In this thought-provoking episode of Adventures in Advising, guest host Dr. Gerron Scott sits down with Brandi Byers, academic advisor at the University of South Carolina and chair of NACADA’s Advising Students with Disabilities Community. Together, they explore disability identity, accommodations, accessibility, and the critical role advisors play in supporting students through their educational journeys.

This conversation highlights the importance of advocacy, mentorship, and meeting students where they are. Whether you're an advisor, educator, or student affairs professional, this episode offers meaningful insights into creating more accessible and equitable pathways to student success.

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In this episode of Adventures in Advising, Ryan heads north for a lively conversation with Canadian advising leaders Aysha Haq, Elizabeth Venton-Parnell, Jing Yao, and Shoshana Kalfon. Together, they explore what makes academic advising in Canada distinct, from provincial policies and immigration changes to holistic student support, institutional pressures, and the magic of those “light bulb” student moments.

The panel also digs into the evolving role of the Canada Advising Community, the NACADA restructure, place-based advising, and why connection across institutions matters more than ever. Whether you advise in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, California, or somewhere in the academic wilderness beyond, this episode is a thoughtful, funny, and practical reminder that advising may look different across borders, but the heart of the work travels well. 🧭

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Guest host Dr. Margaret Mbindyo welcomes Ben Walker from Oxford Brookes University in the UK, and Chiara Bertolini and Dr. Alessandra Landini from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, for a rich discussion on academic advising, student success, belonging, mental health, disability support, and the changing needs of today’s college students.

From the UK’s “personal tutoring” model to Italy’s orientation practices and student support, this episode explores how advising looks across borders, and what higher education professionals can learn from one another. Along the way, they discuss the importance of building community, recognizing student struggles early, setting healthy boundaries as advisors, and seeing international students as whole people, not just paperwork.

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In this episode of Adventures in Advising, Matt and Ryan chat with returning guest, Dr. Janet Schulenberg, about NACADA’s newly unveiled definition of academic advising and framework. Janet reflects on how the task force’s work moved from development to a formal resource for the profession. This conversation explores the definition’s central message, its implications for advisor identity and institutional responsibility, and how it can help clarify boundaries, advocate for support, and shape the future of advising practice.

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In this episode, Matt and Ryan welcome Dr. Hilleary Himes from Penn State for a lively conversation about advising scholarship, professional development, and why the history of academic advising matters more than we might think. Hilleary shares her unexpected journey from anthropology and archaeological digs to academic advising, reflects on how advising structures shape student experiences, and offers practical encouragement for advisors who want to turn everyday questions, conference presentations, or “hmm, I wonder…” moments into scholarship.

Hilleary digs into the publication process, including revise-and-resubmit realities, co-authoring, writing routines, and how rejection can be reframed as part of making the work stronger. Plus, Hilleary explains how long-distance running and long-form writing have more in common than expected: stamina, patience, and trusting the process one step at a time.

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In this episode of Adventures in Advising, Matt talks with Arjun Arora, founder of Advisor AI, about where artificial intelligence fits into the future of academic advising, and where it absolutely does not. From chatbots and career pathways to implementation headaches, ethical guardrails, and the myth that AI can replace advisors, this conversation dives into the real people, processes, and possibilities behind emerging technology in higher education.

Arjun shares how Advisor AI is working to support students from enrollment through graduation while keeping advisors, career professionals, faculty, and student success teams at the heart of the journey. Along the way, Matt and Arjun unpack what institutions should ask vendors, how campuses can measure success beyond “we launched it,” and why the human side of advising remains the secret ingredient no algorithm can bottle.

Grab your metaphorical compass, because this episode explores AI, advising, and the winding road toward more intentional student support. 🤖🧭

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In this episode of Adventures in Advising, Matt and Ryan sit down with Weston Rose, Senior Program Manager in the UT System Office of Academic Affairs, for a lively conversation about advising, innovation, and what it really takes to support student success at scale. From his journey as a first-generation college student from a tiny Texas town to leading systemwide advising initiatives, Weston shares how creativity, technology, and a strong practitioner lens can transform advisor training and professional development. Along the way, the conversation explores mentoring, career pathways, system-level leadership, and bold ideas for the future of academic advising, with a few side trips into pickleball, skyscraper office views, and Montreal travel stories. It’s a thoughtful, energizing episode for anyone who cares about advising, leadership, and building better support for students.

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In this episode of Adventures in Advising, guest host Dr. Brendan Caputo welcomes his longtime mentor, Dr. Ellen C. Miller, Senior Associate Dean for Pre-Health Advising at Hofstra University, for a wisdom-packed conversation about advising as both a profession and a calling. From her own nontraditional path as a first-generation student to nearly four decades of supporting future health professionals, Ellen reflects on the power of mentorship, lifelong learning, adult learners, pre-health advising, professional growth, and why advisors should never become “dream crushers.”

Listeners will hear about Hofstra’s evolving identity in health professions education, the challenges of the enrollment cliff, the irreplaceable human side of advising in an AI age, and the magic that happens when students and professionals are given room to grow. 🧭✨

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