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Home/Administration/Committees/Experience

Committee: First Year Experience

Membership

Director of Student Engagement and Transitions and the Executive Director of University Advising will co-chair.  Membership will be comprised of UNIV 1003 coordinator and two UNIV 1003 faculty members, Common Read committee chair, SOAR and RBC coordinator, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Coordinator of Outreach and Prevention, University Advising academic advisor, a representative from each undergraduate college, a representative from Housing and Residence Life, a representative from Institutional Effectiveness and three student representatives. 

Function

The First Year Experience committee fosters the development and implementation of a coherent and high-quality experience for all first-year students at NSU. Through the regular review of existing programs and innovation of new initiatives, this group supports the transition, engagement, growth, and retention of students from admission to the sophomore year.

Specific committee functions:

  • fosters collaboration, communication, and integration between departments
  • collects/synthesizes/reports assessment and retention of first year students
  • recommends changes and improvements to existing programs
  • proposes the development of new initiatives

Meetings

Meetings will be held as called by the co-chairs.  Minutes will be sent to the Vice President of Student Affairs and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

2025-2026 Committee Members

  • Dr. Kendra Haggard, co-chair, Director Student Engagement and Transitions & Common Read Chair
  • Ms. Chelsea Pappas, co-chair, Executive Director of University Advising
  • Ms. Jessica Lear, Coordinator of Student Transition
  • Ms. Kathryn Cochran, Associate Director of Student Transition
  • Mr. Darrin Priest, Housing and Residence Life Representative
  • Ms. Angela Demoss, Coordinator of Outreach and Prevention
  • Mr. Brian Manley, Director of Admissions and Recruitment
  • Dr.  Jim Ferrell, University Strategies (UNIV 1003) Coordinator
  • Dr. Robyn Pursley, CLA Representative
  • Dr. Tonya Garrett, COE Representative
  • Ms. Tracy Baldwin, CBT Representative
  • Mr. Austin Beard, GWCSHP Representative
  • Ms. Christel Poston, University Strategies (UNIV 1003) Faculty
  • Mr. Gaelen Rose, University Strategies (UNIV 1003) Faculty
  • Mr. Brian Searcy, Academic Advisor
  • Ms. Morgan Grovenburg, Institutional Effectiveness
  • Ms. Susan Greer, Student Representative
  • Ms. Isabella  Wooten, Student Representative
  • Ms. Jazmin Fernandez, Student Representative