Advising Staff Biographies
A&S Academic Advising Staff Biographies and contact information.
A&S Academic Advising Staff
Center for Advising and Student Services Staff
(502) 852-5502
Katie Gardner Adamchik
Academic Advisor and CONECT Program Coordinator, Natural Sciences Division
College of Arts & Sciences
kgadam01@louisville.edu
Education:
University of Louisville, Master of Education, College Student Personnel
Earlham College, Bachelor of Arts, African and African American Studies
Professional Memberships:
NACADA – National Academic Advising Association
ACPA – College Student Educators International
NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
When asked why she/he became an Academic Advisor Katie said:
I hope to assist students with identifying their goals, determining the right major for them, and finding the classes that are not only required but also interest them most. I really enjoy working with students one-on-one and advising provides me with the opportunity to serve as a resource to students while developing relationships throughout their college journey.
Community Service:
Central Kentucky Boxer Rescue
My advice for A&S students:
College is your time to explore yourself and your future. Explore majors, consider careers and lifelong goals, and utilize all the resources UofL has to offer you.
Dr. Tomarra Adams
College of Arts & Sciences Assistant Dean and Director
Years with advising: 6+
Education:
B.A. Psychology/Minor Pan-African Studies, University of Louisville MSSW Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville Ph.D. Social Work, University of Louisville/University of Kentucky
Professional Memberships:
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) National Association of Social Workers (NASW) National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Council of Social Work Education (CSWE)
Why did you become an Academic Advisor?
“Since 1997 I have worked to have a positive impact on student retention, and found a relationship between counseling and student persistence that lead me to academic advising and student services. My mission is to look at the whole student within the larger system to positively impact on their success.”
Your advice for A&S Students:
“To whom much is given, much is expected” – Luke 12:48
Eddie Paul Bobbitt
Academic Advisor
College of Arts & Sciences, Social Sciences Division
Years with advising: 1
Education:
University of Louisville, Masters of Education, College Student Personnel (in progress)
University of Louisville, Bachelor of Science, Sport Administration (Marketing)
Professional Memberships:
NACADA – National Academic Advising Association
KACADA – Kentucky Academic Advising Association
Community Service:
Camp Quality Kentucky
Special Olympics
YMCA of Southern Indiana Basketball Coach
Why did you become an Academic Advisor?
I enjoy assisting students in the clarification process of their life goals and in the development of educational plans for the realization of those goals. Throughout my undergraduate career at U of L I had incredible advisors help me so advising provides me the opportunity to return the favor.
Advice for A & S students:
Be sure to use your resources and get involved on campus as soon as possible. Remember, YOUR education is YOUR responsibility.
Email me at:paul.bobbitt@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-3207
Jenna Braun
Academic Counselor, Sr., Exploratory and Humanities Division
College of Arts & Sciences
Years with advising: 3+
Education:
B.A. Spanish: Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
M.S. College Student Personnel: Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Professional Memberships:
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
Why did you become an Academic Advisor?
I discovered a passion for working with students in a number of different settings early on in my graduate education. I hope to provide students with rewarding advising experiences and help to guide them through what will be some of the most exciting years of their lives.
Your advice for A&S Students:
Enjoy your time at U of L and don’t feel pressured to make any decisions about a major too soon. Take some time to explore different areas of interest, academically and personally, and get involved! Get to know yourself, take risks and take advantage of all of the great opportunities that are available to you before making any decisions about major and/or career choices.
Matt Church
Academic Advising Coordinator, Humanities Division
College of Arts & Sciences
Years with advising: 4+
Education:
BA History, Bellarmine University
MA History, University of Louisville
PhD Educational Leadership and Organizational Development, University of Louisville (in progress)
Certificate of Completion, International History Summer School, Cambridge University, United Kingdom
Professional Memberships:
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
Kentucky Academic Advising Association (KACADA)
Community Service/Outreach:
Ascension School Quick Recall Coach
Coordinator of A&S Centennial Challenge Academic Tournament
Coordinator of UofL Cardinal Invitational Academic Tournament
Why did you become an Academic Advisor?
