Adventures in Advising

Guest host Margaret Mbindyo from Millersville University chats with Gugu Khanye , University of the Free State; Jonathan Muema Mwania , Makueni University College; and Oyebimpe Olusanya , Federal University of Technology Akure to explore how culture, community, and compassion shape student success. From the power of "it takes a village" to mentorship and holistic support, the panel also...

What can one conversation change? In this inspiring episode of Adventures in Advising , guest host Dr. Melinda Anderson sits down with newly minted Dr. Erika Nixon-Lambert to explore how a chance encounter, the guidance of caring academic advisors, and the power of community transformed her path from the cosmetics industry to earning her Doctor of Pharmacy. Together, they discuss resilience, mento...

What happens when a passion for mathematics evolves into a passion for student success? In this episode, Giancarlo Labruna from Penn State shares his unique journey from mathematics faculty member to academic advisor, reflecting on the mentors, experiences, and opportunities that inspired him to pursue a career dedicated to helping students thrive. We also dive into the growing role of scholarship...

In this thought-provoking episode of Adventures in Advising , guest host Dr. Gerron Scott sits down with Brandi Byers , academic advisor at the University of South Carolina and chair of NACADA’s Advising Students with Disabilities Community. Together, they explore disability identity, accommodations, accessibility, and the critical role advisors play in supporting students through their educationa...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising , Ryan heads north for a lively conversation with Canadian advising leaders Aysha Haq, Elizabeth Venton-Parnell, Jing Yao, and Shoshana Kalfon . Together, they explore what makes academic advising in Canada distinct, from provincial policies and immigration changes to holistic student support, institutional pressures, and the magic of those “light bulb” st...

Guest host Dr. Margaret Mbindyo welcomes Ben Walker from Oxford Brookes University in the UK, and Chiara Bertolini and Dr. Alessandra Landini from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, for a rich discussion on academic advising, student success, belonging, mental health, disability support, and the changing needs of today’s college students. From the UK’s “personal tutoring” model t...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising, Matt and Ryan chat with returning guest,  Dr. Janet Schulenberg, about NACADA’s newly unveiled definition of academic advising and framework. Janet reflects on how the task force’s work moved from development to a formal resource for the profession. This conversation explores the definition’s central message, its implications for advisor identity and inst...

In this episode, Matt and Ryan welcome Dr. Hilleary Himes from Penn State for a lively conversation about advising scholarship, professional development, and why the history of academic advising matters more than we might think. Hilleary shares her unexpected journey from anthropology and archaeological digs to academic advising, reflects on how advising structures shape student experiences, and o...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising, Matt talks with Arjun Arora, founder of Advisor AI , about where artificial intelligence fits into the future of academic advising, and where it absolutely does not . From chatbots and career pathways to implementation headaches, ethical guardrails, and the myth that AI can replace advisors, this conversation dives into the real people, processes, and pos...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising , Matt and Ryan sit down with Weston Rose , Senior Program Manager in the UT System Office of Academic Affairs, for a lively conversation about advising, innovation, and what it really takes to support student success at scale. From his journey as a first-generation college student from a tiny Texas town to leading systemwide advising initiatives, Weston s...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising , guest host Dr. Brendan Caputo welcomes his longtime mentor, Dr. Ellen C. Miller , Senior Associate Dean for Pre-Health Advising at Hofstra University, for a wisdom-packed conversation about advising as both a profession and a calling. From her own nontraditional path as a first-generation student to nearly four decades of supporting future health profess...

Retirement is not the end of the story. It is the plot twist. In this episode, Matt and Ryan sit down with the unforgettable Dr. Deborah Parsons to talk about career pivots, retirement realities, reinvention, and what it means to keep creating in every chapter of life. From police work to higher education leadership to children’s book author and illustrator, Deb shares a jam packed journey packed...

In this milestone episode of Adventures in Advising , Matt and Ryan welcome Maureen “Mo” Schafer, Assistant Provost for Academic Advising and Director of the Academic Advising Center at the University of Iowa, for a conversation packed with insight, honesty, and a few beautifully relatable metaphors. From her journey as a first-generation student and former campus tour guide to her leadership in a...

