Dr. Claire Robinson serves as Assistant Provost of Undergraduate Advisement and the inaugural Director of the University Advising Center at the University of South Carolina. In her role, Dr. Robinson oversees campus-wide advising initiatives including professional four-year academic advising, transfer advising, exploratory advising, academic coaching, four-year curriculum mapping, advising technology, and advisor training and certification. In addition, several special initiatives fall within the purview of the Advising Center including academic intervention, curricular analytics, and academic recovery initiatives. Dr. Robinson has authored several publications evaluating academic advising and coaching and co-authored a book on Appreciative College Instruction.  Dr. Robinson has trained and consulted at over 70 colleges and universities and served as the Lead SACS Quality Enhancement Plan Evaluator for multiple institutions seeking to enhance their advising practices.

Jane Bouknight, M.S., M.Ed. is the Senior Program Manager for Advisor Training & Development at the University of South Carolina, where she leads a nationally recognized, competency-based advisor training and certification program. With more than fifteen years of experience in academic advising, student success, and staff professional development, she has designed and facilitated training for hundreds of advisors, advanced initiatives in early intervention and retention, and fostered cross-campus collaboration to strengthen student support systems. Jane holds a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from James Madison University, a Master of Science in Communication Studies from Texas Christian University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Public Relations from Columbia College.

Mike Dial serves as the Senior Program Manager for Advising Technology Innovation and Assessment at the University of South Carolina, where he leads institution-wide efforts to enhance academic advising through strategic use of technology, data, and assessment. With a background in higher education leadership and a focus on student success, Mike oversees large-scale projects including the implementation of CRM Advise and predictive analytics for advising capacity.  A frequent presenter at national conferences and contributor to scholarly publications, Mike is committed to advancing a human-centered, data-informed model of advising that fosters student success, retention, and sustainable institutional change.

Brian Dusel, M.A. is the Student Success Systems and Technology Manager at the University of South Carolina, where he serves as the application administrator and data steward proxy for multiple technology platforms supporting academic advising. Over his thirteen-year tenure at the university, Brian has spent the past decade advancing advising technology initiatives, including leading the successful implementation and campus-wide adoption of EAB Navigate. He also serves as the Advising Process Steward, facilitating advisor technology training, access management, and data security to ensure consistency and integrity across advising practices. He works collaboratively with key campus partners, including the Office of the Registrar and the Division of Information Technology, to bridge the gap between academic advising and information technology.

Keith has over 32 years of experience in the field of higher education, specializing primarily in academic advising. Keith first discovered his passion for helping students navigate their collegiate experience as an academic peer advisor on a work-study award at Florida State University.  Multiple years spent as an Orientation Leader further cemented his love of the field and convinced him to stay on at FSU for their graduate program in Higher Education.  After graduating with his Master's degree, he then spent 22 years working at the University of North Florida holding positions as an advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences and later as the Associate Director for that office.  Along the way he also held the position of Director of the Graduate School at UNF and was tasked with the oversight of all graduate admissions at the university.  Prior to coming to the University of South Carolina, Keith most recently served as the Director of Academic Advising at Florida Southwestern State College in Ft. Myers, FL where he guided all advising operations spread across four campuses. Keith brings a dedication to high quality student service, accurate and timely advising, and helping students in transition to figure out their next steps to success both academically and professionally.

Josh Weakland is the Assistant Director for the Office of Exploratory Advising and Academic Coaching at the University of South Carolina, where he aids in leading a team that supports more than 5,000 students annually. He designs and delivers onboarding and ongoing training that standardizes advising practices and collaborates with campus partners to remove barriers to student success. A data-informed operator, Josh developed a Power BI reporting strategy used across 11 colleges to inform institutional policy and support measurable improvements in student retention. He specializes in supporting the most at-risk students at the University of South Carolina through his work in developing a coaching-style approach to students going through the hardship withdrawal process. 

