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Jennifer A Stach
Higher Education Learning Specialist
Littleton,MA
Summary
Compassionate Learning Specialist with exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Successful at guiding students through course registration steps, course selection and academic planning. Expertise in working with students with learning and neurological differences.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Academic Success Coach/ Learning Specialist
Compass, Merrimack College
Andover, MA
08.2016 - Current
- Work as a member of a team of faculty, staff and graduate fellows in Compass, an academic bridge program targeting students whose academic records do not reflect their potential often due to academic trauma or learning differences.
- Manage an active case load of 20 first-year students with weekly one-on-one meetings providing coaching and support in academics, accommodations, and personal concerns.
- Monitor a caseload of 85 upper-class students for academic and disciplinary difficulties.
- Assist with weekly guided study time for all Compass students, assist one-on-one and in groups with coursework, organization, task completion, test preparation and other academic support as needed.
- Develop curriculum for and teach a section of First Year Experience, and supervise FYE Peer Mentor.
- Review early alert and midterm grade data on assigned students, and develop and implement appropriate interventions designed to promote success and persistence.
- Work with Accessibility Services, Math/Tutoring Center/ Writing Center, Health/Counseling Center, Community Standards, Residence Life, Campus Police, and Athletics staff to implement support strategies proactively and reactively.
Assistant Director of Admissions
Middlesex Community College
Lowell, MA
10.2014 - 06.2016
- Plan and implement large-scale recruiting activities such as Open Houses.
- Member of the Enrollment Services team with primary responsibility for Dual Enrollment programs.
- Collaborate with Disability Support Services, Personal Counseling, Student Affairs, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Academic Advising, and Academic Support Services to improve student persistence and completion.
- Communicate with prospective Dual Enrollment students and their families and with appropriate secondary school staff to facilitate participation in Dual Enrollment Academy.
- Review and update admissions applications in the institutional database, ensuring accurate information for reporting and strategic purposes, monitor and interpret dual enrollment data.
Assistant Director
Office of Alumni Relations, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA
07.2002 - 02.2004
- Planned and executed Homecoming & Reunion programs.
- Organized local and regional alumni events.
- Advised Student Alumni Society.
- Supported the Alumni Association Cabinet.
Adjunct Instructor
Mount Wachusett Community College
Gardner, MA
01.2008 - 08.2014
- Collaborate with Department of Workforce Training Staff to ensure quality training experience for grant-funded training to corporate clients.
- Meet with human resources and executive-level personnel at client organizations to clarify purpose and desired outcomes of trainings.
- Customized off-the-shelf training modules to meet the needs of corporate clients in the following topics: Communication Skills; Time Management; Problem Solving for Success; Diversity in the Workplace; Critical Thinking; Interpersonal Communication; Stress Management; Managing Change; Employee Accountability; Conflict Management; Negotiation Skills; Performance Management.
Faculty Member/ Area Chair
University of Phoenix, Central Massachusetts Campus
Westboro, MA
01.2002 - 01.2006
- Demonstrated a continued commitment to undergraduate student success through recruiting, assessing, training, mentoring and evaluating faculty members to ensure quality classroom experience for our students.
- Participated in curriculum and program strategy sessions with campus leadership to improve program completion rates, student experience, and retention.
- Collaborated with Academics, Finance, and Student Services to identify at-risk students and develop individualized strategies for retention.
- Instructed and assessed students in classroom and online programs, using a variety of facilitation and assessment tools.
- Certified to teach at the college level in the following courses: Critical Thinking Skills for Professional Development Cultural Diversity Intro to Oral Communication Intro to Psychology Intro to Written Communication Intro to Research & Information Utilization Teamwork, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution.
Admissions Counselor
University of Phoenix
Boston, Greater, Braintree MA
01.2001 - 03.2002
- Serve as primary contact in enrollment process for interested students.
- Schedule and execute information sessions for interested students.
- Develop marketing strategies to meet enrollment objectives.
- Work collaboratively with Academics and Finance departments.
Director of Education and Volunteers
Littleton Community Farm
Littleton, MA
08.2012 - 10.2014
- Founding member of the Board of Directors of a nonprofit community farm whose mission is social justice, hunger relief, agricultural education, and land stewardship.
- Responsible for maintaining comprehensive confidential volunteer database.
- Recruited and connected interested volunteers with appropriate events and activities as needed by the farm and desired by the individual.
- Responsible for developing and executing educational programs designed to foster connections between the community and local agriculture.
Volunteer Weekend Puppy Raiser
NEADS, Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans
Princeton, MA
05.2013 - 10.2017
- Partner with an inmate handler to train and socialize a service dog-in-training.
- Responsible for socialization and behavior reinforcement of a service-dog-in-training, achieved by intentionally exposing the dog to novel social and environmental situations.
Volunteer
Littleton High School
Littleton, MA
01.2010 - 06.2010
- Organized college fair for Juniors and their families with representatives from 19 New England institutions attending.
- Ensured accurate and comprehensive entry in Naviance of SAT, ACT, and AP test scores.
- Reviewed and updated all electronic and paper scholarship materials.
- Worked with individual students to determine appropriate scholarships for application.
Education
Doctor of Education - Higher Education Leadership & Organization Studies
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA 10.2021 - Current
Selected Graduate Coursework -
Landmark College
Putney VTMaster of Science - College Student Development And Counseling
Northeastern University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Simmons University
Skills
Academic counseling
Excellent oral and written communication
Strategic decision-making
Higher education practices knowledge
Course planning and organization
Administrative abilities
Academic majors mastery
Team collaboration and leadership
Student records management
Individualized education programs
Accomplishments
- Cognitive Load Theory: created as a final product for a graduate course, this presentation focused on the application of Cognitive Load Theory to academic advising and success coaching. Presented at 2021 NACADA Region I Conference.
- Student Engagement versus Motivation: created as a final product for a graduate course, this presentation addressed the distinctions between Engagement and Motivation for a diverseaudience of professional staff and graduate fellows. Utilized activators and audience participation to maximize connection with and retention of content.
Courses Taught
FYE1050 First-Year Experience
ASC1100 Intro to Peer Leadership
ASC1050 Academic Entrepreneurship
COM105 Intro to Oral Communication
IDS101 First Year Experience
COM110 Intro to Written Communication
PSY101 Intro to Psychology
GEN101 Skills for Lifelong Learning
GEN300 Skills for Professional Development
RES110 Intro to Research & Information
SOC110 Teamwork, Collaboration & Conflict Utilization Resolution
Software
Microsoft Office Suite
Slate CRM
Certification
Adult Mental Health First Aid
Timeline
Doctor of Education - Higher Education Leadership & Organization Studies
Bay Path University
10.2021 - Current
Academic Success Coach/ Learning Specialist
Compass, Merrimack College
08.2016 - Current
Assistant Director of Admissions
Middlesex Community College
10.2014 - 06.2016
Volunteer Weekend Puppy Raiser
NEADS, Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans
05.2013 - 10.2017
Director of Education and Volunteers
Littleton Community Farm
08.2012 - 10.2014
Volunteer
Littleton High School
01.2010 - 06.2010
Adjunct Instructor
Mount Wachusett Community College
01.2008 - 08.2014
Assistant Director
Office of Alumni Relations, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
07.2002 - 02.2004
Faculty Member/ Area Chair
University of Phoenix, Central Massachusetts Campus
01.2002 - 01.2006
Admissions Counselor
University of Phoenix
01.2001 - 03.2002
Selected Graduate Coursework -
Landmark College
Master of Science - College Student Development And Counseling
Northeastern University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Simmons University