I love working with students and course schedules. As an undergraduate, I enjoyed putting my class schedule together and looked forward to when the schedule came out, I still do. Particularly, I enjoy the opportunity the position affords me to help students identify their goals and begin the process of achieving them. Additionally, I take great joy helping students find possible majors and helping them find courses to aid in their career goals and broader educational attainment.
Your advice for A&S Students:
Enjoy your time in college and don’t rush into anything. If you have an idea what you want to major in and pursue as career, by all means follow your ambitions. If you do not know what you want to do, don’t rush into a major or program of study for the sake of finishing in four year. Better to take an extra semester and be happy later on in life than realize you are unhappy with what you are doing fifteen years after school. Also, do not be afraid try new subjects and remember just because you didn’t like a subject in high school, doesn’t mean you won’t like it in college.
Kathryn A. Garrity
Senior Academic Counselor, Humanities Division
College of Arts & Sciences
kagarr01@gwise.louisville.edu
Years with advising: 30+
Education:
BA, English; M Ed, College Student Personnel Services – University of Louisville
Professional Memberships:
NACADA-National Academic Advising Association
When asked why she/he became an Academic Advisor Kathy said:
When I was a student at U of L, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, I worked in several different offices on campus. What I enjoyed most in these jobs was working with students, and I realized that helping students to be successful in college was what I wanted to do. Being an academic advisor has given me the opportunity to do just that.
Kathy’s advice for A&S students:
Work hard, explore the many academic and non-academic opportunities available to you, get involved with an organization or activity on campus, ask questions if you have them!
Email me at: kagarr01@gwise.louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-5502
Edward L. Laster
Academic Counselor, Social Sciences Division
College of Arts & Sciences
Years with advising: Having worked at UofL longer than freshmen have lived, advising students to be successful is what I do. Go figure?
Education:
University of Louisville, Masters in Education (College Student Personnel
University of Louisville, Bachelors in Education (Counseling)
Professional Memberships: NACADA-National Academic Advising Association
When asked why he became an Academic Advisor Mr. Ed said: after many years of service at UofL, fate blew me in this direction.
Community Service: The list is long! I have been everything from a student to a member of UofLs Board of Trustees, and I am a former two term chair of the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality.
My advice for A&S students: Success at UofL is “old school” hard work and not luck. If you model successful students, you will also become a college graduate.
Email me at: ellast01@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-5502
Rebecca Suter Ledford
Academic Advising Coordinator, Social Sciences Division
College of Arts & Sciences
Years with advising: 5 years
Education:
University of Louisville, Masters in Higher Education Administration
University of Louisville, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Professional Memberships:
NACADA- National Academic Advising Association
KACADA- Kentucky Academic Advising Association
When asked why she/he became an Academic Advisor Becky said: I wanted to be able to help students get the guidance that I received while I was in school.
Community Service:
My advice for A&S students: Take advantage of the resources that are offered to you. There are many people who want to help make your college career the best it possibly can be.
Margaret Murray
Academic Advisor, Humanities Division
College of Arts and Sciences
Years with advising: 2+
Education:
University of Louisville, pursuing a Master's degree in the HRE Instructional Design Graduate Program
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master of Library Science
University of Southwestern Louisiana, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts
Professional Memberships:
NACADA-National Academic Advising Association
KACADA-Kentucky Academic Advising Association
When asked why she/he became an Academic Advisor Margaret said:
I have always been interested in academic advising, teaching, counseling and advocacy.
Community Service:
I volunteer with the Prevention, Education, and Advocacy on Campus and in the Community Center at UofL and am a volunteer case worker with the American Red Cross.
Margaret’s advice for A&S students:
“Life isn't about finding yourself - it's about creating yourself.”
Email me at: memurr04@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-5502
Margaret Rohmann
Assistant Director, Humanities Division
College of Arts and Sciences
Years with advising: 27
Education:
B.A. Elementary Education, Antioch College, 1972
M.Ed. Guidance and Counseling, University of Vermont, 1974
When asked why she/he became and Academic Advisor Meg said:
“I have always liked the atmosphere on campus and enjoy interacting with all kinds of people.”
Meg’s advice for A&S students:
Avoid a sense of entitlement and avoid blaming others for your own errors, oversights, and failures.
