Success Coaching

Emilia Dunn(She/Her), Senior 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
• 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
• Fun Fact: I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan!
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I chose to become a Success Coach because I know firsthand how overwhelming college can feel. I had mentors who guided me, and their support made all the difference. Coaching gives me the chance to pay that forward and help students navigate challenges with confidence.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Teach the material to a friend (or even your pet). If you can explain it simply, you’ve understood it. If you get stuck, that’s the area you need to review.

Jawa Alqatanani, Senior Success Coach & Graduate Student Liaison

• Current Major/Program: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Undergrad Major: Psychology with a focus in Neuroscience
• Hometown: West Chester, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an undergrad: Finding ways to hold myself accountable and find strong study habits that worked for me.  
• Biggest Success as an undergrad: Advocating for myself, finding good study habits for myself, and after struggling, being on the Dean’s list my senior year!
• Fun Fact: I am a first-generation college student! (Also, I love reading!)
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I wanted to be able to help students who struggled with the same things I did so that they can achieve their goals and find their potential! I believe when you have these resources for students, you can reach higher levels of achievement!
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: I love the 2-minute rule! If it takes just two minutes, get it done, or just take two minutes to start something so you can get the ball rolling! 

Ahmed Adeyekun, Data & Case Management Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Master of Geoscience
  • Undergrad Major: Geology
• Hometown: Erin Oke Nigeria
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Setting a long-term goal for myself was challenging because I was always working with my short-term goals.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Achieving an outstanding academic record in my last two years of school.
• Fun fact: I love meeting and talking to new people.
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I have always been passionate about empowering others to reach their full potential. I aim to help individuals navigate challenges, build confidence and achieve their goals.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: I like to divide my larger task into smaller tasks to prevent me from being overwhelmed. Also, I discipline myself in creating a schedule, plan out study sessions and sticking to it.

Daniela Carmona, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: School Counseling
  • Undergrad Major: Sociology
• Hometown: Kennett Square, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Adapting to a new environment. I found it difficult to leave family and friends by moving to a different state, as well as navigating academic expectations and new relationships.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I am most proud of the person I became by the end of my four years in undergrad. I left undergrad more confident in my personality, beliefs, and abilities.
• Fun fact: I really enjoy movement, whether that is going for a walk, the gym, or dancing! 
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I chose to become a Success Coach because I understand how powerful it is to have someone believe in you. 
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: I like using timers and putting my phone on “Do Not Disturb.”  

Anna George (She/Her), Success Coach & Graduate Student Liaison

• Current Major/Program: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Undergrad Major & Minor: Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies minor
• Hometown: Uniontown, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Balancing school and work when I first started undergrad was a huge challenge, but after working on my time management, I was able to work part-time while making it on The Dean's List. 
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I was promoted to a coordinator position in the psychology lab I worked in for my senior year.
• Fun fact: I love seeing live music, especially small local shows!
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I love helping people and I know undergrad can be a stressful time for students. As a success coach I have the opportunity to help support undergrads in their journey to becoming successful students! 
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: My favorite productivity hack is to make a list. I'm more likely to complete a task if I have it written down and crossing it off after finishing it feels rewarding. It's a small way of visualizing my goals.

Kaitlyn Horn, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Speech-Language Pathology
  • Undergrad Major & Minor: Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Hometown: Newton, NJ
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Learning to balance school with all my extracurricular responsibilities. 
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Learning to become a more outgoing person and better leader during this time is something that I am very proud of!
• Fun fact: During undergrad, I was involved with the WCU marching band for four years and I marched in the 2024 Rose Parade! 
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I enjoy meeting and talking to new students, and I want to help inspire others to reach their full potential as WCU students. 
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Find a quiet place to study on campus that allows you to concentrate. Try utilizing planners and other resources to stay organized and productive! 

Gianna LaMena (She/Her), Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Undergrad Major: Psychology w/ Concentration in Clinical and Behavioral Health
  • Minor: Sociology
• Hometown: Southampton, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Trying to balance my academic, work, and personal life while also making time for self-care.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Finding my passion in psychology and completing my honors thesis during my senior year.
• Fun fact: I love to bake and experiment with different recipes!
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: To be a resource for students who feel lost and need guidance from a peer who has been through challenges themselves. I’m excited to meet with students and watch them grow and make progress in their goals.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: I like to put on “Study with Me” videos with a timer and instrumental music while I do my homework. It keeps me accountable and creates a calming setting for me to focus.

Ashley Mader (She/Her), Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs
  • Undergrad Major & Minor: History and an Art Studio minor
• Hometown: Harleysville, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Navigating the transition from high school to college during the pandemic and learning how to make meaningful and fulfilling connections on campus once restrictions were lifted.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Becoming one of the senior peer educators in Bloomsburg’s Health and Wellness Department and being able to help students find the best resources on campus to get help. I learned so much from talking at tables and presenting!
• Fun fact: I have a beagle named Charlie, and he’s very cute!
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I know firsthand how important finding on-campus resources will be to students! I was very fortunate to have people to guide me through finding the resources I needed in undergrad, and I wanted to help students in the same way!
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Taking short breaks can be productive too! If you are feeling stuck with your work or like you aren’t retaining the information, step away for 5 minutes, take a deep breath, and come back to it with fresh eyes!

