Advising Philosophy
I believe the purpose of advising is assisting students to navigate learning communities to understand gifts and talents that allow them to be agents of change and leaders of tomorrow’s job market. When I advise students, I aspire them to be active learners and reflective in their academic plans. The thing I value most about working with students is allowing students to see the world as a learning environment. Theories that have most impacted my advising are Schunk’s Cognitive Information Processing, Tinto’s Student Retention model, and Astin’s Student Involvement because students who understand themselves have the ability to understand the “bridge” that needs to happen for them to manifest their dreams through self-efficacy. My colleagues would describe my advising style as individualized and intentional with chunked goals and wins that lead up to a bigger vision. Students would describe my advising technique as thoughtful, empowering, and modeling the way. I know I am making a difference for students when I see them using the tools for how to think and there is a gradual progression away from what others have taught them to think, because they are leaders with skill sets to be good decision-makers. As an advisor, my greatest strength is reminding students of the success trinity: education, accountability, and legacy; as we all stand on the shoulders of others; who have not only opened the opportunity of an education, but the ability to be a leader at the table of conversations that impact social institutions of today’s world; we are the expression of leading how we live and that adds value to decisions that impact critical institutions in life. As an advisor, I challenge myself to consider the shoes of others that I serve while they plan their lives; understanding we are not all afforded the same privileges, and we all have levels of progress in our lives and learning to endure. As a member of the advising community, I think it is important be the inspiration that students need to grow!