By Kate Bernas, Advisor Training Academy

The ATA welcomes Yan Chen to the WSU College of Education. Read more about Yan's background and advising experience.

KB: Tell us a little bit about your educational background and how it relates to your current position.  

YC: Before I served as an Academic Advisor, I worked in K-12 school systems. Over the past ten years, I worked in different roles as a curriculum developer and a schoolteacher in Bilingual-Bicultural Education. The experience deepened my understanding of the teaching and learning process and fostered my interest in Teacher Education. My MEd degree in Educational Leadership prepared me with the knowledge and skills to aspire and foster positive changes in an educational community. My experience and educational background was the reason I was interested in serving as an academic advisor in the College of Education. My goal is to assist aspiring teachers to have a rich experience through our teacher preparation program here at Wayne State University and support them to achieve their personal, academic, and career goals.
 

KB: Can you please tell us a little bit about your student affairs background before joining WSU?  

YC: I have been serving as an academic advisor for over three years. Prior to joining WSU, I served in similar roles as an advisor in two urban community colleges with a caseload of 380 students. I think that my advising experience in working with a diverse student population prepared me to serve in my current role.      

KB: When you are not advising, what are some things you like to do for fun?  

YC: I'm a father with two young children, so I like to spend time with my kids and doing whatever they are interested in.  

KB: Any interesting or fun facts about yourself that you would like to share? 

YC: I was born and grew up in China. My hometown is located in the northern part of the country called Inner Mongolia, known for its beautiful prairie. However, I haven't visited any of the prairies in the region yet, so it is one of the top travel destinations on my bucket list.