Renita Washington
Academic Advisor
Materials Science & Engineering
renita.washington@mse.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I've been an advisor for the undergraduate program in Materials Science and
Engineering for the past four years.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Itake the time to be familiar and knowledgeable about your major, as well as the correct educational path you'll need to follow to make your experience here at Tech as beneficial as possible. Know that ultimately, the responsibility of how successful you will be at Tech depends on the effort you put into it.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Network, network, network! There is an amazing amount of resources and ideas to be gained through connecting with fellow advisors. I've gained so much insight and direction from the input and suggestions of other advisors on how to more efficiently make the advisement process better for my students.

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
The daily opportunity to interact with the students and offer help and direction to them.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family and going to the movies.

Mirjana Brockett
Academic Professional
School of Biology
mirjana.brokett@biology.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I have been teaching and advising with the School of Biology, for two and a half years. I am also an advisor for the local AMSA, two student organizations, as well as honors freshman partner, here at Georgia Institute of Technology

What is the best advice you give your students?
I would like to advise all my students to indeed stay focused on good education and professional goals, yet to step outside on occasion, exploring other cultural resources. I believe that a true intellectual must be well rounded and knowledgeable about the world, arts, and history. In such process alone students would recognize their inner growth and feel enriched with something money can not buy and it could greatly impact their life.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
For my colleagues I have only an observation, not an advice. The more we accept our students with a genuine interest in their needs and situations, the more rewarding our work becomes. In teaching and in advising I prefer to think of what would a student remember about me and try to do my best at any given moment.

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
I have been a very social person my entire life and worked in academia ever since I graduated from the University of Belgrade. It is very natural for me to be with young people, whether I am teaching or advising, yet it is the advising that gives me an opportunity to hear students individually. I enjoy helping students and making some positive impact on their lives.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I don’t seem to have very much of “free time”, because I am also a busy mother of two boys (one is a high school senior and another in the 7th grade). In addition we have two cats, one dog and three fishes… Before I was married I had a passion for painting, mostly small watercolors and I hope one day I might return to that hobby. However, I still find time to read, go to concerts of classical music, exhibitions or visit with friends. I also love nature, gardens and enjoy traveling, but my favorite place is the ocean beach.

Enid Steinbart
Director of Advising and Assessment
School of Mathematics
steinbar@math.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I have been the advisor for undergraduate math majors for 7 years.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Plan ahead, but also be willing to modify your plans. Get to know your professors - especially your math professors.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Keep connected with advisors from other units. They are a great source of information and encouragement.

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
I enjoy working with students. It is exciting to see a student grow academically and personally.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to walk (especially with friends), bake, and play games.

Karen Houston
Advisor
College of Architecture
karen.houston@coa.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I have been the Academic Advisor for the Building Construction Program for about 10 years. This is my first experience as an Academic Advisor and I love it (Except during registration! During that time I love the students, but I hate registration problems with them.)

What is the best advice you give your students?
Enjoy being a college student and take advantage of all that Tech has to offer. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, that’s what we are here for.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Be compassionate and care about the roadblocks students run into. We can’t fix every situation, but empathy goes a long way with students. Be your student’s biggest ally.

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
Getting to know my students and being a part of their lives. I love events that bring in our alumni. We hold an annual career fair and a golf tournament which are always like homecoming because so many of our alumni participate. It is great to see the students graduate and succeed in their career and then give back to the program.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Right now I am learning to ride a motorcycle so that next summer I can ride with my husband, brother-in-law and his wife to the mountains, I’m still deciding if that makes me crazy? I am also working on a degree in Human Services which keeps me very busy. My favorite activity is definitely shopping!!!!

Lisa Jones
Advisor
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
lisa.jones@inta.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I have been an academic advisor in International Affairs for almost two years.  I've worked in higher education for 13 years, but this is my first actual position as an academic advisor.

What is the best advice you give your students?
I encourage our students to obtain career-related work experience before graduation.  It’s the most important thing they can do, both to build their resumes and confirm (or change!) their intended career paths.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
I would encourage other advisors, especially new advisors, to ask questions of experienced advisors.  I’ve been amazed at how helpful everyone was during my transition into academic advising.  I met someone at a GTAAN best practices event when I had only been in my position for a month.  She worked in a completely unrelated office and she made me feel comfortable calling her about any questions… and I definitely took her up on the offer!

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
It is a privilege to work at Georgia Tech and have such terrific students.  As academic advisors we have the opportunity to be on the “inside” to celebrate our students’ achievements, whether it’s winning a prestigious fellowship, obtaining that first major-related job, or making the Dean’s list their first semester back after academic dismissal.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy going to the gym, being involved with my church, and spending time with my family, especially my adorable nieces who are two years old and five months old.

Cathy Dunahoo
Advisor
College of Computing
cathy.dunahoo@cc.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
For many years I had an advising title but I mainly worked with registration issues. I’ve been a “real” academic advisor for about 3 years in the College of Computing for Computer Science majors.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Don’t hesitate to get help when you need it. Too many of our students feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. They feel like they have to make it on their own. Georgia Tech has so many great resources (tutoring, the Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office, Student Services Workshops, Career Services, etc.) to help students be successful, that it’s a shame for students not to take advantage of these resources when they need help.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Smile, even when you don’t feel like it. J A positive attitude helps in any situation.

