Meet the Team
We’d love to connect with you! You can…
1. Click a specific advisor’s “Schedule an Appointment” links below.
2. Head to your Student Portal, click on the WCS icon, then the “Make an Appointment” button to bring up available advisor schedules.
3. Call our front office at 503-838-8428.
4. Or, email us at our addresses below or email advising@wou.edu.
Mika Hui (she/her)
Academic Success Advisor
huim@wou.edu | 503-838-9364
I am a WOU alumnus and come from a family of past and future WOU alumni. You could say I grew up on Western’s beautiful campus! I graduated here in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. I am working on my Master of Science in the PACE program at PSU presently. I am an Academic Success Advisor for SSA currently, but I started as the office’s intern during Summer 2022. In my spare time I like to watch Howl’s Moving Castle more times than any one human probably should, play Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, and listen to kpop.
Kennedy Schade (he/him)
Interim Tutoring Coordinator & Learning Specialist
schadek@wou.edu | 503-838-9371
I am originally from Colorado where I received my B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies from Colorado State University. I have experience teaching Public Speaking at multiple higher education institutions and also was a trained facilitator through Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation. I have a passion for education and feel there is no greater joy for me than helping a student unlock their best selves. When not working with students, I enjoy watching movies, playing video games, eating/cooking great food, collecting trading cards, and being way too invested in Fantasy Sports.
Letitia Erckenbrack (she/her)
Academic Success Advisor
erckenbrackl@wou.edu | 503-838-8032
Until my recent move to advising with the Student Success and Advising Center, I worked as an advisor for 22 years with the TRiO Student Enrichment Program. Prior to that, I had careers with the National Park Service and in Urgent Care Medicine. I graduated from WOU with a BS in Psychology, and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and Mental Health. Assisting students and watching them grow into strong self-advocates accomplishing their aspirations is the most gratifying work I have done to date. Growing up the daughter of an artist, I am a great appreciator of art and music. I enjoy doing genealogy, dabbling in creative repurposing projects, and I am attempting to learn to play the piano. I facilitate two weekly addiction recovery groups held in Monmouth and Lincoln City.
Melissa Hinzman
Office Coordinator and Academic Advisor
hinzmanm@wou.edu | 503-838-9354
I am the Office Coordinator and an Academic Advisor for students interested in the Pre-Nursing pathway and those exploring their options. A native Oregonian, I received my Bachelors degree in English Literature and German Studies from WOU and went on to earn a Masters degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. I also spent a year teaching English as a second language in Austria and several years as a college writing instructor once back in the states. I enjoy traveling, reading, listening to music of all genres, and spending time with my two cats.
Alyssa Nafziger (she/her)
Interim Academic Success Advisor
nafzigera@wou.edu | (503) 751-4060
I graduated from WOU with a B.S. in Education Studies and I am currently working on a MSED in Interdisciplinary Professional Studies. I am an Interim Academic Success Advisor and while completing my undergrad I had the opportunity to work for SSA both as a student employee and an intern. I am passionate about providing support to students and assisting them in reaching their goals. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, trying new restaurants, and playing with my two dogs.
Nelson Sigrah (he/him)
Assistant Director
sigrahn@wou.edu | 503-838-8576
I’ve been a part of the advising community at multiple institutions and am so excited to be at WOU, where I began my career. I earned an MA in Higher Education from Ball State University (CHIRP CHIRP), and I am passionate about assisting students before, during, and after college. Outside of work, you might find me running, being too emotionally invested in collegiate/professional sports, or trying to remember which one of my children has an activity that I forgot to put in my calendar.
Paige Jackson (she/her)
Director
jacksonpa@wou.edu | 503-838-9391
I’ve been working with advising and student success programs since 2011 at various institutions, including the University of Oregon, University of Michigan, and a small liberal arts college in Kuwait. In my role at WOU, I love collaborating with faculty and professional advisors to develop systems and processes that support student success. I was born and raised down the road in Salem and hold a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Michigan.
Jen koshnick (she/her)
Associate Director
koshnickj@wou.edu | 503-838-9304
I’ve been working with academic support programs in higher education since 2012, and before that I was a K-12 classroom teacher. I have a BS and an M.Ed. in Education from the University of Minnesota, and I am passionate about helping students develop study strategies to help them succeed in their classes. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my family and spending time exploring Oregon.
EN 
ES