The Student Success Leadership Board (SSLB) is a team of 6 student representatives who work in the Student Success Center (SSC). Each student represents one or more of the student-led programs and services in the SSC.
The following student-staff positions are represented on SSLB:
- Student Success Assistants
- Tutors
- Writing Center Consultants
- Pioneer Scholars Peer Mentors
- Learning Community Chairs/Peer Mentors
Mission Statement
The Student Success Leadership Board is committed to providing student-staff development opportunities to enhance their programs and services in the Student Success Center, connect students to campus resources, create a supportive learning environment, and advocate for their peers to university leadership.
Vision Statement
The Student Success Leadership Board provides opportunities for academic, professional, and social growth for Student Success Center student-staff to value interpersonal networks for their ability to support student success, demonstrate inclusive leadership, and implement effective pedagogical practices.
Jacoby Botts
Year: Senior
Major: Criminal Justice and Psychology
Student Staff Position: Student Success Assistant (SSA)
Hometown: Glasgow, KY
Campus Involvement: Black Student Union, Pre-Law Society, College Democrats
What are you looking forward to the most about working in the Student Success Center?
I really enjoy interacting with fellow students and learning how the college experience can be different for each and every student. I like talking with students to help them feel more comfortable about their academic endeavors and give them the tools and resources they need to help them succeed as much as I can.
What do you look forward to doing while on the Student Success Leadership Board?
I look forward to helping students realize their full potential and helping make the SSC work as a strong and cohesive unit. Through determination and teamwork I believe the SSLB will bring a new and improved system of students helping each other academically that will bring a positive impact on the Bellarmine community.
Future Goals/Aspirations: I hope to attend law school after graduating in May of 2019.
Fun Fact/Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my close friends, traveling, reading, and occasionally going to the gym.
Emmanuel Fasipe
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minors(s): English, Communication
Student Staff Position: Writing Coach
Hometown: Oyo State, Nigeria
Campus Involvement: BU Radio, Writing Center, Brown Learning Community
What do you like most about working in the Student Success Center?
I enjoy the creativity and enthusiasm of writers and how self-expression is revealed in their writing. I like how the technicalities of writing and the skills learned in the classroom come to life and become practical as writers explore their works and approaches to embellishing their art and skills.
What do you like most about being on the Student Success Leadership Board?
I like brainstorming new and creative ideas on how to make educational communities vibrant and inspiring.
Future Goals/Aspirations: Published author, poet, professor
Fun Fact/ Hobbies: Writer/poet/jazz enthusiast
Ken Gumira
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minors(s): Health Services
Student Staff Position: Pioneer Mentor, Academic Affairs Aid
Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda
Campus Involvement: MAPS, SGA, Men’s Volleyball, and Alpha Phi Omega
What are you looking forward to the most about working in the Student Success Center?
I look forward to changing the minds and perceptions of the students in our reach. I look forward to seeing how far we can go in supporting the people at Bellarmine. I’m also interested in how we will enhance student success this semester, compared to the previous Leadership Boards.
What do you look forward to doing while on the Student Success Leadership Board?
The research and ideas. I wanna make sure that this year is more memorable than the last for the class of students we have. I want each student that steps on our campus to feel satisfied, therefore, I’m most excited for the plans we’ll cook up to get us there.
Future Goals/Aspirations: Healthcare administrator
Fun Fact/ Hobbies: I’m a cellist when I have time and I’m into art.
Zoe Laughlin
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minors(s): Environmental Science/ Biology
Student Staff Position: Terra Learning Community Chair
Hometown: Vail, CO
Campus Involvement: Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Chair of SGA Environmental Committee, Terra Learning Community
What do you like most about working in the Student Success Center?
I like being able to make a difference in the incoming classes transition to Bellarmine University and closely work with them so that they will be successful at our institution.
What do you look forward to doing while on the Student Success Leadership Board?
I am looking forward to continuing the work of the previous Leadership Board to better build connections between each of the different areas within the SSC.
Future Goals/Aspirations: Paleontology? Geology? Environmental education? Graduate school? Peace Corp? Still trying to figure it out.
Fun Fact/ Hobbies: I grew up with Olympic skiers and trained to qualify for the Olympics.
Emily Porta
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minors(s): Biology
Student Staff Position: Peer Tutor
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Campus Involvement: BU Ambassador, VP/Treasurer of Women’s Club Volleyball team, Tutoring Center, Biology Club
What do you like most about working in the Student Success Center?
I love trying to make the Tutoring Center a welcoming place for students to feel comfortable with expressing their concerns and getting help when they need it.
What do you look forward to doing while on the Student Success Leadership Board?
Working to bring cohesiveness to all aspects of the SSC and gaining a better understanding of the programs that I’m not a part of so I can help figure out ways to better each program. I really want to make the SSC one big happy family!
Future Goals/Aspirations: Graduate school, professor
Fun Fact/ Hobbies: I’ve competed in two club volleyball national championships in my life, and I can memorize all the lyrics to a song if you play it three times in a row for me!
Gus Young
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minors(s): Biology (major) / Biochemistry (minor)
Student Staff Position: Learning Community Chair, Peer Tutor
Hometown: Louisville, Ky
Campus Involvement: Galileo Learning Community, Tutoring Center, First-Year Focus Student Advisor
What are you looking forward to the most about working in the Student Success Center?
I love helping other students grow academically. In my roles as Galileo Learning Community Chair and Peer Tutor, I am able to help fellow students better understand material and grow academically.
What do you look forward to doing while on the Student Success Leadership Board?
I look forward to helping the different areas of the SSC work together for the better of the Bellarmine Community and my fellow students.
Future Goals/Aspirations: I hope to attend medical school after graduating in May 2019.
Fun Fact/ Hobbies: I really enjoy cooking and woodworking. I also have my pilot’s license.