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
Working with the students. Georgia Tech has some of the best!

What do you like to do in your free time?
Go to movies, plays, musicals; read books (fantasy and science fiction are my favorite); work sudoku puzzles.

Judy Reese
Advisor
College of Management
judy.reese@mgt.gatech.edu


How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I have worked at Georgia Tech for 10 years (vested) :) I have been advising in the College of Management for 3+ years.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Don’t overload yourself – seek a balance. Be aggressive about your education, and take advantage of all the opportunities/resources at Georgia Tech, so you will be incredibly marketable at graduation!

What advice would you give to other advisors?
I think we have remarkable advisors at Tech! We are excellent teachers. I am excited to be a part of this profession, and I am always learning something from my colleagues. Every advisor should be proud of their profession and become a member of NACADA. I hope to see you all at the NACADA annual conference in Baltimore, Oct 18-21! http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/NationalConf/2007/index.htm

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
"If you want happiness for an hour -- take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day -- go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month -- get married.
If you want happiness for a year -- inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime -- help someone else/love your work."
-- Chinese proverb

I love helping our students. I enjoy working one-on-one with these bright young minds, and making a positive difference.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Spend time with family and friends, dark chocolate and wine, play in the dirt, dark chocolate and wine, interior decorating, dark chocolate and wine.

Daurette Joseph
Advisor
Aerospace Engineering
daurette.joseph@aerospace.gatech.edu


How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I  have been an academic advisor since 2005 in Aerospace Engineering.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Develop good time management skills early. You will find that most things will start falling into place.

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Listen. Although giving good advise is important, it is equally important to listen. There are times when that is what our students want or need.

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
Working with the students. It is an adventure at times, but very rewarding.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Cake decorating, experimenting with new cake or dessert recipes, reading.

Tonya Simpson
Advisor
Athletic Association
tsimpson@athletics.gatech.edu


How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I  have been a Georgia Tech Athletic Association advisor for 7 years.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Maximize your college experience by communicating everything.  Too often, student limit themselves by what they don't know, feel they can't achieve or allow fear to be too great of a factor.  Communication breaks down these barriers and allows them to realize that anything is possible with the right information. 

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Relate to students where they are and make the most of it. As people who want the best for everyone with whom we come in contact and because we can see everybody's greatest potential, we may become easily frustrated with those who don't seem to want the success that we want for them or who don't want it within our timeframe.  We must learn to identify with the student and understand our purpose for each moment we spend/invest with them.  We might be their foundation, a stepping stone or the final destination...whatever it may be, make the most it!

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
Tomorrow is never like yesterday.  Each day brings a new experience as we go above and beyond to empower young minds and take pleasure as we rejoice in each new discovery, new height and new victory, large or small.  As an Athletic Advisor, I enjoy that I get to work with students across all majors at Georgia Tech.

What do you like to do in your free time?
When I am not bonding with my 17 month old niece, I enjoy reading and I am trying to keep the art of letter writing alive.  I also like to do a few word searches or sudoku puzzles.  Anything to keep the brain stimulated.

June 2007 Profile

James P. Spencer
Academic Advisor II
Architecture Program, College of Architecture
james.spencer@coa.gatech.edu

How long have you been advising and for what academic department?
I began my career in higher education at Georgia State University, where I held several administrative/managerial positions before transitioning into academic advisement in 2001.  After three years in the Student Advisement Center at GSU, I began advising in the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech, where I have enjoyed serving for the past two and a half years.

What is the best advice you give your students?
Expect success; get organized and plan for it every day.  As a Tech student, don’t ever forget that we believe in you and offer world-class resources to help you achieve your academic and professional goals.  Come in for advisement regularly—especially if you hit some potholes along the road—and don’t let your enthusiasm be dampened by a derogatory grade or unpleasant semester now and then. 

What advice would you give to other advisors?
Each student has a right to your undivided attention and competent support, so focus on your students as if their questions or concerns are more important than world peace or the national debt.  Fine-tune your listening skills constantly.  Perform an honest inventory of your own beliefs and biases and then quarantine them during the advisement session.  In many cases, students just want to be heard, and your receptive, non-judgmental ear can make the difference between despair and determination.      

What do you enjoy most about being an advisor?
The staggering financial rewards (just kidding).  As an academic advisor, one has the opportunity to be a powerful motivator and change agent.  I suppose what I enjoy most about my profession is opening students’ eyes to their own potential.  There’s a certain “I didn’t know I could do THAT!” look from a student that gives every academic advisor an indescribable sense of satisfaction, and I am no exception. 

What do you like to do in your free time?
Performing in community-theater productions, renovating a mid-century bungalow in Smyrna, and reading my wife’s graduate papers in history.  Oh, and watching Britcoms on Saturday night.