Email

Suzanne K. Phillips 

The Advisement Services Center is an important resource for you during your years at UAlbany. The Center is staffed with professional advisors who are dedicated to helping you achieve your academic goals. You will have an assigned advisor in this office during the time you are charting your educational path. As you identify your interests, strengths and abilities, your advisor will help you to match these with the resources and opportunities at the University. Once you decide upon and gain entry to your major, your official advisor will become someone in that academic department. However, the advisors here will continue to be available to you to answer questions and help with any changes in your path. We look forward to getting to know you and participating in your future!

Email

Listserv

Dawn Kakumba

We each possess our own talents and abilities that make us unique. This institution and those of us who work here are committed to providing all students with equal access to the benefits of an education. As your academic advisor I will try to help you realize your potential, to identify life and academic goals, to assist you in achieving your full potential, and to introduce you to the many wonderful opportunities that this university has to offer. Above all, I promise to be a patient and supportive listener. I want to hear from you often, whether it is face to face, email, on the telephone, or just a brief note. Your success very much depends on a cooperative effort between you and myself. I promise to empower you, not merely direct you. Together we will work towards your success and a bright tomorrow.

Dawn is the recipient of the 2003 President's Award for Excellence in Professional Service and the Chancellor's award for Excellence in Professional Service.

Dawn has also received  the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Outstanding Advising Award.

Email

Linda Scoville, Ph.D.

Assistant Director

I have always believed that the student is the most important component here at the University at Albany, and my advising reflects this. What I am most interested in is your hopes, dreams, and plans, and how we can take the steps to make these into reality. I take the time to really listen to my students, and am always willing to help with any of your concerns. An advisor is a partner in a student's academic career, and together we can plan for the future.

Linda is a 2003 NACADA Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Advising winner.

Dina Anthony

Academic Advisor

Email

I believe that the college years are among the most exciting, challenging and important years in a person’s life.  They are also a time of tremendous personal and intellectual growth. What you make of those years will impact the rest of your life in one way or another.  A good academic advisor can help you make the most of this time. I have a Masters Degree in College Counseling and over 10 years of solid academic advisement experience. I enjoy working with students and helping them to realize their academic potential. I believe that advisement is a dynamic partnership and, like all relationships, to be successful it requires commitment, responsibility, and an investment of time and energy.

No two students are alike.  Each possesses a unique set of interests, strengths, talents and abilities.  I will help you to explore your interests and identify your strengths so that you can develop an academic plan that will enable you to best develop your talents and apply your abilities.  Working together we will guide you toward a path that will mark you for success.

Sesan Badejo

Academic Advisor

Email

My role, as your academic advisor, is to empower you to make informed decisions about choosing appropriate majors to accomplish your goals. I promise to listen attentively to you, and I will facilitate your access to the excellent resources and opportunities that the university provides to enable you achieve academic success. 

Individual students have unique abilities and interests. As you continue to grow intellectually and personally, I will work in partnership with you as you identify, explore, and enhance your strengths with the help of university resources. I am here to support you in your quest for a successful educational experience, and a bright future. 
 

Barbara Brown

Program Coordinator/Academic Advisor

Email

I think advising is a series of moments: crafting a schedule of classes, discussing plans for academic success, exploring ideas as your future comes in to focus. I will serve as your guide, your mentor, and your advocate as you journey through your first years of college. My role is to work with you in shaping your educational plan and to point you in the direction of the many other university resources available here to enrich your academic experience and your life. I encourage you to participate in our community. Although my professional background is in journalism, public relations, and education, my interests are diverse. I enjoy sharing ideas and look forward to getting to know you. My door is always open.

Neilia Campbell

Pre Health Advisor/ Academic Advisor

Email

I am always happy to meet with my students to help you create an educational plan and build your future. Together we can explore your interests and select courses that complement those interests. I very much believe in the experiential component to classroom learning and believe students can create a great educational experience for themselves by taking part in volunteer opportunities, extra-curricular activities, and internships. Let's get together to talk about this exciting and sometimes confusing stage in your life.

Neilia is a 2005 NACADA Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Advising winner.

John Donoghue

Program Coordinator/Academic Advisor

Email

Students come first! This is my personal philosophy as an academic advisor at the University at Albany. In working with students I hope to help them explore their academic options, help to make them aware of the various opportunities available at University at Albany, or just being there to listen. Hopefully in our time together, students will be working to develop both short term and long term goals in the classroom and in life. I encourage students to contact me at any time whether through phone, email or dropping by the office.

