A commitment to helping all University of Washington Bothell students feel seen, heard and supported is shared by the recipients of the 2023-24 Academic Affairs staff awards.
Having been first-generation college students — like many of those they work with — awardees Kristen Labrecque and Nhi P. Tran can approach their work with that lens, understanding the challenges of being first-gen and remaining sensitive to the unique needs of these students.
For their exceptional performance, which has bolstered the Division of Academic Affairs and propelled the academic mission of UW Bothell, Labrecque and Tran have been recognized with the Distinguished Partner and Distinguished Accomplishments award, respectively.
Representation matters
“It’s lovely to receive recognition and awards,” said Labrecque, “but really my biggest motivator is to give so people can have what I didn’t.”
She knows full well as a first-generation college student the feeling of landing in an unfamiliar world and lacking guidance, mentorship or networks to smooth the path forward.
Now, in her role as adviser for Pre-Health Pathways, Labrecque provides students with those crucial resources, helping them navigate the complex requirements for a future in any health field. That goes for aspiring dentists, doctors, veterinarians, health care navigators, optometrists, social workers — you name it. “If it seems like health care,” said Labrecque, “I support those students.”
One of the first things she did when assuming her role in 2021 was to redesign content on the pre-health advising website. In addition to simplifying the intricacies that students confront, the site features a quarterly alumni story.
“Students can see alumni who look like them, who have had experiences like them, who have gone on to work in health care,” said Labrecque, “so that they can be inspired and see that someone else has blazed this trail.”
Labrecque also approaches her work with a larger purpose in mind. “I strongly believe that we can improve population health by diversifying our health workforce,” she said. “Our students at UW Bothell are rich in their diversity, so aiding their pursuits of careers in health is my way of contributing to those diversification efforts.”
Authentic connection
Praised by Emily Christian, dean for enrollment services, for her “expansive ideas and visionary approach,” Labrecque has actively enlarged advising resources to reach pre-health students and alumni where they are. One of her innovations is a LinkedIn group composed of current UW Bothell students, alumni and industry partners. One of its successes: A student recently landed a job posted in the group.
Labrecque also helms a dizzying array of services that span everything from resumé-writing workshops to mock interviews to information sessions with professional schools. She is also a sought-after campus partner, teaming up with faculty on several courses and leading her own class in which students explore a range of health professions.
Of all the demands her advisees face, she said, the one that causes the most consternation is the personal statement — a required element of every graduate school application. Students worry about how to stand out, how to be unique.
“It’s right in front of you,” Labrecque tells students. “Own your story, tell your story. If you’re authentic, then your application will stand out.”
She urges students to move out of the comparison mindset — stop reading other people’s essays — and get into the creation mindset. She will elaborate on this advice at an upcoming professional conference, where she’ll give a presentation titled “Open Your Heart and Connect.”
It’s an apt summary of Labrecque’s approach to academic advising at UW Bothell, where her day is often filled with 30-minute appointments. Those limited timeslots don’t leave a lot of room for posturing or pretending on either side. “Life is short,” she said. “There’s not enough time to be something you’re not. If you’re going to really connect with someone else, you have to be authentic. Being yourself is the best way to do that.”
Support in many forms
Nhi P. Tran, an academic adviser in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, considers Labrecque an important mentor. “She inspires a lot of my work,” she said.
As a first-generation college student, Tran said her immigrant parents placed a high value on education; her job was to do well in school. Now the assistant director for student success, she still identifies with the pressure her advisees face: “Many of the students are not going to school just for themselves but also for their families.”
As a first-year student, Tran found herself unprepared for the complexities of life on a campus far from her hometown. “I was hoping for someone to help guide me,” she recalls of her first semester at the University of Texas, “but didn’t know how to ask for help.”
She came close to dropping out until a heart-to-heart with her mom changed her trajectory. “You know what?” her mother said. “Do your best.”
Tran took that encouragement (and the extra hug that came with it) and never looked back. She essentially became her own adviser, asking herself what she could do and what she controlled. And that experience still informs her advising approach at UW Bothell, where she’s known for her positivity and skill in helping students chart their paths.
“My students know they are going to get my help whether they want it or not,” said Tran. “I am here to support them in the ways they need to be supported.”
Her methods take many forms, from crafting academic plans to locating scholarships to providing a shoulder to cry on when needed. “I want my students to know they are valued and cared for and that they can come to me with any concerns. And we will figure it out together,” she said. “I will be their biggest cheerleader until they can be for themselves.”
Building bridges on campus and beyond
In her six years at UW Bothell, Tran has ventured well beyond formal advising. Eva Navarijo, director of academic services in the School of IAS, lauds her “exceptional ability to build bridges between faculty and staff.” Tran is a familiar presence in IAS classrooms and has helped the school to revamp its curriculum, sharing her insights with an eye to lowering barriers to admission and completion.
Tran has led her own class and co-directs Southeast Asian Pasts and Futures, a cohort-based learning community of Southeast Asian, Southeast Asian American and other BIPOC students who engage with local museums and organizations in support of student belonging and community well-being.
She will also be co-leading a study abroad program to Cambodia and Thailand with the School of Business in summer 2024. Her involvement — this will be her third trip with the school — has contributed to making the program more interdisciplinary and more supportive of diverse student needs.
Upon her return, Tran will continue in her new role as assistant director of Advising, First-Year Programs. She plans to help guide the advising team into a new, centralized model, in which all students work with the same group of advisers throughout their academic journey. She was instrumental in helping to design the transition to this student-centered approach, leading a working subgroup called “School Connections and Engagement.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, a raft of thank-you notes and letters showcases how both Tran and Labrecque embody the values of UW Bothell. Their awards, in turn, salute an unwavering commitment to students.
As Labrecque put it, “If I can help someone find success, then I’ve had a good day.”
