Singer named campus advising director

As part of a comprehensive plan to improve student academic advising services, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has named Wren Singer to the new position of director of undergraduate advising.

Singer, who previously served as director for the Center for the First-Year Experience (CFYE) in the Division of Student Life, will begin on Monday, Jan. 30.

The position was created and funded through the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates in an effort to transform advising services on campus and provide deeper and more meaningful collaboration between campus advising offices. The area consistently rates as one in which undergraduates ask for improvement.

“Wren stood out because of her past track record leading and reshaping CFYE and SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration),” says Aaron Brower, vice provost for teaching and learning, who will supervise advising efforts. “She partnered with schools and colleges, and across student and academic affairs, to help students succeed on our campus.”

“The search committee provided outstanding candidates,” he adds. “I thank them for making this decision so difficult.”

The new director will articulate a campus vision for undergraduate advising; provide leadership, advocacy and expertise related to undergraduate advising and create a structure for cross-campus communication and collaboration.

Early priorities include streamlining and improving advising related technology, coordinating assessment of advising learning outcomes, and enhanced training and professional development for faculty, staff and peer advisors

“Advising is an opportunity that our students have to sit down with a faculty or staff member and reflect on their educational experience and plan for their academic and career future,” says Singer, who has led CFYE since 2003. “We have to make the most of those opportunities. Advising is where many students put together the pieces of their Wisconsin Experience.”

For additional background on improvements to the campus advising structure, click here or here.