John is a 2006 NACADA Region 1 Advising Award winner.

Vanessa Downing

Academic Advisor

Email

As an academic advisor my role begins with creating an environment where students feel comfortable to ask questions, learn about the University's resources, and take the steps to achieve their goals. Together, we will create plans to achieve your academic goals in college starting from exploring and declaring your major, participating in student groups, acquiring an internship, and traveling abroad. I hope our interaction will help broaden your academic and personal interests in the classroom and you will participate in the University community. I look forward to working with you. My door is open - feel free to stop by, email, or call.

Kim Kerker

Academic Advisor

Email

I joined the Advisement Services Center in January 1999 as an academic advisor. I have worked at the University at Albany since 1993 as an Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. While at admissions, I enjoyed meeting and advising prospective Albany students, both freshmen and transfers. My move to the Advisement Services Center has been a natural and pleasant transition since I can combine my knowledge of the University's academic policies with my interest in helping students on a continuous basis.

Peter Monaco

Academic Advisor

Email

Aldous Huxley wrote “Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.” My role as your academic advisor is to encourage you to value and intensely engage each experience you have at the university, both in coursework and as an integral part of the academic community. I will work alongside you to identify and develop your strengths and interests so you may succeed professionally, intellectually, and creatively during this important time in your life. As an educator and advisor, I consider your progress a collaborative endeavor; together we will develop a path that not only ensures your success at the University at Albany, but also one that supports your development as a critical thinker and engaged citizen of the global community. This will be an exciting and engaging journey, for as Joe Strummer reminds us “The future is unwritten.”

Maria Panayotou

Academic Advisor

Email

As an advisor, I’m here to be one of the catalysts to your dynamic experiences in college. College is a time for you to explore and learn about your true interests; what works and what doesn’t work. Sometimes we have ideas and visions and only see one route to completing that vision. As an advisor, I’m here to hopefully show you many ways to reach and surpass your goals. College is a time of great academic success, but also huge personal growth. Your college experience is unique to what you want!  I’m here to make sure that you are getting the most out of your college experience, while helping you to reaffirm your choices and paths throughout your years in higher education. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time!

Kristen Rimany

Academic Advisor

Email

College may be the first time in your life that you get to choose what you want to learn about, so take advantage of the opportunity! I am here to be a resource and advisor to you during your first few years at Albany, and I want to help you take ownership of your college education. I will not make decisions for you, but I will help you to set short term and long term goals for your educational career.

Everyone has their own strengths, interests and life perspectives – and I treat each of my students as unique individuals.  I am very student-centered and want to help you make the most of your time in college – academically, personally and professionally. I have a BA in Anthropology/Sociology, and a Master’s degree in College Student Affairs, and I love working with college students. Please feel free to call, e-mail or meet with me anytime!
 

Katerine Rodriguez

Academic Advisor

Email

Working with diverse students over the years has given me an appreciation of the various academic, personal and career needs of students. I view students from a holistic perspective and assist students in discovering, exploring and achieving their unique educational, personal and career goals. My goal is to guide you in becoming a critical-thinking and self-reliant individual who can use the indispensable tools you acquire in college as transferable skills to use in your personal and professional life. I hope to serve as your academic liaison to the many resources on campus as well as to be a bridge to your academic and professional goals. My door is always open to students and I can be reached in whatever form is most convenient-phone, email or in person.

Yenisel Rodriguez

Academic Advisor

Email

As your academic advisor, with an academic background in anthropology, history, and futures studies I invite you to imagine the possibilities and create your best preferred future (s). College is a transformative experience where students gain invaluable, insightful knowledge about themselves and the world around them.
Creating a path can be difficult and confusing at times, but one must stay the course by being patient and persistent. I hope that through this process you will allow me to collaborate with you, so that we can best match your interests and professional goals, with an academic path that showcases your talents, abilities and multiple intelligences.

Anita Rua

Academic Advisor

Email

As your advisor at this University, I look forward to getting to know each of your "stories" and talking with you as often as you make decisions about your future.  I want you to realize that you are here for your own benefit and that you are sure to grow when you take on challenges, even small ones.  I hope that while you are in school you will take advantage of the innumerable opportunities that are out there for you to expand your learning.  I am here to answer your questions, help you clarify your academic goals, and to show you how to find those opportunities that will best suit you.
 

Donna La Hue