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K. Leigh Hamm Forell Joins College as Undergraduate Academic Advisor

Although her primary role is to advise students in the selection of coursework, she said she hopes to also serve as a reference for her advisees regarding organizations and activities on NC State’s campus and in the community. “For example, I will be encouraging students to explore international study experiences and working to help them prepare for and match their career interests to internship opportunities – both of which are invaluable in an increasingly global job market,” Forell said.

Forell has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s from Duke University, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas. She concentrated on higher education policy analysis and developmental education in her graduate studies. While at the University of Texas, she served as managing editor of the university’s Women and Gender Studies journal and designed and implemented an innovative bridge program for students with disabilities. Her research has been published in higher education journals and she has presented at academic conferences.

In previous academic positions, Forell served as professor of record for Socio-cultural Influences on Learning – a class designed to educate teachers on how to best serve diverse student populations – and held leadership roles in academic advising, including coordinator of advising, manager of student recruitment and advising, and consultant for student success and retention. She has also served as a committee member and faculty advisor to numerous student organizations.

Forell said she plans to join efforts to foster greater diversity across the NC State campus. She believes that efforts at NC State should be an “organic” process, and will focus on supporting issues that students have an interest in pursuing. She also has begun the process of becoming a certified facilitator for the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), an organization dedicated to the elimination of racism and other forms of oppression.

Forell joins the NC State College of Management’s team of professional academic advisors who each serve up to 500 undergraduate students throughout their time in the college. The academic advisors also serve as faculty advisors for the college’s Undergraduate Peer Leaders, Student Ambassadors, and Student Network Groups, and teach the college’s Professionalism, Diversity & Academic Success in Management class for incoming students.