I am an Assistant Professor of Practice in the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona. I received my doctorate in Educational Leadership Studies from the University of Kentucky. Although my career has been centered on K-12 teaching and leadership, including principal and district level positions,my lifelong commitment to student success has shifted my focus to issues impacting higher education. My research area focuses on onboarding strategies that increase students' sense of connectedness to peers, facutly, and University resources.