Tribute Tuesday: Excellence in Advising Awards Edition (2)

 

Today's Tribute Tuesday goes to our Region 2 Conference Graduate Scholarship Winners: 

Karis Cornelius (Indiana University of Pennsylvania)

Jocelyn Fuller (Old Dominion University)

Nicole Tota (Rowan University)

Their bios and acceptance speeches are below: 

Karis Cornelius is a second-year graduate student at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) Program. She completed her undergraduate work at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA with a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Communication. At IUP, she is the Graduate Assistant for the Diversity and Inclusion Standing Committee of the College of Education and Communications. During the SAHE program, she has had practicum experiences in New Student Advising at Dickinson College, Study Abroad Advising at Saint Vincent College, and Financial Aid at IUP. After graduation in May, Karis hopes to work abroad for a year teaching and advising English Language Learners and/or international students, then plans to work in international education advising with study abroad students in the U.S.

Jocelyn Fuller is a first-generation college graduate earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from Norfolk State University in May 2020. Currently, Jocelyn is working on completing and obtaining her Masters of Science in Education in Counseling at Old Dominion University. While at Old Dominion, Jocelyn is the Graduate Assistant for the Center for Advising Administration and Academic Partnerships and the co-advisor for Tau Sigma National Honor Society for transfer students. Jocelyn is a part of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. Jocelyn believes that her purpose is to help students be the best version of themselves by guiding them to their interests and what works for them.

Nicole Tota is currently obtaining her Master’s of Arts in Diversity and Inclusion from Rowan University, where she works as a part-time Program and Student Services Advisor with Rowan Global OASIS. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in History and English from Rowan in 2021. Motivated by her amazing academic advisor as an undergraduate, Nicole hopes to deliver that same positive experience to her Psychology and Applied Professional Communications students as they transition from Rowan College at Burlington County to Rowan University. Passionate about equity, social justice, and community-building, Nicole’s personal and professional interests converge in her graduate research on improving Rowan’s first-generation and transfer student experience, which she hopes will not only improve retention rates, but also foster a sense of community and belonging. She is a current member of Rowan’s Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Taskforce, which aims to create a comprehensive Center for Antiracism and implement curricular changes in the coming years. Outside of work, Nicole’s hobbies include crocheting, scrapbooking, and curling up with a good book, preferably with one of her four cats nearby.

Congratulations to our award winners! We look forward to seeing your continued impact on your students and in the field! academic advising.