Four from WMU selected to serve as college access advisors

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Four Western Michigan University graduates have been selected to serve among the inaugural team of AdviseMI College Advisers throughout the state of Michigan in a program established by the Michigan College Access Network—MCAN.

"We are very impressed with these WMU graduates and the talent they will bring to working with students in Ecorse, Detroit, Vestaburg, Saugatuck and Fennville," says Brandy Johnson, executive director of MCAN.

The AdviseMI program embeds well-trained, dedicated, near-peer college advisers in high schools that serve significant numbers of low-income and first-generation college-going students. The goal of the program is to increase the number of high school students who enter and complete postsecondary education.

These game-changing advisors serve as experts, mentors, champions and guides to the students they serve. They also are expected to play a transformative role in the buildings in which they are placed by fostering a college-going culture in partnership with school staff and providing needed supplemental support to overstretched school counselors.

Four WMU graduates were selected during a competitive process to serve in this capacity. They and the schools at which they will serve are:

• Corey Lariscy, a 2014 WMU graduate and a Grosse Pointe South High School graduate. She will be placed at Ecorse High School in Ecorse. As a WMU student, Lariscy served as a tutor for WoodsEdge Learning Center, was the philanthropy chair for Chi Omega, and volunteered for Kalamazoo Spring into the Streets.
• Katelyn Hannivan, a 2015 WMU graduate and a graduate of Salem High School in Canton. She will be placed at Vestaburg High School in Vestaburg. As a WMU student, Hannivan was a behavioral aid for the Envision Center, an autism early intervention facility; served as a research assistant for behavioral interventions; and served as the academic achievement chair of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
•  Elyse Hogan, a 2015 WMU graduate and a Bay City Central High School graduate. She will be placed at Fennville High School and Saugatuck High School. As a WMU student, Hogan served as a Peer Student Success Team member in the Lee Honors College and tutored for the Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation department. In addition, Hogan studied abroad in Spain in a language immersion program.
• Carlos Daniels, a 2015 WMU graduate and a Southfield Lathrup High School graduate. He is a graduate of the WMU Seita Scholars Program for former foster youth. As a WMU student, he worked in the Office for Sustainability and was an advisor on an award-winning sustainable, closed-loop sustainable agriculture team. He also served as a student leader in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy. Daniels will be placed at Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit.

After an intensive five-week training, advisors will be poised to help students navigate the complex college exploration process, retake college admissions tests, apply to colleges that are a good match/fit, complete the FAFSA federal financial aid form, secure financial aid and enroll in college.  

"We are confident our graduates will serve these high school students well so they can most effectively prepare for and enroll in college," says Dr. Christopher W. Tremblay, WMU associate provost for enrollment management.

Tremblay points to WMU's participation in the program as well as a number of ongoing efforts at the University that showcase WMU's college access commitment and innovation. Most recently, the University received an award from MCAN for its contributions to a statewide effort to increase the number of Michiganders who earn college degrees or other postsecondary educational credentials. 

WMU is one of 12 university partners in this program with MCAN. As a partner, WMU is co-funding a portion of the cost for these placements.Four from WMU selected to serve as college access advisors around state.

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