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Student Services Advisors

From left: Sarah Pezzat, Andy Young, Chavonn Reed, Jennifer Rivers, Scott Robinson, Micki Parr

VCU’s College of Engineering has a professional academic advisor for each major who can assist students from their first day on campus until they walk across the stage at our diploma ceremony. Every semester, students are required to meet with their assigned advisor prior to registration in order to ensure consistent academic progress towards their degree.

We also provide a career services office dedicated solely to the needs of our highly qualified and much sought after undergraduates and alumni. From convocation to commencement and beyond, VCU’s College of Engineering has helpful professional staff to guide our students through the undergraduate experience.

Academic Advisors

Jennifer C. Rivers

Director of Student Services | Pre-Engineering and Undeclared Engineering Students

Scott Robinson

Academic Advisor | Biomedical Engineering

Sarah Pezzat

Academic Advisor | Chemical and Life Science Engineering

Micki Parr

Academic Advisor | Electrical and Computer Engineering

Chavonn Reed

Academic Advisor | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

Andy Young

Academic Advisor | Computer Science

Career Advising

Ms. Laura Lemza is the College of Engineering's career advisor. Click here to make an appointment with a career advisor and to view the drop-in hours for Engineering Career Services.

Engineering Career Services has lots of information to help you with internship, Co-op, and/or career searches, as well as resources for graduate school search and application.

Jennifer C. Rivers

Director of Student Services | Pre-Engineering and Undeclared Engineering Students

What do you enjoy most in your role as an advisor?

As an advisor you get to work with people from various backgrounds from places all across the world. I enjoy the opportunity to be an academic tour guide of sorts to students who come to us as wide-eyed freshman and leave as confident, employable graduates. Seeing students find their place in the world and thrive is awesome.

When I'm not at work, you're most likely to find me....

Spending time with family, traveling, watching reruns of shows/movies I’ve seen 100 times and know all the dialogue, listening to 80’s music (again, I know all the lyrics) or trying to finish one of several DIY projects.

The best advice I would give my younger self is:

Do not go into new experiences with preconceived notions from others. I’ve talked myself into, but many times out of, trying new things just because someone said it was hard or corny or sounds crazy. Start each new experience with an open mind. Don’t let others form your opinion. You could hate it, but then again you could love it, but it should be you to decide, not someone else. Find your Happy Place.

Scott Robinson

Academic Advisor | Biomedical Engineering

What do you enjoy most in your role as an advisor?

I enjoy helping students talk their way through challenges and find solutions they might not have discovered alone. No one knows a college student better than she knows herself, but sometimes you have to draw a person’s strength out before it can be put to use. I like to help students see the best version of themselves, and then put that version into the world.

When I’m not at work, you’re most likely to find me…

Fishing! I love to fish for bass, crappie, and anything else that might bite. I’m originally from Oklahoma, so saltwater fishing is a brand new sport I can’t wait to experience.

The best advice I would give my younger self is:

Dedicate yourself to being as kind, brave, genuine, and thoughtful as you can be.

Sarah Pezzat

Academic Advisor | Chemical and Life Science Engineering

What do you enjoy most in your role as an advisor?

Engineering is tough, and even strong students get caught off-guard. Sometimes, I see a student about to give up in a class, but then they find some reserve of motivation deep inside and spend the rest of the semester giving it absolutely everything they have. You should see the look on someone's face when they give it their all and manage to pass a class they were sure they would fail. I'm inspired every semester by my students. No one works harder at VCU than engineers.

When I’m not at work, you’re most likely to find me…

Most people hate writing! But I love it. Bring your complaints about writing assignments to me and I will listen with all my heart. I may even be able to help. I also love movies, so let me know what you are watching--any genre, any era. The most unlikely films that students have brought up in my office were the 1959 remake of Imitation of Life, and Notorious--the 2009 biopic of Notorious B.I.G., not the Hitchcock film (yes, I've seen both).

The best advice I would give my younger self is:

I would advise my younger self to join college marching band. Which I did! It was a random, snap decision that I barely cared about in the moment. My parents pushed my clarinet on me when I packed up for orientation, and I humored them, knowing I had no plan to audition. But then I did audition. I'm still not sure why--it was just an impulse. It ended up shaping not only my college career, but multiple lifelong relationships and my professional life. I met my husband there. It's the reason I live in Virginia, and that I have a daughter. A lot of students, especially engineers, seem to feel that their life is "on hold" until they get this degree and start their career. You're making thousands of decisions a week, and most of them are no big deal, but some of them are going to change your entire life. You shouldn't be scared by that, but my advice is to just pay attention. This moment counts!

Micki Parr

Academic Advisor | Electrical and Computer Engineering

What do you enjoy most in your role as an advisor?

In my role as an advisor, I really enjoy helping students find individualized solutions to problems that have many variables and many possible outcomes.

When I’m not at work, you’re most likely to find me…

When I'm not at work, you're most like likely to find me at Panera having a bagel and unsweet tea.

The best advice I would give my younger self is:

The best advice I could give to my younger self is to take pride in being yourself, but take the time to learn who you are first!

Chavonn Reed

Academic Advisor | Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

What do you enjoy most in your role as an advisor?

What I enjoy most about being an advisor is being an advocate for the students. I remember as a student, I felt as though I did not have a voice when it came to my own education and no one would listen. I enjoy listening to my students, hearing what they need, and taking that knowledge to the senior administration. I help them have a voice and contribute to their educational goals.

When I’m not at work, you’re most likely to find me…

When I'm not at work, you're most likely to find me at home with my daughters.

The best advice I would give my younger self is:

The best advice I can give to my younger self is always be myself and follow my dreams, no one else's.

Andy Young

Academic Advisor | Computer Science

What do you enjoy most in your role as an advisor?

As an advisor, I'm particularly passionate about building rapport with students, learning about their aspirations, and aiding in their pursuit of a fulfilling career after they graduate.

When I’m not at work, you’re most likely to find me…

When I'm not at work, you're most likely to find me hiking trails with my dog in the mountains or near the James River.

The best advice I would give my younger self is:

The advice I would give to my younger self would be to utilize campus resources and take advantage of opportunities that were available to me!

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