The iSchool welcomed five staff members to its undergraduate advising team this academic year. Academic Advisors and Coordinators Cory Castaneda, Dara (DL) Lawyer, and Keri Marion joined the School in August, and Katie Murphy joined in February. Stacy Clemmons was promoted to senior advisor and coordinator and transitioned from graduate to undergraduate student advising.
Castaneda previously worked as a student success advisor at the Jeffries Center, where he developed expertise in supporting first-generation students. He holds master's degrees in secondary education-mathematics and agricultural and applied economics from the University of Illinois. Combining these degrees with a background in data science, Castaneda is well situated to assist computationally-minded students.
"I really enjoy working with students while they begin exploring new opportunities and approaches in the field," Castaneda said.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and caring for his cats, dogs, pigs, and horses on his horse farm in the country.
Lawyer brings to the team more than twenty years of experience in academic advising and over a decade of experience in academic affairs. Prior to joining the School, she served as an academic advisor for the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Illinois and as an academic success advisor at Parkland College.
"I find great satisfaction in helping students pursue their educational and career goals," Lawyer said. "I love cheering students on!"
Lawyer earned her bachelor's degree in speech communication and master's degree in community development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and television series, reading, cooking and baking, and playing Words with Friends.
Marion joined the School with three years of advising experience from her roles in the College of Nursing and the College of Education at Illinois. She holds a master's degree in health promotion and leadership from Eastern Illinois University.
"I joined the iSchool because I wanted to support students who are navigating the interdisciplinary, fast-changing fields," Marion said. "The School's mission of combining people, technology, and information aligns with my passion for helping students find pathways that fit their strengths and goals."
Outside of work, Marion enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, cooking, shopping, and bowling.
Murphy previously worked as an adult education transition coordinator at Richland Community College in Decatur, Illinois. She holds a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology from Southern Illinois University and an MFA in popular fiction writing and publishing from Emerson College.
"I am most looking forward to connecting with students and helping them on their academic journeys," said Murphy.
In her free time, Murphy enjoys reading, working on the manuscript of her novel, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of her two cats.
Before her promotion, Clemmons served as an advisor and coordinator for the iSchool's MS in Information Management and MS in Bioinformatics programs.
Clemmons earned a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences and later completed a master's degree in higher education with a concentration in student affairs and leadership from Eastern Illinois University and Abilene Christian University, respectively.
"I chose to transition from working with graduate students to focusing on undergraduates because I have always been passionate about supporting students as they embark on their post-high school journey," shared Clemmons. “There is something incredibly inspiring about the energy, curiosity, and excitement that undergraduate students bring."
Outside of work, Clemmons enjoys exploring new cultures and seeking out outdoor adventures whenever she can.
