November 14, 2012

Williams to lead Exploratory Student Advisement

by Tom Woolf

Veronica Williams

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Veronica D. Williams has been named director of Exploratory Student Advisement at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Williams currently serves as director of the Twenty-first Century Scholars Program at Indiana State University’s Wabash Valley Regional Support Site in Terre Haute.  Her appointment is effective Dec. 3 pending approval by the SIU Board of Trustees.

Exploratory Student Advisement combines the former Center for Academic Success and Pre-Major Advisement Center, and provides advisement to undecided students entering SIU Carbondale through University College.  Advisors help students decide on a major that will best prepare them for their careers, and work with students to help them select classes to meet Core Curriculum requirements and align with the students’ areas of interest.

“Veronica will bring strong leadership skills and proven success in student mentoring and retention to our University,” Chancellor Rita Cheng said.  “We have created the Exploratory Student program as part of our ongoing emphasis on strengthening the support we provide to first-year students through the University College.  We know the transition to university life can be challenging for some students, and we are helping them establish the foundation for academic and career success.”

Williams has been in her current position since 2011.  From 2007 to 2011, she served as assistant director/counselor in the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program at St. Bonaventure University.  Her previous experience includes serving as counselor in the Education Opportunity Program at the State University of New York at Delhi, N.Y.

Williams earned her master’s degree in student personnel administration in 2003 from the State University of New York at Buffalo.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1997 from D’Youville College in Buffalo.