Student success begins with academic advisors who get to know each of our students and provide personalized advising services from enrollment through graduation. Our advisors help students plan courses, discuss career options and pathways, work through challenges, answer questions, and ensure our students stay on track, often conferring and working with faculty.
In recognition of a generous gift from Dr. Rita Patel Thakur, the College of Business established the Dr. Rita Patel Thakur Academic Advising Center in 2021 to provide academic advising to our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students enrolled in programs at the La Verne Campus. Academic Advisors in the Center also work closely with the College of Business O’Brien Career Center to help students connect with career planning, interview preparation, resume support, and placement opportunities.
The Rita Thakur Skills For Success Program
| Academic Advising | Career Services | Curriculum | |
| Year 1 | Advisors get to know you and develop an educational plan. | Meet Career Services in BUS 101 and begin developing career plan. | Connect for Success Mentoring: BUS 101. |
| Year 2 | Advisors discuss student career interests and applicable majors and minors. | Career Services works with faculty in BUS 242 to conduct mock interviews with business executives. | Achieving Professional Success: BUS 242.
Learn key business skills and look for summer internship. |
| Year 3 | Advisors guide students through experiential course such as IBC or VITA. | Review career plans and resumes, secure summer internship leading to job offer. | Experiential course such as Integrated Business Curriculum Program(BUS 330, BUS 360, BUS 390, MGMT 300) or VITA |
| Year 4 | Advisors work with students to ensure coursework and career plan are aligned. | Review career plans including successful start at new employer or graduate school. | Capstone Business Seminar: BUS 496. Class competes nationally with 500 other teams in an online simulation. |
Undergraduate Students
All undergraduates should contact their assigned academic advisor. If you do not know who your assigned academic advisor is, please contact Michelle Kechichian, director of undergraduate advising.
Graduate Students
Academic advisors are assigned by degree program below.
Academic Advisors
| Alyssa Wu | Advisor for MS Accounting, MS Finance, DBA, and MS Leadership and Management |
| Josette Brown | Advisor of students with the last names starting with A – F for Business Administration, MBA; Business Administration for Experienced Professionals, MBAX |
| Katelynn Phillips | Advisor of students with the last names starting with G – L for Business Administration, MBA; Business Administration for Experienced Professionals, MBAX |
| Randa Jouzi | Advisor of students with the last name starting with M – Z for Business Administration, MBA; Business Administration for Experienced Professionals, MBAX; MS Data Analytics |
| Vanessa Lua | Advisor for Undergraduate Business |
| Maria Mendoza | Advisor for Undergraduate Business |
