Hannah Baker, Center for Advising
What degree or degrees have you earned, and what was your major?
I majored in sport administration and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State and a master’s degree in adult and higher education from the University of Oklahoma
How would you describe what you do in your role with MSU’s Center for Advising?
My role is to train all academic advisors at MSU. I help new advisors get onboarded and offer workshops, webinars and trainings for all academic advisors.
What is one thing you wish more students knew about academic advising or the resources available to them?
Ask questions! Academic advisors may not be the expert on every single thing on campus; however, advisors do know who to reach out to if they don't know the answer. Our advisors are equipped to know who the point of contact is for just about every campus resource.
What led you to a career in academic advising and working with college students?
After 10 years in college athletics, I realized that what I enjoyed most was working with student-athletes and our student workers and graduate assistants. I loved giving them advice and helping them figure out what they want to do once they graduate from college. That experience inspired me to pursue a completely different career: academic advising. I love seeing students succeed and helping them get to where they want to be. I have been fortunate to have great people pour into me as a student, and it helped me gain the confidence to not only further my education as a first-generation student, but also to never doubt myself.
What do you enjoy most about helping students navigate their college experience?
I enjoy seeing them start to love their major and the classes they are taking. When I advised teacher education students, it always brought me so much joy to see their faces light up when they got to do observation hours in schools and apply everything they had been learning.
How does an advisor help a student beyond simply choosing classes and staying on track for graduation?
An advisor becomes a confidant and cheerleader. If a student needs some positive affirmation, a listening ear or just someone to motivate them when times are tough, we can do it all!
What do you wish students would talk to their advisors about more often?
Let your advisor know if you aren't doing well in your classes. Coming to MSU, some students struggle with learning how to study, take notes and manage their time. Tell your advisor you are struggling, and ask them to connect you with the Center for Academic Excellence so you can get the help you need. Also, don't be afraid to tell your advisor that you are struggling to make friends on campus. Your advisor can help you get plugged in! There are an abundance of student organizations, and sometimes they are right under your nose in your own college!
What would you tell a student who enjoys mentoring or helping peers and might want to turn that into a career?
I would say to get some experience and shadow across campus with different departments that offer not only academic advising, but also academic coaching, career advising and counseling. See if any of those areas interest you and meet/network with those people to see what jobs they've had in the past. I highly recommend furthering your education with a master's degree. My graduate school years were some of the best of my life, and that’s where I really came into my own. I not only nailed down that I wanted to work in higher education, but that is where I started having a desire to help students.