Coordinator for Student Communication and Engagement
About
What is your advising philosophy? I didn’t have an advisor in my undergrad, so I never had anyone to help me explore the vast offerings outside of my immediate interest. Now, I want to make sure my students have someone to support their interests and aspirations while also helping them discover what they don’t know or haven’t considered both in and out of the classroom. In doing so, I hope to assist them in enriching their college experience and enhancing their post-graduation preparation as they grow as individuals and members of our community.
What was your path to Newnan? I fell into advising almost by accident, and when I did, I discovered the best job I’ve ever had. I started advising English majors at the University of South Florida and spent over six years in that role. Along the way, I taught composition and literature classes, often to my advisees, and started advising students across the university who were pursuing various health professions. I grew up in the Midwest before moving to Florida for graduate school, so when my wife got a job at UM, I jumped at the chance to be near my family and enjoy seasons again, and that led me here.
Why did you join Newnan? Since my first year in advising, I’ve known I wanted to spend my career in this field, and I was thrilled to discover the opportunity to join Newnan as a general advisor. My own background in the humanities meant LSA immediately felt like home, and as a generalist, I knew I’d have a chance to work with students from a wider array of majors than I’d previously done. I’m excited for new challenges and learning opportunities, and I couldn’t be happier with my new colleagues and all the students I’m soon to meet!
Class you loved and why? My favorite class was Native American Literature and Film, which I took when considering pursuing a PhD. It was my second course with one of my favorite English professors (the first was Asian American Literature and Film), and it continued a pattern of introducing new perspectives and stories that taught me more about our world. I learned more about American history in these courses than all my high school and college history courses combined, and the novels, plays, and films pushed me to continue reading on my own, especially in contemporary horror, science fiction, and fantasy. I was pushed well beyond my comfort zone, and I was better for the experience.
Interests and hobbies: I love spending time with my family, especially my wife and our cats and dog. I watch a lot of movies and television, especially horror, science fiction, actual play D&D (shout out to Dimension 20!), and I’m slowly getting more into board games and TTRPGs. I also enjoy reading, cooking, and discovering new nature walks as I get to know the area.
