What happens when the advisor becomes the one navigating a major transition? In Ep. 190 of Adventures in Advising, Matt Markin welcomes back Matt Plescia from Hamilton College for a conversation about career moves, starting over, and discovering how our professional identities change along the way. Inspired by Matt Plescia’s Academic Advising Quarterly article, “Two Suitcases, a Backpack, and a Duffel Bag: Finding Advisor Identity in Motion,” the two Matts unpack what it really means to leave...

Dr. Xiao Yuan returns to Adventures in Advising for a conversation that goes far beyond academic advising. Since her last appearance in 2022, Xiao’s journey has taken some unexpected turns—from higher education and recruiting to investing in the last-mile delivery industry, where she discovered powerful connections between her research on belonging and the invisible human stories behind every doorstep delivery. Xiao and Matt talk career pivots, applying for 1,000+ jobs, separating your identi...

What does it take to turn great advising ideas into published scholarship? In this episode of The Adventures in Advising, Ryan is joined by Melissa Cumbia, Sarah Bechtel, and Alanna Bitzel —members of NACADA's Publications Advisory Board—for an honest conversation about their journeys as writers, collaborators, and contributors to the academic advising profession. Together, they explore how publishing can be more approachable than many advisors realize and why every practitioner has valuable ...

Guest host Margaret Mbindyo from Millersville University chats with Gugu Khanye, University of the Free State; Jonathan Muema Mwania, Makueni University College; and Oyebimpe Olusanya, Federal University of Technology Akure to explore how culture, community, and compassion shape student success. From the power of "it takes a village" to mentorship and holistic support, the panel also discuss the realities of student funding and how academic advising is evolving across different countries. Fol...

What can one conversation change? In this inspiring episode of Adventures in Advising, guest host Dr. Melinda Anderson sits down with newly minted Dr. Erika Nixon-Lambert to explore how a chance encounter, the guidance of caring academic advisors, and the power of community transformed her path from the cosmetics industry to earning her Doctor of Pharmacy. Together, they discuss resilience, mentorship, nontraditional student success, and why advisors have the opportunity to shape lives one co...

What happens when a passion for mathematics evolves into a passion for student success? In this episode, Giancarlo Labruna from Penn State shares his unique journey from mathematics faculty member to academic advisor, reflecting on the mentors, experiences, and opportunities that inspired him to pursue a career dedicated to helping students thrive. We also dive into the growing role of scholarship in academic advising, exploring graduate education, research, professional development, and the ...

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 studen...

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 NAC...

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 acr...

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 s...