About Us

Our Mission

The primary mission of the Academic Coaching & Educational Standards department is to promote students’ academic success and assist those experiencing academic difficulty. When students fall below the 2.0 GPA standard as outlined in UVU policy, we help them become active and independent learners through increasing self-awareness, developing skills, and accessing resources.

About the Department

Our department oversees UVU Policy 521: Undergraduate Academic Standards, which includes the requirement to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to remain in Good Standing.

When students fall below the cumulative GPA of 2.0 for the second consecutive semester, our programs and services aim to bring them back on course toward academic success and graduation. Therefore, we primarily work with students on Continued Notice and varying levels of Suspension or Dismissal. Our goal is to understand students' challenges so we can help them succeed.

Though Financial Aid is also affected by Academic Standing, our office does not handle those issues. You can learn more about Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) by following this link.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Our Team

Austin Gordon

Austin Gordon, Administrative Assistant

Interests and Hobbies

  • Friday night movie nights! (I often buy popcorn at the theater just to bring it home for movie nights!)
  • Watching sunsets
  • Spending time with family and friends
  • Going for walks
  • Going on bike rides

Life-Defining Moments in Higher Education

  • Being given a student planner and learning how to manage my time
  • Learning my personal limits vs comparing my schooling to others
  • An internship that changed my career path
  • Learning that I am “smart enough” to attend a Masters Program
  • Needing to figure out what to do next as my plan “Came to an end”

While in College, I Experienced...

  • Navigating Loneliness
  • Faith Transition (Exploring and questioning religion)
  • Learning how to live with difficult roommates
  • Learning to balance work, school and social life
  • Learning how to live on my own

Bethany Cole

Bethany Cole, Counselor & Coach

Schedule an appointment with Bethany

Coaching Mindset: I believe that coaching is a creative process, and I use skills such as active listening, empathy, intuition, and curiosity to deepen our connection and guide you along the path to your untapped potential while simultaneously navigating your challenges.

Higher Education Background

  • Master's - Organizational Development and Knowledge Management, George Mason University
  • Bachelor's - Marriage, Family, and Human Development, Brigham Young University

Interests and Hobbies

  • Singing and performing
  • Traveling and exploring cultures other than my own
  • Finding out interesting things about people
  • Anything that involves the ocean and the beach
  • Watching my sons breakdance
  • Eating international cuisines: Thai, Peruvian, Indian, Mexican

Life-Defining Moments in Higher Education

  • Realizing that being an undergrad is a cherished time in my life and to make the most of it I attended 5 universities.
  • Breaking free from my dad’s mentality that I had to graduate with my Bachelor’s in 3 years and graduating on my terms, which took me 5 years.
  • Gaining enough confidence to apply to grad school and enjoying it enough to want to continue and graduate with a Master’s.

While in College, I Experienced...

  • Test anxiety and learned how to manage it through changing the narrative in my head, preparing ahead of time, and giving myself more time than I thought I would need for the test.
  • Not having the confidence to choose the major I really wanted because I felt intimidated by the others in that major.
  • Paralyzed by overwhelming fear of failure.
  • Poor time management and decision-making--often decided to spend time with friends rather than do homework, resulting in more anxiety and overwhelm about my classwork.
  • Struggled with imposter syndrome.
  • Left my home over 2,000 miles away to go to school and didn’t know a single soul. I missed having my friends and family around.

Gioey Alisa

Gioey Alisa, Counselor & Coach

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Coaching Mindset: Everyone is "naturally creative, resourceful, and whole." I'm here to ask you questions that help you tap into your strengths to create plans for academic success. I'll listen to you, help you figure out solutions to problems you face in college, give you helpful guidance and referral to resources you might need, encourage you, and celebrate your successes.

Higher Education Background

  • Master's - Public Administration
  • Bachelor's - International Cultural Studies/Humanities

Interests and Hobbies

  • Baking and eating brownies
  • Growing a plum tree
  • Backyard chickens
  • Reading- especially fan fiction
  • Going on walks (may be related to brownie habit listed above)

Life-Defining Moments in Higher Education

  • Finding myself on academic probation after my first semester in college.
  • Transferring to a college that required I meet with my academic advisor to talk about classes and degree requirements.
  • Realizing I wasn't going to pass classes unless I read the material, attended class, completed assignments, and studied for tests.
  • Moving to Hawaii to go to college in the 1990s (no cell phones, computers were relatively new) and forcing myself into a really isolated situation that necessitated self-reliance and growth.
  • Getting a grant from my university that allowed me to attend a worldwide education conference.
  • Making lifelong friends and having the best time with them while also working on degrees.
  • Taking on leadership positions.

