Advising Model
The Advising Model Working Group is leading efforts to create a consistent advising philosophy across Student Affairs, in addition to establishing congruent student organization practices and procedures
(e.g., funding/allocations, reservations, contracts, event planning, risk management)
COLLABORATIVE TEAMS: ADVISING MODELS
Updates and Next Steps
Current update: The working group is currently reviewing questionnaire responses from Student Affairs student organization advisors and meeting to discuss findings and themes. Next steps will include creating a draft of recommendations for both the training and on-boarding experience for advisors, as well as the creation of consistencies for student organization operations within the Division.
COLLABORATIVE TEAMS: ADVISING MODELS
Members
Biographical Info
Taylor Cain is the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Engagement, Leadership, and Service (ELS) where she leads a team of over 20 staff in the coordination and direction of student activities, involvement, service, and leadership initiatives in the mission of amplifying the collegiate experience at the University of Georgia. She also serves as one of the direct advisors for the Student Government Association (SGA).
Joining the University of Georgia in 2013, Taylor first worked directly with student organizations and has since served in several roles to include overseeing student activities and the programming board, student governance organizations, and first-year and transfer student experience initiatives. Over the course of her career, she has planned, executed, or consulted on hundreds of events to include those with attendance of nearly 9,000. In 2016, Taylor spearheaded the creation of a welcome experience later named Welcome UGA encompassing hundreds of events in the first six weeks of the fall and spring semesters.
Taylor also currently serves as the Foundation Ambassador for NASPA (Student Affairs Professional in Higher Education) Region III and as a National At-Large Governor on the University of South Carolina Alumni Association Board of Governors. She has previously served as the Georgia State Co-Director for NASPA Region III. Her research and professional interest areas include supervision and organizational management, college student voter and civic engagement, and student involvement.
Taylor holds a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of South Carolina. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. from UGA’s College Student Affairs Administration program.
Biographical Info
Chad R. Mandala (he/him) serves as the Director for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Georgia. He firmly believes education serves as the surest path toward liberation and self-actualization. He can often be found with a cup of coffee, a book, or trying to convince himself that carrot cake is, indeed, a vegetable. Prior to becoming a Dawg, Chad received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Dramatic Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master of Science in Higher Education from Florida State University, and is currently pursuing his doctorate through the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. He also spent time supporting the fraternity and sorority community as well as the on campus residential population at Virginia Tech and the GLBT Resource Center at Texas A&M University before transitioning into his current role at UGA. Chad maintains an active membership in the Consortium of LGBT Higher Education Professionals and in ACPA – College Student Educators International.
Biographical Info
As the Associate Vice President for Finance and Risk Management, I work closely with the Vice President and serve as a member of the leadership team for the Division. I am the chief fiscal officer and risk advisor for the Division of Student Affairs. My stewardship responsibilities include fiscal and compliance matters, including financial accounting and reporting; HR/personnel actions; EO compliance; payroll; financial management systems; and fund management (state appropriated, auxiliary operations, student activity fee accounts and UGA Foundation funds). Additionally, I serve on several campus-wide committees: Student Technology Fee Committee, All- Campus Student Fee Allocations, and Major Repair and Rehabilitation (MRR). I also serve as the Division’s Return to Work Coordinator.
I received a B.S. and a M.S. in Accounting from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After working as a C.P.A. in Atlanta for two years, I attended The University of Georgia School of Law, where I received my Juris Doctor. Prior to working in the OVPSA, I worked as a law clerk for a federal district judge in Chattanooga, Tennessee and as an Assistant Director for Legal Affairs in the UGA Office of Legal Affairs.
Biographical Info
As the director of Greek Life, Joshua is responsible for strategic oversight of Greek Life Office operations and leads a team of talented professionals who work to create meaningful fraternity and sorority experiences for the 7500+ students involved in the Greek community. Through his personal and professional experiences, Joshua has come to believe that the fraternity and sorority experience, rooted in values, uniquely equips students to become impactful and multifaceted leaders.
Prior to arriving at UGA in spring 2020, Joshua served as the associate director of fraternity and sorority life at North Carolina State University where he oversaw fraternity and sorority housing initiatives, alcohol and other drug prevention education for the department, and as a liaison to alumni advisors and house corporations and the department. Over the past 12 years of his career in higher education, Joshua has worked at a variety of institutional types, including campus and headquarters-based positions.
Joshua’s professional involvement includes volunteer roles in the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors where he has served as a representative to the Nominating & Election Committee and the Professional Development Committee exploring core competencies of the profession for fraternity and sorority advisors. He is a 2020 Recipient of the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors.
Joshua received his bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master of Education with a specialization in College Student Personnel from Western Carolina University.