University of Illinois at Chicago, M.Ed., Urban Higher Education

University of Illinois at Chicago, B.A., Sociology

Drawing from personal experience as a first-generation college student from a PELL-eligible background, Adriana brings a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by students navigating higher education. As a former financial aid counselor and student high-impact practice coordinator, she aims to foster opportunities that enrich students' academic and professional journeys.

Adriana recently earned her Master's in Urban Higher Education at University of Illinois at Chicago and is eager to continue making a positive impact in the field of education.

Top five strengths: Positivity, Developer, Empathy, Connectedness, Belief

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a-castillo21@neiu.edu

Room LIB 411
91Porn
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
United States

Please Help Our Students Reach Their Goal of Graduation

Students who participate in TRIO SSS improve academically and greatly increase their chances of graduating. The concentrated advising, tutoring, financial aid and career planning support we provide makes it possible for us to help our students reach their full potential. 

TRIO Student Support Services would benefit tremendously from your generosity. If your goal is to support first-generation or income-eligible college students and students with disabilities with emergency needs, please donate to TRIO SSS and include us in your estate plans. NEIU Foundation staff can discuss options to help you realize your goals.

Donations help us address individualized needs and improve the campus climate for our students. To support TRIO SSS, make a tax-deductible gift to the NEIU Foundation as follows:

• Online at www.neiu.edu/giving. Under Designation, select “TRIO Student Support Services,” then complete the rest of the form as prompted. 
• Via Check made payable to the NEIU Foundation, and please write “TRIO Student Support Services” in the check’s memo field. Mail to: NEIU Foundation, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60625.

We greatly appreciate your support!

Donate Now

Every fall and spring semester, TRIO SSS scholarships are awarded to students. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and level of program participation. to learn more.

These scholarships are only available to TRIO SSS students. !

SSS Teacher Preparation is a free, federally funded program designed to promote learning, personal development, and retention. It provides support to undergraduate students at NEIU who are first generation or income eligible and are pursuing a teaching degree.

SSS Teacher Prep provides students with enhanced academic and personal support which includes:

• Test preparation to obtain teaching credentials for certification
• One-to-one academic tutoring and workshops for the ACT and TAP exams
• Career planning assistance designed to prepare students for a wide range of job options
•  Advising and assistance in postsecondary course selection.
• Mentoring programs involving faculty or graduate students
• Counseling services including individualized counseling for personal, career, and academic matters
• Activities designed to help students obtain financial assistance and enroll in graduate and professional programs
•  Exposure to cultural events and academic programs

Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident 
• Have an interest in becoming a teacher

Be a first-generation college student (neither parents have completed a bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution), or meet income eligibility guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Education.

SSS Access (Disability) is a free, federally funded program whose mission is to encourage students to pursue academic excellence and earn their undergraduate degree. SSS is designed to help first-generation and income-eligible students navigate college successfully.

Services offered through SSS Access include: 

• Individualized advising
• Academic tutoring and mentoring
• Assistance with career development
• Financial literacy programs
• Assistance with course selection
• Priority registration
• Help finding scholarships
• Exposure to academic and cultural events

SSS advisors work with students to develop a solid plan for academic success that, if they work hard and stay on track, will lead to graduation and increase their chances of success in their chosen career. 

Applicants must:

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and 
• have a documented disability.

SSS Achieve is a free, federally funded program whose mission is to encourage students to pursue academic excellence and earn their undergraduate degree. SSS Achieve is designed to help first-generation and income-eligible students navigate college successfully.

Services offered through SSS Achieve include: 

• Individualized advising and peer coaching
• Academic tutoring and mentoring
• Assistance with career development
• Financial literacy programs and support navigating financial aid
• Help finding scholarships
• Assistance with course and major selection
• Priority registration
• Exposure to a variety of workshops, cultural events, and other opportunities

SSS Achieve advisors support students holistically to plan for academic success, stay on track to graduation, and pursue opportunities in their ideal career paths.

Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident 
• Be a first-generation college student (neither parents have completed a bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution) or meet income eligibility guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Education.

Columbia College Chicago, B.A., Journalism

Lewis University, M.A., Organizational Leadership

Paris has four years of experience in higher education as a financial aid and academic advisor, and three years experience working in an elementary education school district in the area of student and administrative services, and as a classroom teacher assistant for special education.

She completed her bachelor's degree in Journalism at Columbia College Chicago and her master's degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education at Lewis University. She is excited to share her passion for student services to assist TRIO SSS Teacher Preparation students overcome cultural barriers while reaching their educational goals.

Top five strengths: Connectedness, Individualization, Strategic, Belief, Developer 

with Paris.
 

Room LIB 406
91Porn
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S., Integrative Biology

Stacy is determined to see NEIU undergraduates thrive by providing them guidance and meaningful support on their journey. Her drive to help students is cardinally motivated by her own undergraduate experience. She navigated her degree alone with a lot of needless difficulty but now heartily applies the lessons she learned to benefit the next wave of students. Prior to advising in TRIO Stacy has worked at NEIU as an admissions representative in Enrollment Services, a program advisor in the College of Business and Management, and a coach for science, math and psychology students. She is also a current graduate student at NEIU in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies. She treasures studying and working with NEIU students because they are dynamic, inspiring and at the vanguard of excellence.

Top five strengths: Learner, Harmony, Input, Intellection, Individualization

 with Stacy.

iaalikak@neiu.edu

Room LIB 410
91Porn
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

DePaul University, Master of Social Work

Lamar University, Master of Educational Administration

Ohio University, B.S., Interpersonal Communication

Erin has always loved working with students and her 10-year teaching career took her across the U.S. -- from Western Colorado to San Antonio, Texas, to Kansas City! She relocated to Chicago to be closer to her adorably goofy nephews and graduated in June with her Master of Social Work from DePaul University. She earned her LSW in November 2018. Erin is excited to connect with NEIU students on their educational journeys. As coordinator of the TRIO SSS Access program, Erin hopes her office will be a place everyone feels comfortable stopping by. She’d love to chat with you about your interests … feel free to ask about her time as a National Parks ranger or what podcast she’s listening to lately.

Top five strengths: Empathy, Positivity, Responsibility, Achiever, Learner

Room LIB 404
91Porn
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

91Porn, B.A., Communication

91Porn, M.A., Higher Education Leadership

DePaul University, Ph.D., Curriculum Studies

Dr. Matuschka was born and raised in Chicago where she attended Chicago Public Schools. She was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. NEIU is like her second home because she completed an undergraduate degree in Communication (2004), a graduate degree in Higher Education Leadership (2007), and has worked here in numerous roles. Her career in higher education started as a Graduate Assistant in Academic Advising in 2005, she went on to establish an Off Campus Program for SIUC, and then began a position in Teacher Preparation in 2011. Since then, she has taught in the First-Year Experience program, completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Curriculum Studies at DePaul University, conducted research studies, and completed projects for the Goodwin Dean of Education. She’s happy to be working with future educators as the new TRIO Assistant Director of Teacher Preparation. 

Top strengths: Input, Achiever, Learner, Connectedness, Relator

Room LIB 409
91Porn
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States