Dean's Undergraduate Advisory Board

The College of Education Dean’s Undergraduate Advisory Board represents the voices, concerns, and interests of the diverse undergraduate student body and serves as a direct line of communication between students and College of Education administration in an effort to improve the undergraduate student experience.

The board meets monthly with the dean to lend advice and support on matters of importance to the student body. The board also serves as a representative voice in sharing the hopes and concerns of the students with the dean. Each board member serves as an outreach source to gather student voices and bring them to the table for discussion. The job of the board is to provide a voice for all undergraduate students in the College of Education.

For more information or to get in touch with a board member, please contact the board advisor, Sara Knepper via email. Applications to join the board are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Ephraim Amissah
Leadership & Learning Innovation

Why did you choose this major? I chose Leadership and Learning Innovations because I love being able to mentor. I worked in a high school as an advisor for first generation college bound students and I instantly found my dream job.

Why did you want to join the board? As a member of the board, I have the opportunity to be an extension of the student body and make sure that their voices are heard. I want to not only learn leadership skills, but also share experiences of my own. I hope to be a part of a team that brings positive change to the College of Education.

Favorite memory in the COE: My first Student Welcome was a wonderful experience. Even though I was participating as a peer mentor and not a student, I was able to see just how tight-knit the members of the COE are.

Kyle Fisher
Deaf Studies

Why did you choose your major? I chose this major because of my deep passion for providing access and working with the Deaf community. 

Why did you want to join the Board? My motivation to join the Dean’s council stems from a genuine desire to foster inclusivity, advocate for underrepresented perspectives, and contribute to the betterment of our educational system. I am passionate about educational reform and equity and I’m eager to apply what I learned from my Bachelor’s in Special Education and Rehabilitation, as well as my Master’s in Educational Leadership to effect positive change within the College of Education!

Favorite memory in the COE: I attended the Plains Indian American Sign Language conference in December 2023, where influential leaders from across the U.S. came together to document and preserve endangered signs from their tribes. It was extremely powerful.

Brianna Hobbs
Rehabilitation Studies & Services

Why did you choose this major? I chose this major because I want to pursue a career in Physical Therapy and acknowledge that it is important to have a diverse understanding of different types of rehabilitation and disabilities. Additionally, this major allows for me to learn more about how to help others in many different disciplines, which is something I am very passionate about and want to be able to do currently in my undergraduate years and throughout the rest of my future career.

Why did you want to join the board? I wanted to join the board because I wanted to be able to be a voice for my peers in my college. Additionally, I think it is a great opportunity to meet other people in the Rehabilitation Studies and Services major and learn about other student's experiences in the COE. Additionally, it is a wonderful leadership opportunity and a great way to experience working as a team with my peers in order to bring a positive change. 

Favorite memory in the COE: My favorite moment in the COE was my first day in my first Rehabilitation Studies and Services class. It was in SERP455 Rehabilitation and Aging and we went around the class saying what majors we were in and what our future career goals were. It was the first class at the UofA that I was filled with a room of people with career goals similar to or the same as my own. I had finally found a group of people I related to and it felt very comforting knowing this major was going to be right for me. The COE allows students to feel this way due to its tight knit community that exudes kindness and the shared goals of working towards our futures with the support of other students, professors, and faculty. 

Rachael Horowitz
Elementary Education

Why did you choose your major? I chose to major in Elementary Education because I have such a big passion for working with children. I always knew that I wanted to work with children but didn't know what I exactly wanted to do. When I came across the Elementary Education major which is for grades K-8 I knew that would be a perfect fit for me. I had the option to work with kids all different ages and that really solidified it for me. Throughout my time in the College of Education, I have done my field work in 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade. I loved having the opportunity to narrow down which age level I see myself teaching in the most!

Why did you want to join the Board? I wanted to join the board to not only get involved on campus, but to get involved in my field of study. I thought it was a perfect fit for me and something that drew my interest.

Favorite memory in the COE: My favorite memory in the COE was getting placed in a cohort. I wasn't quite sure what that meant going into it but I was able to have classes with the same people for the past few semesters. This made it easy it communicate with my classmates and grow bonds with the staff and students.

Sarah Mathew
Rehabilitation Studies & Services

Why did you choose your major? I chose to major in Rehabilitation Studies and Services because I hope to go into the field of occupational therapy. As an occupational therapist, I hope to empower individuals to see their diverse strengths and qualities rather than having them focus on what they cannot do.

Why did you want to join the Board? I wanted to join the Board so I could be a voice for the people in my college, and especially within my major. I wanted to be involved in an organization that helped make the college a better place.

Favorite memory in the COE? My favorite memory in the College of Education has been taking a service learning course where I got to go out and volunteer for Beads of Courage and other organizations.

Jenna Nicole Newkirk
Rehabilitation Studies & Services
Business Administration and Psychology

Why did you choose your major? I chose Rehabilitation Studies and Services as my major because of my passion for advocating and caring for people with disabilities. In the future, I hope to become an Occupational Therapist that helps patients develop, recover, and maintain the skills needed for daily activities of living and working.

Why did you want to join the Board? I joined the Dean's Advisory Board to share my experiences as a Rehab student to become a  useful representative for this major and promote positive change. I hope to form relationships with all people involved including students, advisors, professors, and the dean to learn and grow from their personal stories and backgrounds. I love being in welcoming communities that promote friendships and new opportunities.

Favorite memory in the COE: I am a new member and have only experienced one meeting with the Board so far. Everyone welcomed me with smiles, eager to get to know who I am and what I will bring to this new community.

Samantha M Paredes
Early Childhood Education

Why did you choose your major? I chose to study early childhood education because I want to be able to provide a welcoming and diverse community for young children to help them develop a healthy and positive relationship with their education.

Why did you want to join the Board? I decided to apply for the Board because I have always focused on participating in civic engagement. I am very passionate about speaking up about issues that may arise in my communities, so I am excited about the Board as an opportunity to do that.

Favorite memory in the COE: My favorite memory in the COE so far, was taking TLS 150, because this course was so impactful and allowed me to learn about the institutional issues within the education system throughout its existence.

Roarke Poggio
Early Childhood Education

Why did you choose your major? I chose to major in Early Childhood Education because I think early childhood is the most critical time in a person's life to learn!

Why did you want to join the Board? I joined the Dean's Advisory Board to be more involved in the COE and work with other students to make our college experience even better!

Favorite memory in the COE: My favorite memory in the COE was 2022 Admitted Student Day because I loved meeting a ton of future teachers (and UA alumni) and hearing their stories!

Emma Stahly
Leadership & Learning Innovation

Why did you choose this major? I chose the Learning and Leadership Innovation major because I have always been passionate about Education, but I do not want to be a teacher in a traditional classroom. I believe Education is one of the most important tools in the world, and people deserve to LOVE learning! In the future, I would like to work in a leadership role that impacts diverse communities using unique forms of education- and in my case specifically- through the arts and entertainment industry. 

Why did you want to join the board? I think there is always room for improvement within all levels of the education system. Being on this board will allow me to represent and communicate the concerns of my peers in a way that promotes positive change and creates a learning environment where students want to go to school, enjoy learning, and are proud of the community they are a part of. I also would like to use this opportunity as a way to develop my leadership skills and work in a leadership role. 

Favorite memory in the COE? My favorite memories in the College of Education so far have just been from being able to take so many different classes on diverse subject matters with amazing professors. Many of these classes have encouraged me to look into new topics that I might not have considered before and have helped me discover new passions. I love that many of my classes involve discussion and I not only get to dig deep into the subject matter, but I also get to hear new perspectives everyday that challenge my current way of thinking.