On this special global edition of Adventures in Advising , Dr. Margaret Mbindyo brings together Yoshinobu Onishi, Megumi Yamasaki, Jushan Cheng, and Chiahuan Chen for a rich, eye-opening conversation about how academic advising is taking shape in Japan and Taiwan. From helping students navigate major choice, family expectations, and mental health, to exploring the role of technology, study abroad,...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising , Matt chats with Chad Cain from Texas Tech University for a conversation filled with insight, warmth, and authentic reflections on the work of supporting students. From Chad’s higher ed origin story and the mentors who shaped his path, to the many hats he wears in the Honors College, this episode explores what it means to lead with care, curiosity, and a...

What makes academic advising and personal tutoring truly effective? In this guest-hosted episode, Dave Lochtie is joined by co-authors Andrew Stork, Ben Walker, and Alison Raby to unpack the second edition of Effective Personal Tutoring and Academic Advising in Higher Education . Together, they explore what has changed since the first edition, why relationships matter more than ever, and how advis...

Matt and Ryan welcome Dr. Lindsey Grites Weeks from Neumann University for a wide-ranging conversation on advising, identity, and the future of the field. Lindsey discusses advising nursing students as a “non-nurse,” building trust through authenticity, and using meaning-making to help students navigate challenges and setbacks. Lindsey reflects on growing up around advising through her father’s le...

What happens when a two minute self portrait becomes the doorway to deeper reflection? When advising slows down just enough for students to breathe? And when feminist pedagogy quietly reshapes the way we listen? Guest host Matt Plescia sits down with Hannah Stubley from Hamilton College for a conversation that blends theory, creativity, and heart. Hannah shares her journey from growing up in a sma...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising , Matt and Ryan sit down with Julie Montgomery , academic advising generalist manager at Sinclair Community College (Mason Campus) , who leads with equal parts clarity, compassion, and “let’s-get-this-done” energy. Julie serves up practical wisdom on building a healthy advising office culture (hint: purpose + philosophy + communication make the whole thing...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising, we explore a bold redesign of student support with guests Steven Schaffling, Cindy Zazzara, Molly Clock, and Ryan Howlett from Syracuse University! They share how they dismantled silos, rewrote the advising playbook, and built an integrated academic/career student success model! We talk: ✨ Holistic advising that connects the dots between academics and ca...

In this energizing episode of Adventures in Advising , Imani Hill steps in as guest host to lead a powerhouse panel on advisor well being, retention, and the research that is reshaping the field. Joined by Rebecca Helms , and Chisom “Chi Chi” Anunobi , and Brandon Jones , this dynamic crew from NACADA’s Well Being and Advisor Retention Advising Community dives into the heart of what keeps advisors...

In this episode of Adventures in Advising , Ryan flies solo for a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Patricia (Patti) Griffin, Director of Academic Systems and Advisor Development at Fort Hays State University, a longtime NACADA leader, communication scholar, and proud member of Starbucks’ top 4% worldwide. ☕ Yes, really. Patti reflects on grit, growth, 18 office moves, and a steadfast belief that...

What does it take to build meaningful, scalable professional development for academic advisors across an entire university system? In this episode of Adventures in Advising , Matt and Ryan pull back the curtain on a remarkable systemwide effort within The University of Texas System: the creation and launch of the Fundamentals of Excellence in Academic Advising learning modules. Joined by Angelica...

In this special episode of Adventures and Advising , guest host Dr. Margaret Mbindyo  (Millersville University) leads a rich, eye-opening conversation with Rasha Tawfik (American University of Sharjah) and Miriam Khalil (Northwestern University in Qatar). Together, they explore what academic advising looks like in the Middle East and what advisors everywhere can learn from it. From family-centered...

In this special episode of Adventures in Advising , Matt welcomes back Dr. Craig McGill from Kansas State University for a bold and slightly unconventional experiment: a friendly debate with ChatGPT on the professionalization of academic advising. Craig makes the case for why academic advising must continue to professionalize to gain legitimacy, resources, respect, and fair compensation, while Cha...