Pre-Major
Academic Advising Center

West Chester University

Contact Info
Lawrence Center 262
West Chester, Pennsylvania
610-436-3505
Fax: 610-436-2600
premajor@wcupa.edu


Dr. Tammy Russell

Russell

Contact Information:
262 Lawrence Center
610-436-3505
trussell@wcupa.edu

Education:
Bachelor of Science, Rehabilitation Services Education, The Pennsylvania State University
Master of Education, Counselor Education, The Pennsylvania State University
Doctor of Philosophy, Counselor Education; Minor, Higher Education Administration, The Pennsylvania State University

Since 1997 Dr. Russell has focused her research interests on the needs of first-generation college students. As a past first-generation college student she understands the academic challenges associated with the high school to college transition process. Many first-generation college students do not complete advanced high school courses including ½ year of Trigonometry, AP or Honors courses, which relates to lower SAT scores and lower college admission acceptance outcomes. College academic retention rates tend to be lower for first-generation college students.

As the developer and first chair of the First-Generation College Student Interest group for The National Academic Advising Association Dr. Russell has spent time leading regional and national committee meetings discussing retention issues for Public, Private, 2-Year, and 4-Year institutions. Furthermore, she has conducted many regional and national presentations related to variables associated with lower college student retention rates, presentations including Restructuring ‘One Size Fits All’ advising models to promote persistence and From high school to college: Helping first-generation college students lead the way to their own academic success. Dr. Russell, during her first year at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania (LHUP), successfully passed a national peer review process to have LHUP’s Student Support Services (SSS) Federal TRIO program listed within Educational Policy Institute’s (EPI’s) Effective Practices in Student Success database, a national resource for education practitioners looking for best retention strategies promoting postsecondary student success. Furthermore, during that same year, she published an article in EPI’s national newsletter, Student Success, entitled A story of a first-gen: 21 years later.