Third Cohort of LevelUP Fellows Complete Fellowship
Posted on May 13, 2026 by Michelle Hale
Third Cohort of LevelUP Fellows Complete Fellowship
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness is proud to announce the successful completion
of the third cohort of LevelUP Faculty-Student Fellows for the 2025–2026 academic
year. This milestone marks continued progress in the implementation of the University’s
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), LevelUP: Uniquely Prepared for What Comes Next, a
campus-wide initiative that enhances student success through experiential learning
and career-readiness development.
Over the past year, LevelUP Fellows led innovative projects that integrated metacognitive
reflection and the NACE Career Readiness Competencies into academic programs and student
support services. These eff
orts are designed to equip students with essential transferable skills and prepare them for success in both their careers and continued education.
The LevelUP Fellows’ projects for 2025-2026 were:
- Heather Sprinkle: LevelUP with SGA: Empowering SGA Leaders to Articulate Career Readiness Competencies
- Caitlyn Hauff, Ph.D.: Pieces of Me: Exploring How Honors College Freshman Engage in Identity Development
- Molly Miller, Ph.D.: Career Readiness Self Assessment for Marine & Environmental Science Students
- Bailey Smith, M.A.: Guided by Purpose: Connecting Co-Curricular Leadership to Academic and Career Pathways for Inclusive Student Growth
- Jessica Owsley, Ph.D.: "You've Got a Friend in Me: Canvas Course Shell Initiatives for CompPAL Success"
- Gayan Abeynanda, Ph.D.: Leveling Up Math-Stat major advising
- Alani Rodgers, Ed.D.: Beyond the Bench: A Human-Centered Approach
to Career Readiness in Basic Medical Sciences PhD Education in the Age of AI - Donna Streeter DNP, RN: LevelUPing Careers: Implementing a Digital Portfolio Model for Graduate Nursing Students
- Sohee Kim, Ph.D.: Enhancing Graduate Student Readiness and Academic Program Assessment through e-Portfolio Integration
To honor the Fellows’ achievements and the impact of their work, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness hosted a Closing Celebration at the end of the spring semester. During the event, Fellows were formally recognized for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to student success. The celebration also provided an opportunity to share project highlights, reflect on outcomes, and build momentum for continued implementation of the LevelUP QEP.