Academic coaches

Caden is a junior at UAF majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in History. They were born and raised in Fairbanks and spent their high school years dual-enrolled in classes at the university before becoming a full-time student in Fall of 2023. After completing their bachelor’s degree, they intend to get a Master’s in Experimental Medicine for Infectious Diseases. In their free time, Caden likes to crochet, read history books, and go to Nanook hockey games.

Coaching expertise/focus:

• Biology and History students
• Dual-enrollment students
• Honors College students
• Getting engaged with campus life as an off-campus student
• Identifying and connecting with campus resources
• Navigating disabilities and coursework

Personal experience:

• Background in biology and history studies
• Dual-enrolled for three years
• Honors College student as well as HSAC member
• Student employee with the Center for Student Engagement

Jonas is a Junior  at UAF studying Geological Engineering. He was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and began attending UAF in the fall of 2022. He spends his weekends playing soccer and rooting for his favorite soccer club. After he completes his bachelor’s degree, he hopes to help design and improve Alaska’s roadway infrastructure.

Coaching expertise/focus:

• Developing study strategies 
• Adapting to life in Alaska 
• Exam and course prep with an engineering focus 
• Help communicating with professors 
• Time management skills 
• Professor outreach 
• Academic recovery
• Confidence-building in STEM 

Personal experience:

• Geological engineering background
• Academic recovery 
• Work, life, and school balance 
• Student clubs
• Online, asynchronous courses 
• Engineering science (up to ES F346), math (up to MATH F302), and geology (up to GEOL F322) courses

Margo is in her second year at UAF majoring in Geoscience with a concentration in Geophysics. She grew up in Seattle and spent two years there attending community college as a dual-enrolled student. After completing her undergraduate degree she hopes to go to graduate school and continue her passion for geoscience. Outside of school and work she loves to go to hockey games, spend time outside, watch movies, and explore a variety of creative pursuits.

Coaching expertise/focus:

• ADHD-friendly study skills and time management strategies
• Canvas tips and tricks
• Digital literacy/navigation
• Notetaking strategies
• General study techniques
• Creating a healthy and balanced study plan
• Communicating with peers and professors
• Managing procrastination

Personal experience:

• Geoscience and Physics background
• Out-of-state to UAF transition
• Managing transfer credits
• Working with spreadsheets (like Excel) in STEM classes
• Online asynchronous classes
• ADHD management
• Previous dual-enrolled student
• Lab-heavy course schedules

Matia is a senior Linguistics and Anthropology student with an Iñupiaq language minor. Born and raised in the Interior, she began at UAF in 2021 as a dual-enrolled student. She hopes to one day work in conservation and education and has interests in language revitalization, historical linguistics, and medical anthropology. She is very involved in student clubs on campus and loves talking to new students about adjusting to university life.

Coaching expertise/focus:

• Dual Enrollment Students
• Introduction to Collegiate Academics/Classes at UAF
• Introduction to Fairbanks
• Canvas Tips and Tricks
• Digital Literacy
• Communication with Professors
• Finding/Exploring Student Clubs
• Study Planning
• Study Techniques
• Assignment Comprehension
• Creating and Using Calendars/Planners

Personal experience:

• Anthropology and Linguistics Background. 
• Focus on Alaskan Indigenous studies/Iñupiaq Culture.
• Alaska Advantage
• Northstar College 
• Homeschool/High School to University Transition
• Online Synchronous and Asynchronous Courses
• Self-Paced Courses
• High Credit Loads
• Student Clubs

Natalie is a sophomore majoring in Early Childhood Development and Family Studies. Originally from Tennessee, she moved to Alaska during her early teenage years. She plans to use her degree to pursue a career as a preschool teacher. Outside of school, Natalie enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time outdoors, and cheering on the Nanooks at basketball and hockey games.

Coaching expertise/focus:

• Time management and organization
• Weekly scheduling and planning
• Supporting Honors College students
• Note-taking and study strategies
• Communicating effectively with professors
• Guidance for dual-enrolled students

Personal experience:

• Transitioned from homeschooling to college life
• Completed college coursework as a dual-enrolled student for two years
• Managed a full course load each semester (12+ credits)
• Balanced academics, work, and personal commitments
• Honors student

Saylor is in her Junior year studying Anthropology and double minoring in History and Creative Writing. She grew up in Juneau and loves everything about Alaska. She hopes to one day go for a master's degree and work in the field of Cultural Anthropology. She loves to get outside and watch movies, especially Star Wars.

Coaching expertise/focus:

• Time management
• Scheduling 
• Finding campus resources 
• Navigating online platforms 
• Accountability check-ins
• General tips for:
• Reading comprehension 
• Conquering procrastination 
• Navigating heavy reading loads 
• Communicating with Professors 

Personal experience:

• Anthropology/English/History background 
• Navigating homeschool to higher education transition 
• Managing 12+ credits a semester 
• Finding a healthy work/life/school balance
• Previous dual enrolled student