Success Coaches | Fall 2024
Read our students' feedback!
Lizzy Breibart, Success Coach
- Undergrad Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders with minors in Deaf Studies and Russian
- Hometown: Haddonfield, NJ
- Activities: Reading, shopping, and baking
- Fun fact: I speak Russian.
- What should you know about me? I love West Chester and I am excited to further my education in this amazing community!
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Adjusting to a new lifestyle.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Completing extra classes and minors.
Aaron Coleman, Success Coach (DC-CAP Liaison)
- Current Major/Program: Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs
- Undergrad Major: Marketing
- Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
- Activities: Running, Cooking and Writing
- Fun fact: I officiate weddings.
- What should you know about me? I'm an Eagles fan, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and I run marathons.
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: My biggest challenge in undergrad was math!
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: My biggest success as an undergrad was graduating from college and leaving an impact on campus.
Emilia Dunn, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: Master of Education in School Counseling (M.ED.)
- Undergrad Major & Minor: B.A. in Social Work and Criminology, Psychology and Sociology minors
- Hometown: Chester Springs, PA
- Activities: Reading, crafting, baking
- Fun fact: I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan!
- What should you know about me? As a recent college graduate, I know the stress and anxiety the college transition can bring. Therefore, I am here to support students as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of their academic career. I am passionate about helping others be successful in areas such as time management, test preparation, and effective study techniques that will help them excel at West Chester!
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Connecting with my peers as a transfer and commuter student, but joining clubs and organizations helped me meet new friends and feel apart of the community!
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I earned Summa cum laude and the Annie E. Gorman award for excellence in Sociology
Jordan Futrell, Success Coach (Case Management)
- Current Major/Program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Undergrad Major & Minor: Biology with a minor in Global Health
- Hometown: York, PA
- Activities: Walking my dog, listening to music, and spending time outside
- What should you know about me? This is my last year of my master's degree, and I plan to work as a therapist after graduation. I am passionate about supporting students both with academics and managing challenges in their personal lives.
- Fun fact: I am currently an intern at the VA and provide individual therapy to veterans.
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: I struggled to manage working, being in clubs, doing research, and being in class. I did not prioritize self-care and now I make sure to incorporate that into my daily routine.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I discovered my passion for supporting others through challenging times.
Abena Boadua Sakyi, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: Master of Public Administration
- Undergrad Major & Minor: Political Science and Economics
- Hometown: Accra, Ghana
- Activities: Listening to music, singing, and reading; Fun fact: I crossed three rivers on foot during a festival in Ghana.
- What should you know about me? I love meeting people and helping in anyway I can. I enjoy learning about new cultures. I am also very accommodating. I believe that we usually have the answers to what bothers us; all we need to do is look inside our hearts.
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Juggling school with political positions.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Receiving an honor from the Dean.
Maddie Skjefstad, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: M.S CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counseling)
- Undergrad Major & Minor: Psychology and concentration in ethics
- Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL and West Chester, PA
- Activities: Traveling, reading, trying new workout classes
- Fun fact: I’ve been to seventeen countries (hoping for 20 in 2024)
- What should you know about me? I’ve been a peer mentor since I was fifteen, I love being a second pair of eyes on a problem to help solve it.
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Switching majors while online during COVID.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Hitting submit on my senior capstone projects!
Rachel Stachowicz, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: Student School Counseling
- Undergrad Major & Minor: Psychology
- Hometown: Tinicum, PA
- Activities: Involvement at WCU- Chi Sigma Iota Social Media Chair, OEA Social Media, PSCA Graduate Ambassador, New Student Mentor, Success Coach Graduate Assistant. Outside of school, I love going to the beach and watching the sun set.
- Fun fact: I own a small business! Radiant Rays Cleaning.
- What should you know about me? I am introverted and very driven to be successful.
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: My biggest challenge in undergrad was balancing my schoolwork and a social life.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: My biggest success as an undergrad was Graduating Summa Cum Laude, and then getting into Grad School.
Mary Adjoa-Mansa Taale, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs
- Undergrad Major & Minor: Bachelor of Education (Management)
- Hometown: Ghana, West Africa
- Activities: The programs coordinator for Chi Sigma Alpha, Member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (WCU Chapter)
- Fun fact: I am afraid of heights but will still go to Hershey park and go on a sky rush.
- What should you know about me? This is my second and final year in the Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs Masters Program. I love the diversity here in West Chester University and the fact that West Chester University prioritizes student growth, development and overall success. The best part is that I love to see student thrive in their various endeavor and I enjoy helping student navigate and succeed in college.
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: I made avoidable mistakes that had a great impact on my undergrad college experience.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I had the opportunity to work with TEDx Accra, Ghana and graduated with a very good CGPA.
Ashly Vukmanovich, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: School Counseling Masters
- Undergrad Major & Minor: B.S in Psychology
- Hometown: Hazelton, PA
- Activities: CSI: the Counseling International Honors Society, working out, reading, cooking, finding new restaurants/coffee shops
- Fun fact: Visiting Italy was my favorite vacation destination! The best food!
- What should you know about me? This is my second year in the School Counseling Master’s program here at West Chester! I moved to the West Chester area about a year ago and love the town so much I hope to stay in the area after graduation!
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Dealing with large class sizes and being unable to make professional connections with professors. Feeling like I was just a “number”
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I joined THON and made Dean’s list every semester!
Chloe Weissman, Success Coach
- Current Major/Program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Undergrad Major: Psychology
- Hometown: Newtown, PA
- Activities: Thrifting, film, hiking, sports, traveling, painting
- Fun fact: I’ve traveled to Europe twice
- What should you know about me? I graduated from WCU in 2023, so I am familiar with campus life and the useful resources that are offered. I am excited to help students with their academic goals and make sure they are smoothly navigating our institution. I am happy to help students manage their time, build stress-management skills, and be an overall academic support throughout the semester. I look forward to working with you!
- Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Balancing my coursework with the research I was pursuing with Dr. Hyers.
- Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I graduated with honors last spring!
Success Coach Leadership
Dominique Bennett, M.A., Success Coach Lead
Dominique Bennett is a seasoned higher education professional with experience in the onboarding and training of 15 graduate assistants in a former role as Resident Coordinator at La Salle University. She was responsible for directing programming, maintaining a budget, establishing a procedure around crisis intervention and follow up, and collecting and analyzing data to improve services. Dominique holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Dominique is in her fifth year at WCU. In her previous role as Student Success Coordinator to the College of Health Sciences, she conducted individual and group advising sessions for the Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Nutrition. Dominique also provided mentorship and coordinated care to students on academic probation or at risk of dismissal.
Dominique is excited to lead the Success Coaching team! She will provide supervision on the individualized academic skills sessions and group academic success workshops offered by our graduate assistant Success Coaches. Dominique will assist in the marketing and assessment of Success Coaching and provide guidance on outreach to students and appropriate case referrals in the EAB Navigate CRM platform.