While in College, I Experienced...

  • Having to work while attending school.
  • Financial stress.
  • Not having any friends and being incredibly lonely at my first college.
  • Being a first-generation college student.
  • Struggling to motivate myself to go to my general education classes.
  • Not quitting after my first semester, when I thought I might not be smart enough for college.
  • Walking/catching rides everywhere because I didn't have a car.

Gian Pierotti

Gian Pierotti, Counselor & Coach

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Coaching Mindset: I clear the way for rich, magical experiences that foster connection, confidence, and wellbeing between people. I aim to practice and encourage compassion as well as bravery. Lately, the Joseph Campbell quote runs through my mind. “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” This motivates me to put in work and show up for the people in my sphere of influence.

Higher Education Background

  • Master's - Master of Fine Art (Craft) Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Bachelor's - Bachelor of Fine Art (Ceramics) Brigham Young University

Interests and Hobbies

  • Making/Restoring objects
  • Experiencing cultures through food and travel 
  • Yoga/Sports/Mindfulness/Cold Therapy
  • Observing nature with awe

Life-Defining Moments in Higher Education

  • Talking back to the thoughts that say I am not smart.
  • Finding a place for me in the arts where I thrived. 
  • Getting accepted into a top 5 art school. (VCU arts)
  • Discovering purpose development for myself and others.
  • Graduating!

While in College, I Experienced...

  • I was a major avoider/procrastinator in college.
  • I never had a clear way forward for myself. I had a lot of self-doubt.
  • I attended part time school for years while working.
  • Discovered how I learn and what my strengths are.
  • I was in rock bands and part of the creative community outside of school.
  • A community with a strong DIY ethic

Kristen Nuesmeyer

Kristen Nuesmeyer, ACC, Director & Coach

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Coaching Mindset: I genuinely believe my students have within themselves the knowledge, resources, and power to meet their potential. I meet students wherever they are in their journey, to help them identify their value, purpose and contributions as human beings, and identify the ways in which they can best find their own success.

Higher Education Background

  • Master's - Education - Student Development Administration
  • Bachelor's - English Literature, University of Puget Sound

Interests and Hobbies

  • Reading
  • Seattle Sports (Mariners, Kracken)
  • Marvel Cinematic Universe

Life-Defining Moments in Higher Education

  • Going out of state to college and being incredibly homesick.
  • Last minute change of career my senior year of Bachelor Degree.
  • Participating in college music ensembles.
  • Taking an unexpected internship and found something I loved.

While in College, I Experienced...

  • Independence.
  • Strained relationships with my parents.
  • Religious exploration and questioning.
  • First-generation understanding of meaning of college degree.
  • Juggling work and school.
  • Depression and Anxiety.

Lisa Williamson

Lisa Williamson, Counselor & Coach

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Coaching Mindset: Coaching is all about relationships. As co-collaborators, I work with students to create a space for discovery, awareness, choice, clarity, action, and transformation. Watching students recover academically and reach their goals is the best part of my job!

Higher Education Background

  • Master's - Education; Adult Learning, Westminster College
  • Bachelor's - English Literature, Utah Valley University

Interests and Hobbies

  • Thrifting & re-selling
  • Documentaries
  • Yoga
  • Wilderness wandering

Life-Defining Moments in Higher Education

  • Rewriting my “I’m not smart enough for college” internal script.
  • Finding faculty mentors.
  • Presenting a research paper at a national undergraduate literature conference.
  • Being hired by my grad school professor to do research.

While in College, I Experienced...

  • Balancing school and athletics.
  • Being a first-generation college student.
  • Changing my major 6 times.
  • Not having the confidence to choose the major I really wanted.
  • Leaving school at 21 to get married.
  • Completed my Associate’s at 28, my Bachelor’s at 43, and my Master’s at 48.