²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì

Ìý

²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì Success Coach Program

Success Coaches work in collaboration with the student success department, faculty, and campus administrators to support students as they navigate their college experience. The program focuses on increasing retention and completion rates by connecting students to campus and community resources, improving self-efficacy and campus belonging, while nurturing students’ overall success.

Ìý

The ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì Success Coach Program aims to:Ìý

• Provide encouragement and support for all students
• Encourage students to identify and establish academic and professional goals
• Help students establish relationships with faculty, support staff, and administrators
• Increase retention and completion
• Support students in creating a sense of belonging on campus
• Promote early class registration and FAFSA completion
• Inform students of campus events and deadlines
• Educate students about the importance of time management, personal and academic supports, financial aid, and mental health and how to connect to campus and community resources in these areas

Meet Our Success Coaches

Amy Denslow - Student Success Coach

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Michigan State University and Master of Arts in General Psychology from University of Phoenix

Fun Facts:

• Amy has a plethora of pets and loves animals.
• She studied abroad in London for a year where she lived on a narrowboat on the Thames river!

Ìý

Jonathan Diefenbach – College Completion Corps Coach

Education: Associate of Arts from ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì

Fun Facts:

• Jonathan’s four P’s are Pokémon, Pizza, Pop and Pasta!
• His candle collection is probably bigger than yours.

Andrea Edelman – Student Success Assistant

Education: Bachelor’s in Photojournalism from Central Michigan University

Fun Facts:

• Andrea is an Orthodox Christian and teaches church school for the youngest children at her parish in Woodbury, MI.Ìý
• You can often find her taking photos around campus as she also owns a photography business called Andi with an Eye and is hired to do advertising work at ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì.

Ìý

Amanda Glaza – Assistant Athletic Director

Education: Associate of Arts from Grand Rapids Community College, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and Business from Grand Valley State University, and Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education from Grand Valley State University

Fun Facts:

• Amanda played collegiate volleyball at Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University.
• Amanda’s father and grandfather were the land surveyors for the ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì Sidney campus in 1997 when the college was looking to expand.

Sara Hansen - Student Success Coach

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and History from Southern Wesleyan University

Fun Facts:

• Sara has been to 34 states and 14 countries and her favorite trip was traveling to China with her son and walking the Great Wall.
• President Herbert Hoover is Sara’s first cousin, three times removed.

Sarah Martin - College Completion Corp. Coach

Education: Associate of Science in Arts from ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì

Fun Facts:

• Sarah attended ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì as a nontraditional Michigan Reconnect student!
• She was the school hula-hoop champion in 4th grade.
• She loves to travel and has been to 36 of the 50 states.

Nancy Seals – Part-time Adjunct Faculty for Health Careers

Education: Licensed Practical Nurse and Associates in Nursing from Muskegon Community College and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ferris State University. Ìý

Fun Facts:

• Nancy loves to golf, bike ride and swim!
• She owns her own business called Community Training Center where she travels to teach CPR, First Aid and AED training classes.

Emily Throop - Dual Enrollment Success Coach

Education: Associate of Science & Arts and a Liberal Studies Certificate from ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì

Fun Facts:

• Emily loves to read, go on walks with her yellow lab and spend time outdoors.
• One of her favorite activities is playing cards. She and her dad are extremely competitive in their hand and foot games.
• She was a Dual Enrollment student for two years before joining the ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì Student Success team.Ìý

Becky Tower – Adjunct Staff Member and Tutor

Ìý

Education: Associate Degree in Computer Programming from Davenport University, an Associate Degree in Liberal Studies from ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teaching with Major in Mathematics and Minor in Language Arts from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Teaching Mathematics from Ferris State University

Fun Facts:

• Becky, her husband and her two youngest daughters are extremely involved in theater for the Hans Christian Anderson Theatre and the Flat River Community Players. They have acted, directed, worked in costumes, set-building, makeup, and technology!
• She enjoys traveling around the world and recently completed a trip to Australia in December 2022.

Jennifer VanderSlik – Writing Center Consultant, Adjunct English Instructor and Supplemental Instruction Leader

Ìý

Education: Associate of Liberal Studies from ²×ÖÝÖÐѧŮ½Ìʦ³ö¹ì, Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications and a Certificate in Secondary Education from Aquinas College

Fun Facts:

• Jennifer is an avid reader, and her favorite author of all-time is Margaret Atwood.ÌýShe even drove all the way to Traverse City and back one night to hear her speak and have a book signed.
• Jennifer used to collect tiaras.ÌýUnfortunately, they were lost in a house fire in 2015, and she hasn’t replaced them.ÌýHowever, she still makes sure to sparkle everyday with her jewelry.