ALMA GONZALEZ
Los Angeles,USA
Summary
Higher education professional with over 12 years of experience supporting student success through comprehensive student services. Demonstrated expertise in academic advising, student engagement, program development, and cross-functional collaboration. Committed to creating student-centered environments that promote retention, persistence, and holistic development. Looking to grow within the university while continuing to advance student-centered outcomes through strategic partnerships, thoughtful leadership, and high-quality services that enhance the overall student experience
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Director of Student Engagement
University of Southern California, USC
Los Angeles, CA
06.2025 - Current
- Create a robust student engagement plan with activities related to scholarships, awards, recognitions and managing the departmental honors track.
- Create a comprehensive and innovative guide for advising students interested in the 3+3 program.
- Counsel and advise students with complex issues. Providing policies and guidelines to faculty with challenging student matters.
- Provide leadership and guidance to two Student Services Advisors I.
Assistant Director of Student Engagement
University of Southern California, USC
Los Angeles, CA
01.2022 - 05.2025
- Plan and coordinate student events including recruitment events, orientation, networking events, experimental learning opportunities, career services resources, and working closely with parents and prospective students.
- Collaborate with various campus partners such as the Registrar’s office, student affairs, orientation, the career center, and department advisors on developing partnerships and programming to meet student needs.
- Work closely with student ambassadors and serve as advisor to the student groups and organizations for the law school concerning planning, and administering special programming and events
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align project objectives with organizational strategies.
Senior Academic Review Counselor
Office of Academic Review & Retention, University of Southern California
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Provide additional support to the manager concerning programming, projects, onboarding, and front desk management.
- Training and onboarding new academic review counselors concerning office policies, systems, registration calendar, and procedures for students on academic probation, disqualification, readmission, and academic status reports.
- Counsel a caseload of over 150 undergraduate students at-risk of falling on academic probation, on academic probation, continuing on academic probation, or seeking readmission.
- Designed the post-assessment survey for students on academic probation to further evaluate and enhance our program.
Academic Review Counselor
Office of Academic Review & Retention, University of Southern California
08.2015 - 01.2021
- Advised and counseled a caseload of 150 at-risk of falling on academic probation, continuing on academic probation, and students academically disqualified seeking readmission to the university through the appreciative advising methodology.
- Monitored the academic progress of students on academic probation, created a moderate course load and schedule to improve their academic success.
- Presented at annual conferences and collaborated with various campus partners to increase student retention and support at-risk students.
- Researched readmission procedures at compatible institutions to implement new policies concerning the readmission process at USC directly affecting disqualified students.
Student Services Advisor
Registrar's One-Stop Center, University of Southern California
04.2014 - 07.2015
- Interpreted and evaluated all undergraduate and graduate student inquiries concerning a wide range of registration services over the phone, in person, and via email in a fast-paced environment.
- Assisted a population of 46,000 students with diplomas, transfer credit, transcripts, verifications, schedule adjustments, petitions, registration inquiries, registration appointments, and holds.
- Cross-trained with degree progress, petition services, and academic review regarding individual procedures to further assist students and individual offices within the Office of Academic Records and Registrar.
Assistant to the Residency Deputy
Office of the Registrar, University of California, Santa Barbara
06.2013 - 03.2014
- Primary contact of the Student Services unit in the absence of the Student Services Manager or Residency Deputy.
- Reviewed student files and assisted individual students in understanding UC policies, required documentation, submitting statements of legal residence, and the determination of residency fees affecting financial aid.
Student Services Advisor
Office of the Registrar, University of California, Santa Barbara
08.2012 - 05.2013
- Interpreted and enforced campus and university policies in various fields such as fee assessment, registration, late registration, withdrawal, readmission, and transfer credit evaluation.
- Assisted students, staff, faculty, and the public regarding university policies on student registration, admission, student graduation, residency, transfer work, and exceptions to registration regulations.
Student Services Advisor
Office of the Registrar, University of California, Santa Barbara
01.2010 - 07.2012
- Supervised, managed, and trained seven Student Assistants in the Student Services unit including hiring, scheduling, conflict resolution and team building activities.
- Produced the quarterly walk-away report of all undergraduate students who did not complete the term successfully to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for proper aid adjustments and review.
- Initiated and managed all incoming transcript tracking systems, working closely with the Office of Admissions and all colleges within the university.
Education
Doctorate of Education - Educational Leadership
University of Southern California
08-2024
Master of Education - Educational Counseling
University of Southern California
05.2018
Bachelor of Arts - English & Sociology
University of California, Santa Barbara
12.2012
Skills
- Extensive knowledge of university policies, procedures and FERPA compliance
- Experience working with graduate and undergraduate students in a fast-paced environment
- Effective communication and counseling skills with students, parents, staff, faculty, and general public
- Exceptional leadership skills and clear understanding of academic records and student services
Affiliations
- Member, Women in Management, University of Southern California
- Staff Advisor, Hermanas Unidas, University of Southern California
- Vice President, Rossier Student Organization, USC Rossier School of Education
- Secretary, Latino/a Graduate Student Association, University of Southern California
- Region 9 Presenter, Member, National Academic Advising Association
Certification
- Career Planning and Resources Certificate, USC Division of Student Affairs and Career Center
- Accreditation Basics, Western Association of Schools & Colleges
- Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative, University of Miami
- Notary Public, California Secretary of State
PUBLICATIONS
Blake, N., Butler, M., Frank, C., Gonzalez, A., & Heller, E., (2016). Appreciative Advising: Retaining Academic Probation Students. The Journal of Appreciative Education.
PRESENTATIONS
- Advising 101B: Academic Review & Retention. USC Advising 101A & B, Los Angeles, California.
- Holistic Wellness & Academic Success. USC Welcome Week, Los Angeles, California.
- Achieving Academic Wellness. USC Welcome Week, Los Angeles, California.
- Insight and Strategies to Retaining Academically Disqualified Students. USC Council of Academic Advisors (CAA) Conference, Los Angeles, California.
- Going Against the Current: Implementing the Appreciative Advising Framework as a Tool to Retain Academic Probation Students. National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region 9 Conference, Los Angeles, California.
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Associate Director of Student Engagement
University of Southern California, USC
06.2025 - Current
Assistant Director of Student Engagement
University of Southern California, USC
01.2022 - 05.2025
Senior Academic Review Counselor
Office of Academic Review & Retention, University of Southern California
01.2021 - 12.2021
Academic Review Counselor
Office of Academic Review & Retention, University of Southern California
08.2015 - 01.2021
Student Services Advisor
Registrar's One-Stop Center, University of Southern California
04.2014 - 07.2015
Assistant to the Residency Deputy
Office of the Registrar, University of California, Santa Barbara
06.2013 - 03.2014
Student Services Advisor
Office of the Registrar, University of California, Santa Barbara
08.2012 - 05.2013
Student Services Advisor
Office of the Registrar, University of California, Santa Barbara
01.2010 - 07.2012
Master of Education - Educational Counseling
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Arts - English & Sociology
University of California, Santa Barbara
Doctorate of Education - Educational Leadership
University of Southern California