Advising Fellows Program

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.

Application Timeline

The application for the 2026-2027 Academic Advising Fellows are closed. Please review application timeline, requirements to apply, and additional program details below.

Application Timeline

Call for applicants: April
Applications due: May
Notifications for chosen fellows: Early Summer Semester

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.

You can make a copy of the application form questions and the recommendation form questions before you apply.APPLY HERERECOMMENDATIONS

Program Details

Explore the tabs below to learn more about program leadership, benefits, current projects, and available support for the Advising Fellows Program.

Dr. Qiana Green, Director of Leadership and Professional Development Initiatives, University Advising
Katie Peterson, Educational Developer for Advising, University Advising and Center for Teaching and Learning

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])
Complete Fellows Program assessments

Advising Professional Development Fellow

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 2026-2027 Advising Fellows

Morgan Johnson

Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow

We’re excited to welcome Morgan Johnson as the Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow! Morgan joined University Advising in November 2022, bringing with her a passion for supporting students through their academic journeys. Her path into advising began unexpectedly while pursuing a master's degree in Linguistics. In 2019, she accepted a graduate assistantship advising undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Letters. Although advising wasn't originally part of her career plan, she quickly discovered a passion for working with students, which led her to pursue a full-time advising position at a small private university supporting non-traditional students before joining MSU.

Morgan especially enjoys helping students navigate the transition to college, explore their academic and career interests, and achieve their personal and educational goals. She finds it incredibly rewarding to witness students' growth throughout their time at MSU and cherishes the opportunity to be part of their journey.

As this year's Advising Network and Development Fellow, Morgan is excited to strengthen connections among advisors across campus and foster a collaborative community that enhances how advisors support one another and, subsequently, the students they serve.

Jennifer Freitas

Advising Professional Development Fellow

Jennifer Freitas serves as a Student Success Advisor in the College of Natural Science (CNS) and has been selected as a 2026–2027 Advising Professional Development Fellow! Since joining the CNS Undergraduate Academic and Student Affairs Office in 2023, Jennifer has supported students in a variety of advising roles, including probation advising, NatSci Exploratory Advising, and assisting the Human Biology advising team during Summer Session 2026 and New Student Orientation.

Before entering higher education, Jennifer began her professional career as a high school science teacher in the Jackson and Lansing areas. While she enjoyed many aspects of teaching, she found herself especially drawn to conversations with students about preparing for college and navigating their next steps after graduation. These experiences, combined with her time as an undergraduate learning assistant in Michigan State University's chemistry department and her own positive experiences with academic advising, inspired her to pursue a career in higher education.

Jennifer's passion for advising stems from the opportunity to help students explore their academic interests, navigate challenges, and work toward their goals. She values the unique role advisors play in supporting students during a formative and often uncertain period of their lives. Advising also allows her to draw upon many of the aspects of teaching she enjoys most, including helping students become stronger learners and critical thinkers while supporting their personal and social-emotional growth.

As an Advising Professional Development Fellow, Jennifer is excited to deepen her connections within the MSU advising community and contribute to projects that support and strengthen academic advising across campus.

Meet Our Past Advising Fellows

Dr. Carmen Ruiz-Sanchez, Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow

Bio: Dr. Carmen Ruiz-Sanchez served as the 2025-2026 Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow. At the time of her fellowship, Dr. Ruiz-Sanchez served 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.

Fellow Accomplishments: Throughout her fellowship, Carmen made a lasting impact by advancing advisor wellbeing, engagement, and professional development. She launched weekly Walk-and-Talk sessions, giving advisors an opportunity to connect, spend time outdoors, and recharge together, and introduced our first-ever yoga series to promote movement, mindfulness, and self-care.

Carmen also led the successful relaunch of the Undergraduate Academic Advisor Mentoring Program. She brought together a committee of academic advisors to collaboratively design recruitment processes, applications, mentor-mentee matching procedures, and training materials for the reimagined program, which officially launched in fall 2026. This was a substantial undertaking, and Carmen guided the initiative with exceptional organization, collaboration, and attention to detail.

Scott Fitzpatrick, Advising Professional Development Fellow

Bio: Scott Fitzpatrick served as the 2025-2026 Advising Professional Development Fellow. Scott has been advising at Michigan State University since 2011 and during his fellowship was advising for Integrative Biology in the College of Natural Science.

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.

Fellow Accomplishments: Throughout his fellowship, Scott created meaningful opportunities for professional development and connection among academic advisors. His initiatives included launching a mandatory reporting series in partnership with the Prevention, Outreach, and Education Department, establishing the first advisor parent group to support advisors with parenting responsibilities, and helping manage the NACADA webinar series for the advising community.

Most notably, Scott led a supervisor training committee that brought together advising supervisors from across departments to share insights, identify challenges, and determine training and development needs. The data and feedback he collected will play a key role in developing a robust suite of resources and professional development opportunities to support advising supervisors in the coming years.

Chris Roberts, Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow

Bio: 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.

Fellow Accomplishments:
Chris launched the first ever Advisor Rest and Relaxation event, creating a space for advisors to connect and unwind at the end of each semester. Chris also organized expert-led topic talks, including a session on Campus Solutions SIS and Education Abroad. He also created numerous advisor socials, including dinners at local restaurants and an outing to a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game. Chris developed a Years of Service recognition segment for the Advisor Recognition Ceremony and played a key role in organizing and facilitating a successful event. In his role as Advising Networking and Engagement Fellow, Chris brought creativity and dedication to fostering connections across the MSU advising community.

Kevin Miloshoff, Advising Professional Development Fellow

Bio: 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.

Fellow Accomplishments:
In his role as the Advisor Professional Development Fellow, Kevin spearheaded a three-part NACADA core competencies series, exploring how the Conceptual, Informational, and Relational components can be directly applied to advisor's work. Kevin also hosted a workshop on writing a conference proposal, as well as a session how developing an advising philosophy statement. Kevin hosted the NACADA webinars series for the 2024-2025 academic year, and shared his expertise on different features of the enrollment system. Kevin played a central role in the Advisor Recognition Ceremony and displayed leadership and dedication to advisor development.