Pamela I. Stewart
Grand Prairie,TX
Summary
Senior Academic Counselor with a proven track record of boosting student retention at The University of Phoenix. Excelled student coaching and advising, showcasing exceptional communication skills with a commitment to student success. Recognized for outstanding rapport and life coaching, enhancing student performance and graduation rates. Effective at taking on large and small tasks with little guidance or outside help. Successfully applies excellent time management skills and expert knowledge of policies and processes.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Academic Counselor (Remote)
The University of Phoenix
Little Rock, Dallas, AR, TX
01.2011 - Current
- Provides academic advisement, coaching and service, starting from the first class until after graduation
- Cultivate student development and empower students to address future challenges and educational goals
- Engage students in continuous contact, influence academic success, apply interventions to potential obstacles and to boost student morale to help them maintain a strong commitment to earning their degree
- Serve as the bridge between academics and administration at the University, ensuring students have access to the information they need to make informed decisions
- Educates students about policies, procedures and requirements at the University to ensure students clearly understand them and have the support they need to succeed
- Develop meaningful relations across a diverse population of students to facilitate progression student success
- Collaborate with and coach students through their program by creating specific action plans to remove roadblocks and support their advancement, and long-term success
- Assess student needs using all available tools and resources to plan interventions to support student progression
- Support a lead base of 350+ students and work with enrollment representatives with new enrollments and re-entry students; as well as student financial services
- Audits student schedules for applicability of coursework; advises students regarding academic or attendance issues
- Monitors academic and enrollment progress of students to ensure students are in alignment with University policies
- Identifies potential barriers within student academic progress and initiates steps resulting in resolution
- Communicates, motivates, and inspires students through critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving to ensure a positive student experience leading students to graduation
- Key Accomplishments: Proactive behaviors increased retention from 44% to 52% in one year
- Received recognition for excellent rapport with escalated students
- Received recognition for quality call coaching
- Promoted to Centralized Academic Counselor for online students
- Added value to student performance by providing life coaching skills in student development
- Played a key role in tracking students performance
- Served as a focus point and liaison with the student and the University resolving complex problems
- Selected to serve as Voice of the for student support services
- Recruited out of 15 employees to launch a pilot program dedicated to student services
- Achieved the highest scores for motivation during the past six months. Played a key role in student graduation scores through professional development
- Received recognition of performance and was selected to attend the Leverage, Inspire, Focus and Teach (LIFT) Conference, led by Suze Orman in Universal Studios, CA, in 2011
Legal Secretary
City of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, AR
05.2010 - 12.2010
- Prepared a broad range of legal documents, ordinances, resolutions, pleadings, briefs, and transactional documents from rough drafts
- Provided information to the public and responded to inquiries from City officials and employees of other agencies on matters such as status of cases, coordination of witnesses, civil penalties, and discovery motions
- Key Accomplishments: Acted as a liaison between outside counsel and City Attorney
Assistant Director of Army Reserve Education
United States Army Reserve
North Little Rock, AR
08.2002 - 05.2010
- Provided support to the Regional Director of Army Reserve Education in helping over 25,000+ Reserve Component Soldiers in the regional states with educational services and resources
- Engaged in continuous training and contact with high schools, colleges and other educational organizations in communicating the Army's service to provide educational needs to the community to help increase recruitment
- Managed and coordinated over 6200+ approved government Tuition Assistance (TA) requests.
- Interfaced directly with contract applicants, conducted extensive interviews, coordinated pertinent documentation to ensure timely compliance with deadlines
- Oversaw a staff of 7 contract employees in workflow management and projects related to supporting this fast-paced department
- Supervised contract employees' activities and initiated training programs and provided Regional Director of Army Reserve Education with updates
- Ensured contractor personnel compliance and problem resolution. Recommended measures for staff training and new hire orientation
- Key Accomplishments: Recommended and implemented measures to improve quality service and performance for client needs; initiated changes in the workplace to enhance conditions and increase efficiency and collaborated with Regional Director of Army Reserve Education with updates to ensure standards were met
- Recipient of annual recognition for outstanding support and service to the Army Reserve soldiers
Legal Secretary/Floater
Dechert, LLP
Washington, DC
03.1998 - 06.2002
- Selected by management to provide legal secretarial services throughout the law firm supporting 150 partners and associates in all areas of law
- Proofread and electronically filed legal documents for litigation
Legal Secretary II
Georgetown University Law Center
Washington, DC
09.1991 - 02.1998
- Supported Anita Faye Hill and Emma Coleman Jordan with technical and administrative activities in writing their book
- Assisted faculty and adjunct professors with legal support
- Key Accomplishments: Contributed technical and literacy administrative support to Anita Faye Hill and Emma Coleman Jordan in the writing of their book, "Race, Gender and Power in America - The Legacy of the Hill-Thomas Hearings." Acknowledgment of this support is noted in the published book
- Received letter of recognition for professional and outstanding qualifications from management
Education
Master of Arts - Human Resources Development
Webster University
Little Rock AFB08.2009
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Management
Central Baptist College
Conway, AR05.2006
Skills
- Coaching & Development
- Communication Skills
- Compliance
- Educational Services
- Escalations
- Life Coach Training in Academic Counseling, Inside Track
- Process Improvements
- Quality Assurance
- Resource Leader
- Student Counseling
- Student Services
- Student Performance
- Retention
Timeline
Senior Academic Counselor (Remote)
The University of Phoenix
01.2011 - Current
Legal Secretary
City of Jacksonville
05.2010 - 12.2010
Assistant Director of Army Reserve Education
United States Army Reserve
08.2002 - 05.2010
Legal Secretary/Floater
Dechert, LLP
03.1998 - 06.2002
Legal Secretary II
Georgetown University Law Center
09.1991 - 02.1998
Master of Arts - Human Resources Development
Webster University
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Management
Central Baptist College
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