Meet the Staff

Meet the Academic Support Staff

Staff and student employees in Academic Support work to build positive, approachable, and cooperative learning environments. We desire to help all students feel valued, included, and empowered while earning their degree at Auburn University. Through carefully designed programs we seek to normalize students’ help-seeking behaviors and encourage students to approach problems in new ways. We believe these carefully designed experiences support students’ efforts to maximize their learning while at AU and beyond. For assistance, please call (334) 844-5972 or email academic_support@auburn.edu.

Headshot of Jessica Agyin-Birikorang

Jessica Agyin-Birikorang, M.Ed, LIL, LPT

(she/her/hers)

Coordinator, Academic Support

  • Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama
  • Advice to AU students: Prioritizing your holistic health and well-being is essential! Take advantage of resources on campus, join a student organization, and please remember that you belong here at Auburn University.
  • Favorite study spot: The Donald E. Davis Arboretum is a great place to study in a relaxing, outdoor environment.
  • Favorite spot to eat: La Plaza Supermarket & Taqueria 
  • Favorite thing about Auburn: My favorite thing about Auburn is the festivals and cultural events to connect with and learn more about the folks in our community.
Contact Jessica with questions about workshops, presentations, and tabling events.

Samantha Ansley, M.Ed., Ph.D.

(she/her/hers)

Assistant Director, Student Support

  • Hometown: Los Gatos, California
  • Advice to AU students: Be proactive in connecting to resources on campus and try them out as often as possible until you find what works for you. Then keep trying because sometimes what works best can change.
  • Study tip: My quick study tip is to set start dates for yourself. Students may focus so much on deadlines and due dates that they forget to start. Set yourself up for success by using starting dates for assignments, papers, and test prep.
  • Favorite lunch spot: Good Karma food truck
Contact Dr. Ansley with questions about student support programs, early alert programming, partnerships for student persistence, and the Academic Coaching program.

Chase

(he/him/his)

Coordinator, Student Support

  • Advice to AU students: Get connected on campus! Even if it’s an organization not directly related to your major, or something you’ve never done before, involvement is a great way to help find and create your version of the Auburn Family.
  • Study tip: Make sure your study strategy is what is actually most helpful for you, not just what is most popular among your friends or classmates. Our academic coaches are excited to show you various study strategies if you’re still finding what works!
  • Favorite lunch spot: The hibachi food truck
Contact Chase with questions about the Academic Coaching or Study Smart programs.

Ashley Christine Carr, Ph.D.

(she/her/hers)

Assistant Director, Course Support

  • Hometown: Athens, Georgia
  • Advice to AU students: Pay attention to your health and check out the many support services available to you to keep your mind, body, and spirit sound.
  • Favorite study spot: A Supplemental Instruction session! SI is informed by learning theory that tells us that social interaction and collaboration are critical to learning. An SI session provides the opportunity to grapple with and make meaning of difficult content alongside and with the support of peers.
  • Favorite thing about Auburn: The incredible commitment I see Auburn students making to serve, lead, and do quality work is my favorite thing about Auburn.
Contact Dr. Carr with questions about course support programs, embedded peer support, and outreach efforts.
Headshot of Sandy Mason

Sandy Cowart

(she/her/hers)

Coordinator II, Business/Admin Svcs

  • Hometown: Reeltown, Alabama
  • Favorite thing about AU: I absolutely love the atmosphere! Always a smiling face or a friendly WAR EAGLE.
  • Study tip: Stick to a routine, efficient study schedule.
  • Advice to AU Students: If you are taking 12 credit hours, you should plan to spend 24 hours a week on homework. Twelve hours of class time, plus 24 hours of homework time equals 36 hours devoted to school each week. This is the equivalent of a full-time job!
  • Favorite lunch spot: Jimmy John’s
Contact Sandy with questions if you are a third-party vendor or if you are trying to navigate student employment and timecards.
Headshot of Jaime Miller

Jaime Miller, Ph.D.

