Senior Associate Dean Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies

The Office of Academic Advising supports undergraduate students in achieving their academic goals and enriching their educational experience. Through advising, academic support programs, and student success initiatives, the office promotes student retention, timely graduation, and persistence across disciplines, within the School of Arts and Sciences.

The office serves as a central hub for undergraduate academic policy and advising, overseeing functions such as academic standing and petitions while fostering strong collaboration between students and faculty. It also facilitates access to nationally competitive fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, Rhodes), supports undergraduate research and experiential learning, and delivers programs that enhance academic development and student engagement.

The Senior Associate Dean for Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies serves as a key academic administrator, providing strategic leadership for undergraduate advising, academic policy administration, student success initiatives, and faculty partnerships across the School of Arts and Sciences. The Senior Associate Dean leads a growing advising organization and collaborates across the university to enhance student success, strengthen advising practices, and support the undergraduate experience from matriculation through graduation.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of academic advising professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement while overseeing organizational growth, staff development, change management, and operational effectiveness.
• Provide strategic direction for undergraduate advising, academic policies, and student success initiatives, ensuring effective service delivery, clear processes, and consistent application of university policies across the School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Special Studies.
• Oversee departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning to support institutional priorities, student success goals, and the continued growth of advising and academic support services.
• Oversee core academic functions, including academic standing, degree auditing and certification, orientation, matriculation, and student academic petitions and appeals.
• Serve as Senior Associate Dean for undergraduate students, adjudicating complex academic cases, appeals, and disciplinary matters, and acting as the final appellate authority when appropriate.
• Uphold and interpret undergraduate academic policies in alignment with faculty governance, applying policies thoughtfully and consistently to complex or exceptional student situations.
• Serve as a key partner to faculty governance bodies and academic committees, contributing to curriculum discussions, educational policy development, and initiatives that strengthen the undergraduate academic experience.
• Partner with faculty and academic leaders to strengthen advising systems, recruit and train advisors, and promote best practices in advising, mentoring, and student support.
• Advance student success and retention through the development, implementation, and assessment of programs that support diverse student populations, improve persistence and time-to-degree outcomes, and enhance academic achievement.
• Expand high-impact opportunities for students, including undergraduate research, fellowships, and experiential learning initiatives (e.g., Undergraduate Research Fund, SPIRIT Fund).
• Chair scholarship and fellowship efforts, guiding faculty and students through nationally competitive application and selection processes.
• Represent undergraduate academic affairs at major university events, including Matriculation, Commencement, Orientation, and…