Member Spotlight | July 2026

The MIACADA Member Spotlight showcases exceptional individuals who make a significant impact on the advising profession and our organization. Each feature highlights a member whose dedication and contributions inspire us all. Join us in celebrating their remarkable achievements and commitment to advising. Know someone who should be recognized? Let us know! Nominate them today!

Tell us a little about your professional journey. What has your career path looked like leading up to your current role?

My career began in Residence Life. After graduating from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, I secured a position as a Resident Director at La Salle University in Philadelphia. I then served as a graduate assistant in Holmes Hall at Michigan State University while earning my master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration.

After completing my graduate program, I went on to work at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where I supported Deaf and Hard of Hearing students attending the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which is housed at RIT. From there, I transitioned from Residence Life to academic advising when I moved to California and worked as an advisor for the National Center on Deafness at California State University, Northridge.

After the birth of my first child, I took two years away from full-time work to be a stay-at-home dad. During that time, I earned a post-baccalaureate degree in computer science, which helped me secure an advising position at Cal Poly Pomona as the computer science advisor. After only a few months in that role, the advising coordinator for the College of Science moved on to a new position, and I became the coordinator for the college.

I later moved back to Michigan and stepped into my current role as an advising director at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where I have served for the past 10 years.

When you’re not advising, what are some activities, hobbies, or interests that bring you joy? 

When I’m not advising, I enjoy spending time with my family. We do a lot of outdoor activities together, and we are heavily involved in Scouting. We especially enjoy outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, and canoeing. Next fall, I hope to go whitewater rafting for the second time.

When I’m looking to unwind, I usually play video games or paint miniature fantasy and sci-fi figurines.

Can you share more about the time you have spent at University of Michigan - Dearborn and what has made it meaningful for you?

Over the past 10 years at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I have had the opportunity to lead the Student Advising and Resource Team, a centralized advising office that provides New Student Advising, Health Professions Advising, and Peer Advising.

The most meaningful part of this work has been the relationships I have built over the years. I have had the pleasure of supervising, being supervised by, collaborating with, and learning from some truly amazing people. I have gained so much from the colleagues I work with, the students I support, and the people who challenge me every day to be the best I can be.

I have friends who tell me they can’t stand the people they work with, but I have been fortunate never to have that experience. I am lucky to work with people I genuinely enjoy spending time with, whether it is going out to lunch, having office potlucks (and there have been so many potlucks over the years), or celebrating birthdays and baby showers together (also so many baby showers). 

For me, it comes down to the relationships and the support I receive from the people I work with that make my work so enjoyable. 

Congratulations on receiving MIACADA’s Academic Advisor - Advising Administrator Award! What did it mean to you to receive this recognition?

It means a great deal to me to receive this recognition from MIACADA. Being recognized for the work you do is always rewarding but having that recognition come from peers across the state makes it especially meaningful.

There are so many advisors and advising administrators throughout Michigan doing incredible work. Each spring, I look forward to connecting with colleagues from across the state, and MIACADA is my favorite conference every year. To be recognized by an organization filled with people whose work I admire so much is truly meaningful.

What experiences or memories with MIACADA stand out the most to you?

What I love about MIACADA is that it always feels like family to me. Each year at the conference, I have the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from across the state.

The 2025 conference was especially meaningful to me as an MSU alumnus. Andrew Murray, one of the conference co-hosts, was an undergraduate student when I was a graduate student. Attending the 2025 conference at MSU felt like a homecoming. I had not been on campus in several years, and I was able to reconnect with some former classmates who, like me, began their careers in Residence Life and eventually found their way to advising. Shoutout to Wilard Korson at CMU and Marcell King at MSU. 

What advice would you share with professionals who are just beginning their careers in academic advising?

My advice is to remember that what is simple to you may be an unsolvable puzzle to someone else. Repeating yourself for the 100th time may be them hearing it for the first time. You can’t know what impact you have on others. You are planting seeds that you may never see grow. Have faith that when the flower blooms, the roots are there because of you.