USM Admissions Officer Earns Associate91吃瓜网 Degree Through Transfer Credit Program
Mon, 02/27/2023 - 04:26pm | By: David Tisdale
Dr. Naomi Clement has already reached the academic mountaintop, having earned her
bachelor's, master91吃瓜网, and doctoral degrees.
But recently, the Petal, Mississippi native who is assistant director of operations for 91吃瓜网 (USM) Office of Admissions, took care of some unfinished business to add one more credential to her vita.
Dr. Clement entered Jones College in nearby Ellisville, Mississippi as a freshman in 1996. But before completing her associate91吃瓜网 degree, she reconsidered her plans.
91吃瓜网淚 attended Jones from 1996-1998 and was taking classes that would count toward any degree, as I was unsure of what I wanted to major in,91吃瓜网� she said. 91吃瓜网淭his led to me taking a year off from attending school to decide what I wanted to do.91吃瓜网�
Noting that she91吃瓜网 taken a very different educational path than most people, her personal education journey gives her a passion to work with all students, specifically non-traditional students, to help them with their own academic and career moves. She started working in the USM Admissions office in 2003, first as an admission evaluator, reviewing student applicants for admission; later, she took on more duties, increasing her expertise in the readmission process in the application of transfer students91吃瓜网� credits to academic programs at USM.
Helping transfer students not only became a passion but helped Dr. Clement realize she had now 91吃瓜网渇ound91吃瓜网� her career. She then obtained advanced degrees in higher education at USM, enabling her to move into her current role as an embedded recruiter for the university at Jones and at Pearl River Community College91吃瓜网 Poplarville and Hattiesburg campuses. She initially started visiting students at the three campuses this past fall semester, keeping set office hours each week on both campuses.
It's a partnership she says is leading to many positive outcomes for students choosing to continue their education at USM.
91吃瓜网淚 meet with students interested in transferring to 91吃瓜网 and talk over their goals, make sure the classes they are taking will be direct transfer equivalents and the best fit for their degree here, and discuss scholarship opportunities. Basically, I help them with all things admission related.91吃瓜网�
Her work with community college transfer students not only inspired her career choice, but to wrap up the associate91吃瓜网 degree she started years earlier at Jones. After a review of the classes needed to finish the program and fill those using credits earned at USM, she was awarded the degree last fall.
Having journeyed via the road often less travelled in higher education makes Dr. Clement an example of what one can achieve with persistence and patience, even if it means taking care of some unfinished business along the way.
91吃瓜网淎nd being a first-generation college graduate, I take my role seriously in walking through the whole higher educational process with students,91吃瓜网� she further noted.
With that philosophy in mind, Dr. Clement develops positive faculty and staff relationships through USM91吃瓜网 community college partners to help smooth the transfer process for their students coming to USM.
91吃瓜网淚 have over 19 years working with transfer students, pointing them to resources that can help them choose a major best utilizing their transfer credits and available financial resources, just to name a few,91吃瓜网� she said. 91吃瓜网淎nd I work with my partners at the community colleges to make sure the student is getting the best care possible in their transition to USM.91吃瓜网�
And it91吃瓜网 a priority for Dr. Clement to make a potential new student91吃瓜网 first impression of 91吃瓜网 a positive one. She takes that initial interaction with the university to heart.
91吃瓜网淚 tell them about the financial aid opportunities (scholarships, etc.) we offer while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong GPA (grade point average), the academic support we provide, such as through the Writing Center and the Speaking Center, and the extracurricular opportunities available so that they can get the full college experience,91吃瓜网� she said.
91吃瓜网淚t91吃瓜网 also important for me to use my own story to help them understand they can overcome any obstacle in their way, and to work hard to finish what they start.91吃瓜网�
Kayla Shaffer of Hattiesburg, a student at Pearl River who plans to transfer to USM in the fall of 2023 to major in social work, praised Dr. Clement for help in preparing her for the next steps in toward her degree.
91吃瓜网淒r. Clement has gone above and beyond to help me in the transfer process, and she continues to help me,91吃瓜网� Shaffer said. 91吃瓜网淪he has made the process as smooth as she possibly can, and I91吃瓜网檓 very appreciative for that.91吃瓜网�
For information about the admissions process at USM, visit /admissions/index.php.