The Advising Fellows Program offers experienced undergraduate academic advisors the opportunity to lead the professional growth and networking experiences for the MSU advising community. Collaborating closely with the Director of Leadership and Professional Development Initiatives and Educational Developer for Academic Advisors, Fellows will engage in design, coordination, and facilitation of tailored professional development projects directly impacting and supporting MSU academic advisors.
2025 Application Timeline
Applications have closed for the 2025-2026 cycle. Applications typically open up in March.
Requirements to Apply
Completed application
Submit two completed recommendation forms (one must be from your current supervisor - use form link below)
At least two years of full-time undergraduate academic advising experience at Michigan State University.
Strong interest in advancing professional development and training opportunities for MSU academic advisors.
Five hours per week both Fall and Spring semesters (Aug. 15 - May 15)
Attend weekly team meetings with PD fellows and advisory committee members
Option to lead a committee (bi-weekly or monthly)
Attendance at one university-wide advising committee (i.e., University Advising Leadership [UAL], Academic Specialist Advisory Committee [ASAC], Campus Student Success Group [CSSG], Undergraduate Assistant/Associate Deans and Directions of Undergraduate Affairs [UGAAD])
The Professional Development Fellow has the important role of co-leading the learning and development for the MSU Advising community. More specifically, this Fellow will develop and coordinate the NACADA webinars, organize events for Global Advising Week, and organize academic advisor workshops and learning experiences (e.g. topic talks, speakers, information series, etc.). Additionally, the Professional Development Fellow will:
Develop confidence in facilitating professional development events.
Expand advisor resources, including an open forum for advisors to discuss different topics
Implement assessment strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of advising programs
Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow
The Advisor Networking and Engagement Fellow has the important role of creating opportunities for the MSU advising community to connect with one another. More specifically, this Fellow will develop and coordinate engagement initiatives such as the Advisor Appreciation Week, advisor recognition initiatives, digital information sharing, amongst other advising social events. Additionally, the Networking and Engagement Fellow will:
Develop confidence in leading networking events.
Build strong and diverse professional relationships.
Foster collaboration with other institutional departments and stakeholders.
Both Fellow Positions
Both Fellows will assess all networking and developmental activities as part of the current assessment plans for advisor professional development. They are also responsible for embedding equity and inclusion across all advisor learning and networking experiences. Additionally, the Advising Fellows will:
Have the option to co-lead an advising committee aligned with their fellow position.
Co-chair the Academic Advisor Awards Planning Committee
Advocate for the importance and impact of academic advising with the institution.
Create opportunities for professional/career growth and development.
Gain insights into industry trends and best practices.
Identify support mechanisms for advisor well-being
As compensation, University Advising buys out 10% of your time over 9 months (Aug. 15 - May 15), which equates to working the same hours in the week and we cover 10% of that. You may need to adjust your current responsibilities, so we want to ensure we have full support from your supervisor.
Regular check-ins with program leadership, Dr. Q and Katie Peterson, to provide space for problem-solving and idea generation.
Coaching in the following: Leadership and professional development, organizational development, project management, strategic planning, assessment, learning design, and coordinating and facilitating meetings and events.
Enhance your own leadership skills and professional development
Aid in the creation and leadership of professional development initiatives for the MSU advising community
Receive support and guidance to create a unique advising project
Engage with advisors and leaders across campus
Paid NACADA and MiACADA membership during the appointment year
Fellows Program Completion Certificate sent to you, your supervisor, and Dean of your College
$500 toward professional development funding the year after completing the Fellows Program. Our goals are to work alongside Fellows to select opportunities 1) aligned with their personal and goals in advising and 2) that expand professional development resources for the MSU advising community. Some examples for how one could utilize this funding include (but are limited to) conference registration, conference airfare, NACADA e-tutorial course, etc. This will be discussed more in-depth during the Fellows Program.
Meet the 2025-2026 Advising Fellows
Carmen Ruiz-Sanchez, Ph.D.