Email me at: m0rohm01@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-6487
Lauren M. Rust
Academic Counselor, Social Sciences Division
College of Arts and Sciences
Years with Advising: Going into my 7th year of advising, 2nd year with the University of Louisville
Education:
University of Tennessee, pursuing a PhD in Higher Education
Morehead State University, Master of Arts with concentration in Sports Management
Morehead State University, Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Exercise Science
Professional Memberships:
NACADA – National Academic Advising Association
N4A – National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics
When asked why she/he became an Academic Advisor Lauren said:
Being able to assist a student in pursuing their goal of graduating from the University of Louisville is an unbelievable and enjoyable experience. It is a great feeling to watch students walk across the stage to receive their degrees knowing all of their hard work and determination paid off.
My advice for A&S students:
To work hard every day both in and out of the classroom because you never know what the future may hold for you academically and professionally. Also, use ALL of the resources available to you at the University of Louisville. These are resources that you may not have after you graduate from UofL.
Email me at:
lmrust01@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-5502
Anna Scarff
Years with advising: This is my first year with Academic Advising at the University of Louisville; I have 6 years previous experience in Career Advising
Education:
East Carolina University, Master of Science in Counselor Education, focus on Counseling in Higher Education
Wake Forest University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Professional Memberships:
NACADA - National Academic Advising Association
KACADA - Kentucky Academic Advising Association
Community Service:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Why did you become an Academic Advisor?
When I was pursuing my graduate degree I had the opportunity to work with students on their career development, and I discovered an enthusiasm for working with students and helping them to achieve their goals. After six years of career counseling, I am excited to transition into academic advising and look forward to assisting University of Louisville students as they pursue their college degree.
Advice for A & S students:
Make the most of your college experience - this is your opportunity to grow and develop into anything you want to be. Explore your interests, work hard, and have fun!
Email me at anna.scarff@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-5502
Ellen Schoening
Senior Academic Counselor, Humanities Division
College of Arts and Sciences
e0scho01@ gwise.louisville.edu
Years with advising: Thirty something
Education: B.A. in French, graduate study in French
Professional Memberships: NACADA
When asked why she/he became and Academic Advisor (your name) said:
I was employed in the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, then housed in an old building where Parrish Court is now located, before the Advising Center was established. I was offered an opportunity to work with students as an academic advisor by Associate Dean Polly B. Wood and am glad to have been doing so ever since.
Ellen’s advice for A&S students:
Take responsibility for your education: it doesn’t just happen. Get involved in learning activities both in and outside the classroom. Travel, meet new people, and see new things as much as possible.
Email me at: e0scho01@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-5502
Tonia D. Thomas
Program Director, Post-bac Pre-med Certificate Program,
School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences.
tdthom01@louisville.edu
Years with advising: Less than a year
Education:
University of Louisville, Bachelors of Science in Sociology
Professional Memberships:
AAMC – Association of American Medical Colleges
When asked why she/he became an Academic Advisor Tonia said:
I have a passion for helping students reach their full potential and advising has served as an empowerment tool.
Community Service:
Webelos Den Leader for Pack 567 Cub Scouts
My advice for A&S students:
Strive for excellence in everything you do!
Email me at: tdthom01@louisville.edu
Phone: (502) 852-2712
Meagan West
Academic Advisor, Exploratory and Social Sciences Division
College of Arts and Sciences
Years with advising: 2+
Education:
B.A. Communication, University of Louisville
Professional Memberships:
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
Why did you become an Academic Advisor?
“Throughout my undergraduate career here at the University of Louisville, I found a love for working with students as a member of the Student Orientation Staff and Peer Advisor program. Being able to make a difference is an individual’s life is what keeps me motivated!”
Your advice for A&S Students:
“Never strive to be mediocre” and “Work hard…Play harder”
Andrew L. Williams
Academic Advising Coordinator, Natural Sciences Division
College of Arts and Sciences
Support Staff
Susan Doyle, Administrative Associate
sedoyl02@louisville.edu
Cynthia E. Ford, Secretary II
ceford01@gwise.louisville.edu
Heather Gurnari, Program Assistant
h0gurn01@louisville.edu
Kate M. Lawniczak, Program Assistant Senior
kmlawn01@gwise.louisville.edu
Lauren D. May, Program Assistant Senior
ldmay001@gwise.louisville.edu
