advising team consists of Mercedes Singleton, Lynsey Warren, and John DeVito. Singleton served as a student success coach last year in addition to advising first-year Wittenberg students. Warren joins Wittenberg from Christian Brothers University after 10 years at Ohio Dominican University, where she served as the women’s basketball coach. DeVito is a member of the Wittenberg class of 2023 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in higher education.
“At Wittenberg, we want every student to belong and thrive as they explore our purposeful, fun, and genuine student experience,” said Jon Duraj ’09, assistant vice president for student development and senior associate dean of students. “We see our success advisors opening many opportunities to engage our incoming students in important conversations around their future paths and current needs, while reflecting our shared commitment to their success both personally and professionally.”
For more on COMPASS and to ‘meet’ the success advisors, visit www.wittenberg.edu/success.