(she/her/hers)

Director, Student Academic Support

  • Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • Favorite thing about Auburn University: I love the community of students, faculty, staff, and advisors at AU.
  • Study tip: Take 10 minutes immediately after class to review your notes. Identify gaps in your understanding of the course content. Meet with your professor and peers in the class to gain clarification. Use the resources available to you throughout the entire semester.
  • Favorite lunch spots: Little Italy and Chicken Salad Chick
Contact Dr. Miller with questions about Academic Support programs, ideas for campus partnership, or hopes for student success programming at AU. 
Headshot of JIllian

Jillian Rager, M.Ed.

(she/her/hers)

Coordinator, Course Support

  • Hometown: Trussville, AL
  • Advice to AU students: Get involved on campus! The skills you learn through involvement rounds out your academic knowledge. If you aren’t sure where to start, try joining one organization related to your major/career, and one organization related to a hobby or interest.
  • Study tip: Recognize that learning can be messy. It is a process of persistence and practice. Allow yourself the space and time to learn through prioritizing studying and using resources early and often.
  • Favorite lunch spots: Amsterdam Cafe and Hey Day Market
Contact Jillian with questions about the Supplemental Instruction (SI) program.
Headshot of Allison Stadler

Allison Stadler, M.Ed.

(she/her/hers)

Coordinator, Course Support

  • Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
  • Advice to AU students: Recognize that you are the expert on you. Avoid choosing classes, majors, and experiences just because “everyone” seems to be making those choices. Explore unique paths that are going to help you grow as a person and as a professional.
  • Study tip: Create your own test questions while reading through the material. Going over your notes and textbook through this lens will help you identify what a professor may ask on an exam.
  • Favorite lunch spots: Momma Goldberg’s or Big Blue Bagel
Contact Allison with questions about the Study Partners Peer Tutoring program. 

Meet the Main Office Graduate Student Employees

For assistance, please email academic_support@auburn.edu or call (334) 844-5972.

Caroline Lambert

(she/her/hers)

Graduate Assistant, Strategic Data Analysis

  • Hometown: Trussville, AL
  • Advice to AU students: When choosing major, align yourself with what matches you the best and will give you the future you want to well in the world and to help others always.
  • Favorite Lunch Spot: Publix Sub

Meet the Main Office Undergraduate Student Employees

For assistance, please email academic_support@auburn.edu or call (334) 844-5972.

Headshot of Jewels

Jewels Wolter

(she/her/hers)

Lead Front Desk Representative

  • Hometown: Rosemary Beach, Florida
  • Major: Software Engineering
  • What I like about working in Academic Support: My favorite part of working as a front desk representative at Academic Support is getting to interact with the pro-staff and students and being able to help people get in touch with the resources they need every day!
headshot of Katie Calvert

Katie Calvert

(she/her/hers)

Front Desk Representative

Hometown: Mount Olive, AL
Major: Supply Chain Management
Why I like working in Academic Support: I love working in Academic Support because I get to see students succeed during their time here at Auburn and help them reach their full academic potential!

Headshot of Hana

Hana Jesus

(she/her/hers)

Front Desk Representative

  • Hometown: Agana Heights, Guam
  • Major: Human Development and Family Science
  • Study Tip: Color code your notes! It can help your brain remember important information when studying.
  • Why I work at Academic Support: I plan to become an Academic Counselor and I feel that working in Academic Support will be the perfect introduction into the field. I also attended Academic Coaching earlier in my college career and it helped me so much that I want to pass on the help that I received.

Canaan Rager

(he/him/his)

Front Desk Representative

  • Hometown: Trussville, Alabama
  • Advice to AU students: Take a break when needed! It is important to not work yourself to hard in one day while also managing your time well!
  • Favorite Study Spot: 3rd floor of RBD! It is the perfect mix of quiet and respectful while still being lively!
  • Favorite Lunch Spot: Chappy’s Deli
Headshot of Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn Taylor

(she/her/hers)

Front Desk Representative

  • Hometown: Madison, AL
  • Major: Business Analytics
  • What I like about working at Academic Support: I love working as a front desk representative because it allows me to directly assist and support students on their educational journeys. It is incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that helps students succeed and achieve academic success.
  • Favorite Lunch Spots: Amsterdam Cafe