Kyanna Randolph, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Higher Education Policy & Student Affairs 
  • Undergrad Major: Communication Studies
  • Minor: Media & Culture
• Hometown: Philadelphia, PA 
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Being organized, prepared, and staying consistent regardless of my circumstances.
  Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Believing in myself. Not giving up when everything made me feel like I should. I was also the Kente Speaker for the graduating class of 2025.
• Fun fact: I studied abroad in Ghana, Africa twice! 
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I want to hone my skills when it comes to advising and supporting students. I have been mentoring others for a couple of years now, but never officially until I became a graduate student. I know that there is so much more for me to learn, and what better than through being a success coach.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Ask yourself, “How do I learn?” When you are in class, how do you retain the information that the professor provides you with? These questions can spearhead the way that you study and can help with productivity. For example, I retain information best through in-class participation. As a result, I annotate and write notes based on the questions I answer and ask. This has helped me tremendously especially when it came to writing papers and taking tests. Knowing what works best for you can enhance confidence in many areas especially productivity. 

Sayla Raynor, Success Coach & DC-CAP Liaison

• Current Major/Program: Public Health w/ concentration in Healthcare Management 
  • Undergrad Major: Public Health
• Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: My biggest challenge as an undergraduate was procrastination and not asking for help as much as I should have. There were times when I felt like certain problems, such as financial aid issues or getting additional information from professors, were unsolvable. Looking back, I learned that asking questions and reaching out for help can make a situation feel much more manageable.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Graduating! As a first-generation college student, earning my degree meant so much to me. It showed me that where you come from does not determine where you can go or what you can accomplish
• Fun fact: I spent my 22nd birthday in Ghana! 
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I chose to become a Success Coach because I wanted the opportunity to connect with and support students. I remember being an undergraduate student and feeling overwhelmed by how new everything was, especially when I didn’t always know where to go for help. I want to use the knowledge and experiences I gained during my time at WCU to help students feel less overwhelmed, more confident, and more comfortable asking for support. I also hope to be someone students know they can come to when they need guidance.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Using my friends as my “students.” I would teach them the material from my own perspective, even if they already understood it. Teaching someone else helped me see whether I truly understood the material and made it easier to remember. Plus, it made studying a little more fun!

Fatoumata Toure, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management 
  • Undergrad Major: Political Science with a focus on International Relations & French
• Hometown: Media, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Balancing a demanding course load while learning effective time management skills. Adjusting to college-level expectations pushed me to develop better organization and prioritization strategies.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Completing my degree while strengthening my leadership, communication, and critical-thinking skills, and discovering my passion for public service and community-centered work.
• Fun fact: I speak French and enjoy learning about different cultures and global perspectives.
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I enjoy supporting students as they navigate their academic journey. I am passionate about helping students feel confident, supported, and empowered, especially during times of transition or challenge.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable goals and using a planner or digital calendar to stay organized and reduce stress.

Riley Wren (She/Her), Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Undergrad Major: Communication
  • Minors: Journalism, Human development & Family Services 
• Hometown: Dallas, PA
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Adjusting to having more free time and less of a structure to my day, especially compared to high school. 
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Graduating Magna Cum Laude and getting into graduate school! 
• Fun fact: I studied abroad in Athens, Greece. 
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I want to be an accessible and approachable resource to students to help them succeed academically.  
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: Having something to look forward to when I am finished with my work, whether that be a sweet treat or watching an episode of my favorite show.  

Kait Bailey, Philadelphia Campus & Adult Learners Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Master of Social Work
  • Undergrad Major: Criminology
  • Minors: Spanish and Forensic & Investigative Science
• Hometown: Avalon, NJ
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: My biggest challenge was figuring out what path I wanted to take.  I changed my major three times my freshman year before I felt like I was on the right track!
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I won Most Outstanding Senior in Criminology my senior year!
• Fun fact: I am a Pisces sun, Scorpio moon, and Aquarius rising.
• Reason for becoming a Success Coach: I remember wishing during my undergraduate studies that I had a mentor to whom I could turn when I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed. I believe that every student already has what it takes to be successful and may just need the space to organize their thoughts out loud with someone who can offer resources or point them in the right direction. As a Success Coach, that is exactly the space I hope to provide for any student who comes to see me.
• Favorite study tip or productivity hack: At the start of the semester, I make sure to go through the syllabus for each of my classes and put every assignment on my calendar. I like to see when due dates are coming up so that I know to start working on my assignments bit by bit ahead of time. An hour or so of work early on saves me a ton of time spent stressed or panicking later.

Dominique Bennett (She/Her), M.A., Associate Director of Academic Coaching & Case Management

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 seventh 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 while providing support for all the other departments in the College of Health Sciences. Dominique also provided mentorship and coordinated care to students on academic probation or at risk of dismissal.

Dominique provides supervision on the individualized academic skills sessions and group academic success workshops offered by our graduate assistant Success Coaches. Dominique assists in the marketing and assessment of Success Coaching and provides guidance on outreach to students and appropriate case referrals in the EAB Navigate CRM platform.