Since joining the University Advising Center in 2016, Jenn has worked to strengthen USC’s undergraduate curriculum through collaboration, consistency, and innovation. Jenn led the creation of the University’s 8-semester major maps, which revealed the need for consistent academic terminology and a standardized Program of Study format for all undergraduate programs. This approach now guides degree planning across the university. Jenn also serves as an ex-officio member of several University-wide committees, including the Faculty Senate Committee on Curricula and Courses, where she provides an advising perspective on curriculum development and review. Jenn works closely with faculty on undergraduate program actions, policy revisions, and the curriculum approval process, helping ensure that USC academic programs are clear and consistent and to support informed decision-making and enhance the student experience. She has a Master of Science in Education from Indiana University and enjoys her work with faculty to provide a positive and straightforward experience for students as they progress through their curriculum.

Sarah Jerald is a higher education administrator with more than a decade of experience in operations, human resources, and organizational management. She currently serves as Senior Manager of UAC Operations & Personnel at the University of South Carolina, where she oversees human resources and finance operations for the University Advising Center and leads a team supporting a staff of over 130 employees. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the College of Charleston and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. With expertise in human resources, financial management, and organizational development, Sarah brings a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to supporting students, staff, and institutional goals.

Amanda Lucas Shores is a seasoned higher education professional with 24 years of expertise in traditional and online recruitment, admissions, enrollment, and academic support services. Currently serving as the Director of Transfer Student Advising, Academic Success, and Retention, she oversees the transfer student experience from advisement to graduation, offering a comprehensive university perspective on transfer pathways and strategies to enhance student success. Mrs. Shores collaborates with various campus divisions to develop a strategic transfer action plan, implementing policies and programs aimed at improving transfer student retention and graduation rates. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Foundations of Education at the University of South Carolina, Mrs. Shores combines her extensive professional experience with academic pursuits to further contribute to the field of education.

Bill Brown is the Coordinator for Direct Transfer Tracks and Transfer Advising at the University of South Carolina. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, he has held key roles including Assistant Registrar, Financial Aid Administrator, and Primary Advisor in the College of Engineering and Computing, where he supported computer science students. An expert in ACE military learning, Bill is dedicated to helping students—especially transfer and military-affiliated learners—navigate pathways to academic success.

Ali Mathwig is the Director of Four-Year Academic Advising at the University of South Carolina, where she oversees a comprehensive campus-wide advising model that serves nearly 28,000 undergraduate students and supports more than 110 professional advisors. With over a decade of experience in higher education, she has established a strong record of advancing student success through strategic planning, program assessment, and advisor development to promote equitable, high-quality support from orientation to graduation. Previously, she served as Director of Advising for the South Carolina Honors College, leading a team dedicated to holistic, student-centered advising and mentorship that connected academic goals with meaningful personal and professional growth. She holds a Master of Arts in the History of Art and Architecture from Brown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Archaeology from Washington University in St. Louis. A recipient of the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, Ali remains committed to advancing excellence and innovation in academic advising and higher education leadership.

Alyssa Stephens serves as the Assistant Director of Four-Year Advising & Academic Intervention in the University Advising Center. In her role, Alyssa supports the advising program across campus by assisting with advisor onboarding, communication to advisors and relevant staff, and providing support to advisors as needed. She also oversees advisor-facilitated academic intervention initiatives, including faculty alerts, outreach to non-registered students, and outreach to students based on academic requirements (enrolling in degree-applicable classes, meeting academic standards for scholarship renewal, etc.). Originally from Colorado, Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She then earned her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama. Alyssa has worked in a variety of functional areas in higher education and has a particular passion for academic advising and its impact on students. 

Sara McConville serves as the Assistant Director for Advising Outreach, Events, and Student Education at the University of South Carolina. Since joining the university in 2016 at the inception of the University Advising Center, she has played a key role in advancing academic advising initiatives and professional development across campus. In her current role, Sara oversees programs that enhance advising engagement, promote student success, and strengthen the university’s advising community through outreach and educational events. Prior to this position, she served in Advisor Training and Outreach, where she collaborated with the current Senior Program Manager for Advisor Training and Development to design and implement the university’s comprehensive advisor training program. With more than a decade of experience as an academic advisor, Sara brings a deep commitment to supporting both students and advising professionals. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and is passionate about fostering growth, accountability, and excellence within the advising profession.