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Office of Academic Success

professor and student talking at the new student advising fair

Department Overview

The Office of Academic Success coordinates advising for students and connects students to academic resources and other services on campus. Our goal is to provide academic advising and resources that will help students to:

  • meet graduation requirements
  • navigate the college and plan for their lives beyond Swarthmore
  • choose courses of study including majors, minors, and Honors
  • prepare for graduate study or careers
  • find appropriate fellowships.

Further, our goal is to provide each student with the advising and resources to obtain a satisfying, enriching, balanced, and transformative liberal arts education.

Academic advising is coordinated through the office in partnership with academic departments and programs. Some learning resources are also coordinated through the office by the deans, Registrar's Office, Student Disability Services, Pre-Med and Pre-Law advising, Fellowships and Prizes, the Student Academic Mentor program, and tutor assignments. Other resources are based in departments (Ninjas, Science Associates, PiRates, Wizards, etc.) and in designated centers and offices on campus (the Writing Center, Career Services).

Most students use one or more of these resources during their time at Swarthmore to enhance their experience, strengthen their performance, or prepare for graduate school or career. As a small, caring institution, we strive to open up advising and resources to all and encourage students to collaborate with trained peer tutors and with professional advisors.

Office of Academic Success Staff

Tomoko Sakomura

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Professor of Art History

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8365
  2. Parrish 108
  1. Profile
  2. CV
Tomoko Sakomura

Mira Baric

Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Students

Dean's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8367
  2. Parrish Hall 108
logo

Karen Henry '87

Dean of First Year Students

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8169
  2. Office: Parrish 130
  1. Profile
Karen Henry

Kristen Smith

Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8299
  2. Parrish Hall 132
  • Strategic direction and oversight of the College's registration policies and procedures
  • Compliance
  • FERPA
Kristen Smith

Usha Nair Jenemann

Associate Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8297
  2. Parrish Hall E120
  • Manages the office and all technical systems supporting the work of the office
  • Manages data requests
  • Administers the Honors program 
Usha Jenemann

Jenna Hunt

Assistant Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8298
  • Transcript requests
  • Enrollment certifications
  • AP credit and transfer credit
  • Study abroad transfer credit
  • Exchange liaison with Bryn Mawr, Haverford, UPenn, and Strath Haven High School
  • Veterans Affairs Certifying Official
Jenna Hunt

Kat Matekovic

Assistant Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-7832
  2. Parrish Hall 124
  • College catalog
  • Course scheduling
  • Classroom scheduling
  • Course registration
Kat Matekovic

Liz Derickson '01

Associate Dean of Academic Success

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8475
  2. Parrish Hall 109
  1. Profile
photograph of Dean Liz Derickson smiling and standing outside of Parrish Hall

Monica Vance

Director, Student Disability Services

Dean's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-7358
  2. Fax: (610) 690-3350
  3. Parrish Hall West 113
  1. Profile
professional photo of Monica L. Vance

Traci Huppman

Assistant Director, Disability Services

Dean's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 690-5538
  2. Parrish Hall 123 West

Melissa Mandos

Fellowships and Prizes Advisor, SAM (Student Academic Mentor) Program Director

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8363
  2. Parrish 115
  1. Profile
Melissa Mandos

Christine Jackson

Administrative Assistant II

Dean's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8364
  2. Parrish Hall 119

Gigi Simeone

Health Sciences/Pre Law Advisor

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8589
  2. Parrish West 125
  1. Profile
Gigi Simeone

Jennifer Lenway, MSW

Administrative Assistant for Health Sciences and Pre-Law Advising

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8356
  2. Parrish 121