Advising Network and Engagement Fellow
We are excited to welcome Dr. Carmen Ruiz-Sanchez as the 2025-2026 Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow! Dr. Ruiz-Sanchez brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to students’ success to this new role. Dr. Ruiz-Sanchez currently serves as an Academic Advisor and Coordinator of Retention at Lyman Briggs College, a position she began in May 2024.
She first joined Michigan State University in January 2023 as an Exploratory Advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Education. Before transitioning to academic advising, she spent over 15 years as a Spanish professor. She holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics and has taught a wide range of courses in language, linguistics, and translation. Her academic career also included research in Sociolinguistics and leadership roles such as Department Chair and Honors Program Director. Through it all, she remained passionate about student development—mentoring, guiding, and helping students succeed has always been at the heart of her work.
“What I enjoy the most about advising is building meaningful connections with students and supporting them through pivotal moments in their academic and personal lives,” she shares. “It’s fun and very rewarding to see them develop their passions and achieve their goals.”
In her new role as Advising Fellow, Dr. Ruiz-Sanchez is eager to connect and collaborate with advising colleagues across campus!
Scott Fitzpatrick, M.A.
Advising Professional Development Fellow
We’re excited to welcome Scott Fitzpatrick as the Advising Professional Development Fellow! Scott brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to student success, having advised at Michigan State University since 2011.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in Supply Chain Management and a Master of Arts in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education—both from MSU. He also completed a Secondary Teacher Certification Program in Biology from Northeastern Illinois University. His diverse academic background in business, biology, and education sparked an early interest in helping students find their path through major exploration—something he personally understands through his own academic journey.
A passionate supporter of student development, Scott encourages students to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom, including internships, undergraduate research, and education abroad. He believes in advising as a tool for both personal and academic growth.
Throughout his career, Scott has been dedicated to professional development. He has presented at national NACADA conferences, volunteered with MIACADA, and participated in various campus trainings, including Implicit Bias and virtual seminars.
Scott shared, "I look forward to promoting participation in professional development activities so our advising staff can best serve our students and gain a strong sense of purpose and satisfaction in the career field."
Chris Roberts, Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow
Chris served as the 2024-2025 Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow. Chris has been with the College of Communication Arts and Sciences since September 2019 and is currently the Lead Academic Advisor for the Department of Media & Information.
Chris earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from East Carolina University and a graduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Sport Psychology. Prior to coming to MSU, he advised student-athletes at the Thornton Center at the University of Tennessee and worked with student-athletes at various institutions from 2012-2019.
Chris enjoys working with and getting to know students throughout their college journey, including hearing about their interests, why they're pursing their major, and what they want do with their degree.
In responding to what he was most excited about for the Fellow position, Chris shared, "In this fellowship position, I am most excited about meeting other advisors, facilitating connections with advisors throughout campus, and recognizing the great work of the MSU advising community."
Kevin Miloshoff, Advising Professional Development Fellow
Kevin Miloshoff served as the 2024-2025 Advising Professional Development Fellow. Kevin began advising for the MSU Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (CMSE) Department in July 2022. Prior to this role, he was an advisor with the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona for five years.
As an undergraduate at Indiana University, Kevin pursued an education degree with the intention of teaching middle and high school math. During that period, he also served as a Resident Assistant and had a graduate supervisor that was enrolled in the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) master’s program. Through conversations with his supervisor, Kevin gained insight into higher education and student affairs, sparking an interest in exploring graduate programs in this field. Kevin enrolled at the University of Arizona for graduate school and commenced a career as a Success Counselor at the W.A. Franke Honors College shortly after completing his degree. The Success Counselor role gradually evolved into a full-time advising position, and Kevin has continued to work as an advisor ever since.
We asked Kevin what he enjoys most about academic advising. Kevin shared, “I really enjoy learning about students’ goals and aspirations, both for during their remaining time at MSU as well as after graduation. It’s awesome hearing what students are accomplishing and what they’re working towards, and it’s cool to see how students are applying what they’ve learned at MSU to the real world.”
In the role of the Advising Professional Development Fellow, Kevin was most excited about being a more active contributor to the MSU advising community. Having been a participant in different professional development experiences, he was looking forward to being on the planning side of these opportunities.
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