The Advisor Training Academy (ATA) has launched an innovative professional development opportunity for experienced academic advisors called the Advising Fellows Program. Modeled after the initiative developed at the University of California, Berkeley, the Advising Fellows Program has been designed to enhance advisor leadership; boost technical, facilitation and project management skills; and provide another avenue of service for the advising community. 

“We are very excited to welcome our first cohort of advising fellows,” said ATA Associate Director Kate Bernas. “After reviewing advisor feedback from the Excellence in Academic Advising (EAA) initiative, it became clear that seasoned advisors wanted additional professional development opportunities to expend their skill set and expertise. Our hope is that this program is an effective tool to begin to fill that need.”

To apply to the program, you must have supervisor approval, three years of advising experience, and a time commitment of at least one semester of service with 10-15 hours a month. Advisors can select projects from an approved list and are paired with another advisor based upon availability and interest.  The projects that will be covered by this first cohort include the creation of the Advising Fellows Program itself, the development of an enhanced onboarding training leading to ATA Level 1 certification, a revamping of the requirements and criteria for ATA Level 2 certification, and the development of a DEI committee focused on advisor training and development.

The inaugural ATA cohort includes:

• Corinne Forys, academic advisor III, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
• Marisa Henderson, academic advisor II, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
• Amanda Horwitz, academic advisor III, University Advising Center
• Margaret MacKeverican, academic advisor III, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Stacie Moser, academic advisor IV, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Rachel Pawlowski, academic advisor IV, Irvin D. Reid Honors College
• Emily Reetz, academic advisor II, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

For more information regarding the ATA Advising Fellows Program, please visit  advisortraining.wayne.edu/advising-fellows.