Students First continues our commitment to supporting student success across the multiple dimensions of Persistence, Academic Success, Affordability, and the Student Experience. This update provides a few highlights of work that is underway that embodies the commitments of Students First in supporting students to achieve their educational goals.
STUDENT SUCCESS ADVOCATE
In an effort to ensure all incoming first-year students are supported as they begin at PSU, the SSA pilot program has been extended and expanded to include support for all first-year students. Please join us in welcoming Davy Em to the team who will join Joe Soto in Student Affairs as part of the SSA program.
Davy (Dah-vee) was the first in her family to pursue and graduate from college. She completed her B.S. in Psychology in 2015 and an M.S. in Education in 2020, both from PSU. She has spent the past 8 years of her life serving underrepresented youth in the roles of an advocate, college mentor, tutor, tutor coordinator, and most recently as a TRIO Academic Advisor. Davy has served as a TRIO Academic Adviser for four years and is also a TRIO Alumna. Her professional interest includes working with marginalized student populations in helping students foster a sense of belonging by connecting them with student support programs. Davy is fluent in Khmer. In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature and singing Cambodian songs. She is excited to join the Office of the Dean of Student Life (DOSL) as a Student Success Advocate and looks forward to connecting with students and more colleagues at PSU.
Mike Walsh, Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Student Life, is working collaboratively on the program evaluation as we hope to secure funding to extend this program beyond the pilot phase. Preliminary data shows that the SSA program has been successful in increasing persistence. Please be in touch with Mike Walsh directly with any questions regarding the SSA program.