糖心vlog

Rivier’s Academic Advising team. (Top row, left to right): Colby Larsen, Brianne Torre, Amandra Purcell, and Angela Lopez. (Bottom row, left to right): Jenn Sova, Maggie Breton, and Kerri Mahoney.

When a new semester is on the way, Rivier students know exactly where to go. They head into the Learning Commons and up the stairs to the Academic Advising office, where questions, course plans, and scheduling are all part of the daily flow.

Greeted with a warm welcome from Jennifer “Jenn” Sova, Administrative Assistant to Academic Advising and Career and Life Success, students sign in, settle into a chair, and wait as advisors move in and out of meetings, ready to help them align their academic goals with their future career aspirations.

鈥淚鈥檓 a people person, so I enjoy conversation, but it鈥檚 not for me; it鈥檚 for the students,鈥� Sova says. 鈥淚f I was on the other end, I would hope somebody would be kind enough to engage in conversation with me while I waited for my advisor.鈥�

While conversations unfold at the front desk with Sova, Rivier鈥檚 academic advisors prepare for each meeting behind the scenes. Whether welcoming a familiar face or meeting someone new, the advising team approaches every interaction with a smile and a shared commitment to thoughtful course planning.

鈥淎 big part of our role in advising is encouraging students to build self鈥慳dvocacy skills, from connecting them to academic support to feeling confident talking with their professors,鈥� says Amandra Purcell 鈥�12, Director of Academic Advising. 鈥淲e also guide them through challenging decisions like switching majors, and I always remind them that it鈥檚 okay to not have everything figured out yet.鈥�

Director of Academic Advising Amandra Purcell advising a student.

Leading five other members of the advising team, Purcell prioritizes personalized advising, an approach echoed throughout the team.

鈥淭he real return on investment for us is the relationships we build with students,鈥� says Academic Advisor Brianne Torre. 鈥淲e get to know our students as people, not just as names or numbers. Those connections are what make our work meaningful. It鈥檚 why we can be walking across campus and run into a student who stops to chat with us. That connection is everything.鈥�

Through back-to-back advising appointments and academic planning conversations, the advising team鈥檚 student-centered focus comes to life each day.

鈥淚 had a phenomenal academic advisor in my graduate program while I was navigating career challenges and other responsibilities,鈥� says Academic Advisor Meaghan 鈥淢aggie鈥� Breton. 鈥淗aving one person by your side to help you through it all really makes a difference. That experience inspired me to step into this role and provide the same kind of support for Rivier students.鈥�

The most recent addition to the team, Kerri Mahoney, strives to do the same. As a graduate of a larger school, Mahoney is impressed by how many Rivier students use the Academic Advising Team to achieve their long-term career goals.

Academic Advisor Kerri Mahoney assisting a student with their course schedule.

鈥淲hen I was in college, I never had the chance to know my advisor on a personal level,鈥� says Mahoney. 鈥淲hen I started my role at Rivier earlier this year, I was surprised by how connected the advising team is with our students. Seeing how comfortable they are stopping by just to talk really says a lot about our team.鈥�

For Angela Lopez, another Academic Advisor on the team, advising is about slowing down, listening, and engaging with the other person. Whether on a video call or in person, Lopez takes the time to get to know the hundreds of Professional Studies students under her guidance, helping make the process feel more personal while supporting them as they work toward their next professional milestone.

鈥淢y favorite part of my role is meeting students for the first time. We send a welcome email to help them get started, but that initial meeting is when everything clicks,鈥� Lopez says. 鈥淵ou can finally put a face to a name and see their excitement as they begin their program.鈥�

Even while assisting a large number of students at once, the advising team makes a deliberate effort to ensure each individual feels known and supported. Through detailed notes, spreadsheets, and binders, they stay organized and up to date on every student鈥檚 academic and career journey.

The advising team’s bulletin board, where students can share their career aspirations and plans after graduation.

The advising team often describes itself as 鈥渢he resource to your resource,鈥� serving as a starting point for students who may not know where to turn. Whether a student needs academic support, career guidance, disability services, or another campus resource, advisors help connect them to the right people and ensure they never have to navigate challenges alone.

At the Academic Advising office, the workload peaks during registration periods. From preparing traditional day students ahead of each semester to providing year鈥憆ound support for rolling鈥慳dmission programs, conversations from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. highlight the value the advising team brings to every student at Rivier.

鈥淭he best comment I鈥檝e ever received from a student is 鈥楾hank you for believing in me,鈥欌�� says Academic Advisor Colby Larsen 鈥�19. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that sticks with you forever, and it goes to show how impactful our role ultimately is for our students.鈥�

Academic Advisor Colby Larsen meeting with a student-athlete.

While Commencement is the finish line, the advising team sees success in many forms along the way, reflected in a student鈥檚 academic, social, or athletic growth from their first day on campus to walking across the graduation stage. That pride comes full circle as advisors watch students they鈥檝e come to know over four years achieve their academic goals and confidently pursue life and careers beyond Rivier.

鈥淕raduation is incredibly emotional for us, especially for students who overcame significant challenges to get there,鈥� Purcell says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of them because we鈥檝e walked alongside them every step of the way.鈥�

Learn how the Academic Advising team can help you reach your goals next semester: /academics/support-resources/academic-career-advising/