Student Success and Academic Support, in support of the university’s mission, provides an inclusive environment and transformative educational experience, one that promotes engagement and academic and personal success. We believe in a student-centered culture and continuously strive to develop and deliver high-quality programs and resources that help students succeed.
As we collaborate across the university, we engage faculty, senior leadership and staff in the spirit of student success and development. By creating a student-focused culture, we help students identify their goals, stay on a path to success, graduate on time and prepare for life after UB.
Email Student Success and Academic Support at
studentsuccess@buffalo.edu.
Coordinator, Say Yes Buffalo program
Lauren Galgovich is the coordinator of the Say Yes Buffalo program and supports the operations of Tutoring & Academic Support Services overseeing academic coaching. Lauren joined the team in January 2018. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American Studies from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s degree in higher education administration from the SUNY Buffalo State College. Lauren coordinates and enjoys teaching the LAI203 Academic Success Strategies course, which focuses on strengthening learning tools and skills for students who are struggling academically. She is a senator on the Professional Staff Senate as well as a committee member for the PSS Inclusion and Diversity committee.
Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Academic Support
Jacqueline Hollins is the associate vice provost for Student Success and Academic Support, overseeing Student Success Planning, First Generation Initiative, Tutoring Services, the Center for Excellence in Writing, and the Cora P. Maloney Center (CPMC) and its associated offices. Jacqui came to the UB in 1998 as an academic advisor for underrepresented student populations. She served as the university’s pre-law advisor, overseeing the development of the Pre-Law Student Services Center and as the director of Student Advising Services (now Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center) before assuming her current role. She is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and is a recipient of the Friends of EOP award. She holds a PhD in higher education from UB, a master’s degree in education from Canisius College, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources from the UB.
Director of Tutoring and Academic Support Services
Vivian Jimenez joined Student Success and Academic Support in June 2017 from the University of North Texas, where she worked with the graduate student population. Prior to her time in Texas, Vivian was a senior academic advisor in UB’s College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the coordinator of language proficiency at UB. As assistant director for the Office of Student Success and Academic Support, she coordinated the success summer bridge program and helped to organize functions and events for Say Yes Buffalo incoming and current students. In her role as director of Tutoring and Academic Support Services, Vivian oversees UB’s centralized destination for tutoring at UB. As director she also teaches and oversees the LAI 203 (Academic Success Strategies) courses which are designed to help student who are struggling academically get back on track. Vivian also manages the first generation peer mentoring program, which has a summer bridge component. Through the program, eligible first generation incoming freshmen are paired with upperclassmen and these students forge a relationship that eases the transition for our first year students.
Director of Center for Excellence in Writing
Rhonda Reid holds a doctoral degree in Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning with an emphasis on writing instruction in higher education. Her dissertation, "Negotiating Unfamiliar Genres: A Writing Center Study," examines the writing center conference as a vantage point into student experience with writing curriculum, particularly the development of genre awareness. She provides strategic leadership for the Center for Excellence in Writing (CEW), teaches Writing Center Theory and Practice, and designs professional development workshops for writing consultants and faculty. Rhonda has been employed by the University at Buffalo since 2009 and has served as director of the CEW since its inception in 2013. Before directing CEW, Rhonda taught college writing and literature for over 25 years.