My Journey into Coaching

Welcome to my first blog post! I’m excited to be part of your journey.

I’d like to use this first blog post to share more about how I entered the world of academic coaching.

During my undergraduate degree at the University of East Anglia, I wanted to be a high school teacher. Many of my teachers inspired me in school, and I wanted to “give back.” However, as the years went on, I also fell in love with learning and, well - just being a student. I wrestled with the idea of teaching alongside my love for learning and self-improvement. Should I finish my undergraduate degree and teach or continue through grad school?

Well, I think you know the answer. After finishing my undergraduate degree in 2010, I started a Master’s and then a doctoral degree in Media and Mass Communications. My interest in teaching high school turned into an interest in being a professor at a university.

Not only was I a graduate student, but adjunct professor, researcher, conference presenter, and more. I enjoyed it, but something was missing. At this time, I discovered a job posting for a position at another University that involved working one-on-one with students to support their learning. This was new to me. I was so focused on my love of the subject that I didn’t consider the transferable skills I was developing along the way: critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, time management, and many more.

Two months later—and six months away from submitting my doctoral thesis—I was packing my bags in Norwich and heading to the University of Surrey to work as a full-time Learning Development Advisor. In this role, I supported undergraduate and graduate students with their writing and study skills. Six months into the position, I knew I had found my calling. I submitted my doctoral thesis in September 2015 and graduated in the summer of 2016.

I stayed in that position for 3 and a half years. I loved it. However, once again, I was packing my bags and, this time, heading across the pond to Arizona State University. In February 2019, I started my position as Lead Academic Coach and Adjunct Faculty at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU. During this role, I also completed a Master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education. Now, I really felt more assimilated into the American culture of higher education.  

I enjoyed working at ASU but wanted to try something different: working at a smaller liberal arts college—you know, those small elite colleges with quint buildings that you see in the movies. In 2021, slowly coming out of the pandemic, I secured my current position as Assistant Director of Academic Resources at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In this role, I manage the academic coaching, peer tutoring, and academic support programs for 1,800 undergraduate students.

Now, I face a new professional challenge: working with high-achieving students. Sure, I had done that in the past, but not on this level. Aware of the unique needs of high-achievers, I once again turned to education and enrolled in the UC Davis Coaching for Life and Work Professional Certificate Program in 2023. Upon completing the course, and with over 100 logged hours of coaching, mentoring hours, and a 3-hour exam, I was recognized as an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation.

Here I am in April of 2024, ready to use my knowledge and experience to help you on your journey. I love working with students to support their learning and growth, and I’m excited to learn more about your story.

Welcome to Dr Adam’s Academic Coaching.