The office of Academic Advising Initiatives is committed to supporting our undergraduate scholars and the university’s community of academic advisors. As part of the Division of Student Success, we are aligned with the division’s mission to collaborate with UT faculty and staff to help each scholar maximize their individual strengths and understand how their strengths contribute to their academic dreams, career paths, and personal well-being. Our team also supports the academic advising community by providing ongoing professional development and training opportunities for staff, and we work in collaboration with our college partners to coordinate campus-wide advising initiatives.
Jeremy Mobley, Program Director
As the Program Director for Academic Advising Initiatives, Jeremy Mobley works collaboratively with college advising centers to provide academic advising support, coordinate campus-wide advising projects, and lead special student success projects. This includes leading a team of specialists to provide support for campus-wide academic advising initiatives.
Jeremy holds a B.S. in Sociology from Radford University and a M.A. in Global and Sociocultural Studies from Florida International University. He brings over 10 years of experience in higher education to this role spanning program development, assessment, and implementation, diversity and engagement, course instruction, and academic advising.
At the core of Jeremy’s work is his passion for fostering a welcoming and positive experience for students across campus as well as contributing to the professional growth of the university’s advising community.
CliftonStrengths: Relator, Analytical, Learner, Responsibility, Maximizer
Stephanie Tanksley, Coordinator
Stephanie serves as the Coordinator for the Academic Advising Initiatives program. She received her B.S in Communications from Tennessee Tech University and her M.S.I.S. in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee. She is currently working on a Master’s of Arts program in Communications with a concentration in Corporate Communications from Austin Peay State University. Stephanie is a lifelong learner and is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals.
In her free time, Stephanie enjoys crocheting, attending concerts, and hanging out with her dog, Sadie.
CliftonStrengths: Restorative, Achiever, Learner, Focus, Responsibility
Shena Faith, Advising Specialist
Shena serves as an Academic Advising Specialist for Academic Advising Initiatives. Shena comes to UTK with over 15 years of experience in fitness and wellness programs, 10 of those years being in Campus Recreation. Throughout her career she’s managed fitness programs at several universities and abroad. Shena also served as a Physical Health & Wellness Coach for wounded veterans. She holds a B.A. in Exercise Science from Rowan University and an M.Ed. in Physical Education from Valdosta State University. Shena’s background includes collaborative programming, staff development, assessment, mentoring, and coaching.
Shena’s passion for education and helping others has been the motivation behind her career. She is excited to be on the academic side of an institution and eager to contribute to the positive experience students have a UTK.
CliftonStrengths: Individualization, Restorative, Responsibility, Ideation, Arranger
Dr. Colleen Farrell, Advising Specialist
Dr. Farrell serves as an Academic Advising Specialist for Academic Advising Initiatives. Dr. Farrell provides student-centered academic advising services to campus-wide academic advising initiatives and administrative services. In her position, she strives to provide specialized services and support to university-wide academic advising units.
Colleen holds a B.S. in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University, a M.S. in Higher Education from Old Dominion University and a Doctor of Education in Global Sport Leadership from East Tennessee State University. She has 10+ years of higher education experience in a variety of roles in higher education in areas of athletics, teaching, academic advising, and diversity and engagement.
Colleen has a passion for helping students holistic needs and identifying their goals for success.
CliftonStrengths: Achiever, Competition, Activator, Positivity, Discipline
Kiley Shumpert, Program Assessment Intern
Kiley comes to UTK from Chattanooga, TN where she earned her International Baccalaureate Diploma from Signal Mountain High School. She currently studies Psychology and minors in both Hispanic Studies and Interpersonal Development. Kiley aspires to work in industrial organizational psychology post graduation and earn her masters. Kiley’s background includes roles in accounting and political assessment, and she is utilizing her current role to build analytical skills in program assessment, deepening her knowledge of the field she is studying and gaining confidence in her skills and their applications.
Kiley’s passion for academics and her perspective as a student informs her work and her goals in contributing to the university.
CliftonStrengths: Input, Connectedness, Learner, Intellection, Relator