Your first semester is not too soon to get to know your professors. Not only will you feel more confident about course material from going to their office hours (really, they schedule them for you!), but also you will learn more about the department, the discipline/field, research opportunities, and the university. Make a point to go to office hours once a week for each of your courses. If you don’t have specific course questions, bring in an article that might be of shared interest. An additional option is to invite your professor or advisor to lunch and bring another classmate or advisee with you. Establishing a good academic relationship will help the faculty member to write you a substantive letter of recommendation should you need one for a summer job or internship.
Check out the piece by former Student Academic Resources Intern, Claire Wright ’16, entitled “How Do I Get to Know My Professors?” She has some good suggestions. Note that while you can still take a professor to lunch, the process is different now. You will be hearing more about it from Dean Mike, the Vice President for Student Affairs, sometime in early September.
Mentors are trained to help you at all stages of the writing process, whether it be brainstorming, structure, grammar, style, or time management. By having a mentor, you will be able to continuously improve your writing throughout the semester. Start out strong, and end even stronger!
Neal Sardana, our new full-time therapist, joins us after two years as a diversity fellow at Williams College. Neal has a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in College Student Development. His professional interests include identity development, impact of culture, social justice, marginalization and privilege, and toxic masculinity. He has a background in career counseling and will partner with the Career Center to develop new programming this fall. Neal is also the CAPS liaison to the graduate student community.
Jennie Setaro is our new part-time therapist. Jennie has an MA in mental health counseling, and her passion lies in working with college students who struggle with adjustment, anxiety, addiction, and sexuality. Jennie is also a former college athlete who is looking forward to expanding the CAPS liaison program with the athletics department.
Dr. Jessica Naecker is our postdoctoral fellow for the 2017-2018 academic year. Dr. Naecker is trained as a generalist, but specializes in working with students experiencing anxiety and students who have experienced trauma. She will also serve as the CAPS liaison to Academic Affairs, with the goal of assisting faculty in providing support to students.
open to the Class of 2021. The first five (5) vote-getters will receive full-year terms, the next four (4) will receive semester-length terms.