Open to opportunities

LauRyn Whittaker

@laurynwhittaker

Message

Student Success and Counseling leader building student pathways through data-driven program design.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead student success and counseling-focused programs where I can drive student pathways, belonging, and retention through data-driven curriculum design, stakeholder collaboration, and professional development that builds sustainable outcomes.

I lead student success work that strengthens academic services and student pathways through curricula support, academic enrichment, and holistic experiences. As an Associate Director of Student Success, I coordinate programs and events that move students toward their education goals—especially first- and second-year support, summer bridge, and mentoring.

I’ve helped conceptualize and implement innovative academic and social programs that promote excellence, belonging, and meaningful campus/community engagement. I bring a data-driven approach, using feedback loops to measure stakeholder satisfaction, assess program performance, and refine initiatives that improve outcomes.

Across roles as Associate Director, Regional Director, and Retention Specialist, I’ve managed resources and budgets at scale (including approximately $4 million and $960,000 per year). I align teams and stakeholders around strategic initiatives, lead engaging professional development, and use program and project management practices to drive measurable impact.

My foundation includes direct advising and counseling work—supporting diverse learners with academic and personal guidance, social-emotional counseling, and retention-focused strategies. I’ve also built programming such as summer bridge curricula, trained peer mentors, and developed individualized learning supports using assessments and learning management practices.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Associate Director of Student Success

Current

Norfolk State University

Jan 2026 - Present (4 months)

Drives programmatic impact by leading an academic services unit supporting curricula pathways, academic enrichment, and holistic student success. Coordinates first- and second-year experiences, summer bridge, and mentoring while developing innovative academic and social programs that promote belonging.

Student Success Program Management Academic Advising Mentoring Summer Program Event Planning Student Support Services

Associate Director, GEAR UP

Winston-Salem State University

Nov 2024 - Sep 2025 (10 months)

Efficiently managed program resources and an annual budget of approximately $4 million, cultivating stakeholder relationships and delivering engaging learning experiences. Designed data-driven programming through feedback loops to measure stakeholder satisfaction, assess program performance, and support organizational impact.

GEAR UP Program Leadership Budget Management Stakeholder Management Professional Development Program Assessment Learning Experience Design Partnership Building

Regional Director, GEAR UP PD

Winston-Salem State University

Jul 2023 - Nov 2024 (1 year 4 months)

Provided leadership to a team of specialists and leaders serving tens of thousands of learners while supporting management of an annual budget of approximately $960,000. Designed and facilitated professional development curricula and partnered with local and national stakeholders to ensure effective project and program management.

Curriculum Design Team Leadership Program Management Budget Oversight Data Driven Decision Making Project Management

Professional School Counselor

Cumberland County Schools

Aug 2022 - Jul 2023 (11 months)

Provided social and emotional guidance through individual counseling, small group counseling, and social-emotional curriculum development. Collaborated with administrators and community stakeholders to develop inclusive professional and student-facing programming aligned with strategic priorities.

School Counseling Curriculum Development Student Support Services Inclusive Programming

Retention Specialist

Fayetteville State University

Feb 2021 - May 2022 (1 year 3 months)

Fostered an inclusive and collaborative learning environment for approximately 200 students by developing learning solutions to support diverse needs and interests. Designed success-focused professional development for stakeholders and facilitated leadership development workshops using technology and digital tools.

Stakeholder Management Leadership Development Educational Technology Digital Tools Risk Mitigation

Academic Advisor

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Jan 2018 - Jan 2021 (3 years)

Provided academic and personal support to over 200 first-year students each academic year using learning database management systems to monitor performance measures. Developed and managed impact-driven academic success programming, delivered an Advisor Development Series, and built summer bridge programming with 11 peer mentors.

Academic Advising Student Success Learning Management Systems Performance Monitoring Summer Program Mentoring Curriculum Development Stakeholder Management

Paraprofessional Educator

District of Columbia Public Schools

Aug 2014 - Jun 2017 (2 years 10 months)

Developed and facilitated lessons across literacy, mathematics, science, technology, and social studies. Administered academic assessments, analyzed data, created individualized education plans, and provided supplemental small-group and one-on-one academic support.

Instructional Support Lesson planning STEM Support Academic Assessment Data Analysis Small Group Instruction One On One Tutoring