Tania Pitzer worked in the Students with Disabilities Office serving on-campus students for 10 years, assessing prospective students’ needs and providing training and general office support. As the new MSPM advisor, she is looking forward to working with distance education students. She will also provide outreach services to MSCJ students.

“This is a good opportunity to learn more about other aspects of campus and to expand my knowledge. In the DLC, I’ll have a broader picture of the university and be able to do more with the students,” Tania said.

The new part-time MSPM advising position was created to accommodate the increased number of student enrollments. “We have seen a steady growth with the MSPM program over the past several years, and to ensure that we continue to provide excellent services to our students, we knew that an additional advising resource would be needed,” said Outreach Program Manager Amy Griswold, who oversees advising services. “Tania is a great addition to our advising team and the MSPM program.”

Tania is originally from Macomb, Ill. She attended Western Illinois University for three years, before transferring to UW-Platteville. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1999.

“I’m looking forward to making connections with the distance students and helping them get their degrees,” Tania said.

Melissa Huekels wasted no time putting her master’s degree in post-secondary education: student affairs to work. Just two days after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, she joined the DLC as a BSCJ advisor.

“I really tried to find a position that would fit my passion—helping students find success—and this job came up and I looked at it and said, ‘That is me. That is 100% me.’ It’s a good fit.”

Melissa is originally from Kieler, Wis., and studied business management and sociology at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Her experience working for the Student Life Office and as a residence hall advisor led her to choose a career in higher education.

While at UNI, Melissa completed a graduate assistantship for the Department of Residence working as a student engagement coordinator. Now, she’s eager to work with another set of students.

“I know that distance education students have a lot of other commitments outside of attaining their degree, and I think it’s going to be very important for me to help them continue on that path,” Melissa said. “I really want to help students be successful in their role as students, and that’s why I’m so excited about my role—I get to help them find success in the academic world.”