Giudi Ghebre

Academic Advisor

(She/Her)

B.A. Honours in Philosophy and Major in Psychology, UBC Vancouver

What do you value about Academic Advising?

I love being part of the dynamic and uplifting environment created by staff and students at the office. I value the opportunity to work within a large and diverse team in the support of undergrads coming from all backgrounds. In my role, I get the chance to expand my advising skillset on a regular basis, as well as collaborate with other units across campus to help students achieve success in their studies. Having completed my Bachelor of Arts degree at UBC myself–with guidance from Academic Advisors–it feels very rewarding to return the favour and make a substantial difference in the lives of young people, as they navigate their own unique journey to graduation. A lot of people assume Academic Advising is just about enforcing University policy, but there is a great deal more to this career. Every advising appointment involves a lot of personalized care, which takes into account the whole student, listening and learning alongside the advisee, and addressing their needs in ways that encourage growth and development. One of my goals is for each student to leave a meeting feeling like the wait time was worth it, that they got more than just their question(s) answered, and feeling better equipped for future planning with the ability to make informed decisions. Being an Academic Advisor involves helping students find different pathways to reaching their own goals.

Who or what made the biggest positive impact on you when you were studying? And how did they support you?

Branching out to try different subjects and talking with my instructors at office hours! To be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I entered my first year. At the time, I was unsure about building my own custom timetable, so I decided to enroll in the Coordinated Arts Program (Individual & Society) stream. With the remaining space in my timetables, I decided to try out electives in subject areas I had not explored before. In doing so, I discovered that I did not enjoy studying Economics (!), took an interesting class on ancient Greek and Roman mythology, made progress on some of my BA degree requirements, and found an interest in Psychology and Philosophy. With so many options and various major pathways to choose from, I found that chatting with my professors during office hours really helped me identify my primary interests, find out more about their disciplines, in addition to getting extra support in their classes. Speaking with an Academic Advisor afterwards helped me narrow down my specializations further, but trying new fields of study definitely kickstarted my appetite for diving deeper into select disciplines. Both of my chosen programs turned out to be quite versatile and gave me transferable skills that I put to use in my job. Don’t let stereotypes about your degree program or major constrain you. I discovered that the major you go with is not meant to be a hard determinant of your career, and you can also supplement classroom learning with experiential learning in a multitude of ways.

What does your typical day look like and how does your role support Arts Advising?

A day in the life of an Academic Advisor… can include any combination of these responsibilities in no particular order: emails (lots of it), performing graduation checks, reviewing Academic Concession requests, all sorts of meetings, planning ahead for peak periods, seeing students in pre-booked appointments, doing a Drop-In Advising shift, project work (think: developing content for workshops, supporting graduation adjudication, leading a committee, etc.). There is a great deal that goes on behind the scenes. We have ‘trends’ in the type of tasks and in the volume of tasks which follow the academic year from Winter Term 1 to Term 2, through to the Summer Session, around to registration, cycling back to another Winter Session. Both the University and the Faculty of Arts undergo changes every year, so a fair amount of adaptation and problem-solving happens frequently, to make sure students remain informed and supported throughout the process. Take advantage of Academic Advisors as one of your primary resources on campus! Whether you are a first year, a new transfer student, or someone getting closer to degree completion, we are here to help you tap into your strengths and get the most out of your time at UBC.

Academic Advisor

(She/Her)

What do you value about Academic Advising?

Every conversation is a new adventure! I find it exciting that many different topics and questions can come up in one advising meeting. I enjoy getting to know each individual student – everyone has their own goals, strengths, and perspectives and I learn a lot from each student I meet with. Being an Academic Advisor has been rewarding – I’m glad that I can listen and support students as they navigate challenges and UBC’s opportunities – like major selection, career experience, involvement, etc. I’m grateful to have previously worked in different areas of the university (orientations and student engagement, residence life, campus tours, and more) and I enjoy bringing learning from my past experiences to my advising role. Thanks for being here – I hope to chat with you soon.

What would surprise people to know about you?

I have a twin sister. She is two minutes older than me. We Facetime often, as she lives in a different city. We are quite different from each other (she runs marathons!! I could never), but of course have a few things in common – like our love of hiking, travel, and vegetarian/vegan restaurants around Vancouver.

Who or what made the biggest positive impact on you when you were studying? And how did they support you?

Getting involved was a game changer for me! I got to meet incredible people and learned a lot by applying for student leadership roles. I found myself more motivated to manage my time well when I had commitments outside of my studies, and I felt like I was contributing to my communities in a meaningful way. My current best friends are still people I met through these roles, and my involvement in campus communities directly set me up for my career in higher education. I would recommend exploring student communities and leadership opportunities during your time at UBC – there are so many different ways to contribute to your campus if you have the time to do so.

Academic Advisor

(He/Him)

What do you value about Academic Advising?

I value the engagement and collaborative work I get to do with students through advising. Whether it’s as simple as a graduation check or assisting a student in figuiring out what they are passionate about, I enjoy learning from the students I interact with. I personally like to exercise a developmental advising approach; with a focus on defining academic, career, and long-term goals with students. Working with students to establish problem-solving and decision-making skills are important in my advising practice. Operating from an intersectional and equitable framework is also vital in my work as an Academic Advisor.

What would surprise people to know about you?

When I’m not in the office, I’m probably in the backcountry hiking and/or camping. I love being outdoors – it’s an essential part of my self-care practice!

What was a challenge you faced as a student? How did you overcome it?

One challenge I faced as a student was thinking I could get through university by myself. I remember being so hesitant on reaching out for support when I needed it. I was so stubborn with this mindset that I had to be self-sufficient, which also led me to establish perfectionist-tendencies. However, I learned the hard way that this mindset was not sustainable; not for my academics or wellness. I realized that there is power in vulnerability and it’s okay to ask for help. Becoming self-aware of unsustainable mindsets and habits helped me thrive, not only in the classroom, but outside of it too! This challenge was an important lesson that I still continue to learn from til this day.