Sometimes, students need a little extra help to achieve success in college. That’s where our Academic Success Coaches offer support and educational opportunities designed to increase the academic success, retention, graduation and transfer of students who may have barriers and challenges to overcome in order to realize their goals.

You are not alone. Our academic success coaches can help you:

  • Get and stay organized.
  • Balance your commitments.
  • Create successful study habits.
  • Identify and use your strengths.
  • Understand your learning style.
  • Know what campus services are available.
  • Know where to go for assistance with family and life events.

Why You Should Meet with an Academic Success Coach

Academic success coaches focus on helping students manage three major areas: academic success, life balance, and transformational leadership.

Meeting with a coach might be right for you if you want to:

Improve Your Academic Success

  • Studying smarter, not harder, and improving your note-taking, reading, and review strategies
  • Improving your performance on exams, including better managing test-induced anxiety

Balance Your Life

  • Setting a goal, designing an action plan, and measuring progress with support
  • Working through procrastination and harnessing your motivators
  • Setting priorities, establishing and maintaining new habits, and balancing commitments
  • Better following your weekly schedule and/or daily to-do list
  • Sharpening your focus and concentration and increasing your productivity

Develop Transformational Leadership Skills

  • Identifying ways of self-management of using school and community resources to address life issues such as help with rent, food, childcare, medical, or other issues
  • Collaborating with other students, faculty, staff, and other community members for course study, along with changing what serves as a barrier in your life within the institution and the local community
  • Enhancing your experiences with student organization leadership and involvement with both TCC and community networking and skill building

Benefits for Academic Success Coaching

Students are acclimated into the college environment so they may successfully navigate through their academic career. Specifics benefits include student empowerment, independence, self-accountability, networking, and a strong sense of confidence.

Watch: What to Expect During Your First Coaching Session

Contact Academic Success Coaches by emailing tccsuccesscoaching@tulsacc.edu.


Programs and Services

Programs and services offered are accessible to all TCC students and aimed at providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations to meet all their learning and evaluation needs.

Programming Coaching

Work with an Academic Success Coach for research-based approaches to balancing school, work, and life. Academic Success Coaches will help you take assessment surveys to measure your strengths and challenges, focusing on how your strengths can be leveraged to help you deal with life encounters. Coaches will also help you set up SMART Goals, manage your time, and create a success plan.

Workshops

Tips and tools for student success are brought to classrooms, student organizations, and other arranged forums.

Study Groups

Student peers provide the best student-to-student support, and the research supports that having peers as mentors creates stronger support for success in college. Join a study group session.

Common Services

  • Student Advocacy
  • Communicating with Faculty
  • Diversity Conversations
  • Cultural Enrichment Activities
  • Individual Coaching
  • SMART Goal Setting (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely goals)
  • Holistic Resource Referrals
  • Academic Skills Assessment
  • Forums and Workshops
  • Leadership Training
  • Mentorship Opportunities
  • College Transfer Networking

Resources

For resources, visit our Blackboard Academic Success Coaching Resources course.


Academic Success Coaches

Joy Betz, M.Ed.

Schedule with Joy

If you are in the following programs, Joy Betz is your Academic Success Coach:

  • Accounting & Economics
  • Business Administration
  • Information Technology
  • Chemistry
  • Life Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Art
  • Digital Media
  • Interior Design
  • Journalism
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Community Programs
  • Intensive English Program
  • English as a Second Language
Joy Betz, M.Ed., TCC Academic Success Coach

Prior to my role as the Academic Success Coach, I have over 30 years of combined higher education teaching experiences both in the U.S. and overseas. I served as the president of the Oklahoma Chinese Teachers’ Association and was on the Board of Directors for Tulsa Global Alliance. I have been employed at Tulsa Community College for over 20 years. I know students sometimes need extra help outside the classroom. In my role as an Academic Success Coach, I guide students through goal setting, student involvement, and academic engagement while fostering student development through clarification of academic, professional, and personal goals using strategies that contribute to successful degree completion and to building students' leadership skills. It is very fulfilling for me to help these students transition to personally responsible adults who are empowered to pursue motivation and accountability for their own academic and personal success.

Due to my personal and professional background, I’m committed to serve the underrepresented diverse students. The Academic Success Coach role fits it all. It gives me the opportunity to advocate and help position diverse and underrepresented students on a path to lifelong learning and success through equity and inclusive practices.

What was the best piece of advice you were given as a college student? When I was studying for my undergraduate degree, my advisor asked me to join a student organization on campus to gain leadership skills. I served as a student officer during my undergraduate years which proves to be the most valuable learning experience in my life.

Michael Singleton, M.Th.

Schedule with Michael

If you are in the following programs, Michael Singleton is your Academic Success Coach:

  • Aviation
  • Child Development
  • Criminal Justice
  • Electronics
  • Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
  • Fire and Emergency Medical Services
  • Human Services
  • First Year Experience (or Academic Success)
  • Honors designated
  • Liberal Arts
  • Humanities
  • History & Political Science
  • Social Science
  • ASLE & World Languages (like Spanish, French, and Mandarin)
Michael Singleton, M.Th., TCC Academic Success Coach

Born and raised in Tulsa, a graduate of Central High School, I started my college studies at Northeastern State University and graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a minor in Biology. I began working for TCC in 2006 and was given the awesome opportunity in 2007 to coordinate TCC’s African American male mentoring initiative. I then realized that I had found my passion for student academic success, especially for those students whose backs are against the wall. I completed my Master’s degree in Theology with an emphasis on Ministry and Culture in 2015.

I had the wonderful opportunity to teach 6th-grade Math and Science at Walt Whitman Elementary for 2 years, which increased my passion to continue to establish effective processes to help students succeed in their education. The study of educational narratives along with analyzing and evaluating concepts, pedagogies, and curricula as it relates to urban education, history, and social foundations are areas of research and study that I am intimately involved in. Using this information to generate increased retention rates, maximizing student performance in the classroom, and in career fields are just a few of the abilities I possess. I look forward to contributing to the life-changing work being done by the Center for Community & Learning at Tulsa Community College.

What was the best piece of advice given to me as a college student? I like to advise students on being persistent towards accomplishing their goals. There will be some tough and rough times whenever they are pursuing worthwhile goals, so they must “think about” the opportunity that the completed goal brings and not the obligation of trying to complete the goal. I always say, “it is good to start, but better to finish.”

Thesha Zeigler, M.Ed.

Schedule with Thesha

If you are in the following programs, Thesha Zeigler is your Academic Success Coach:

  • Cardiovascular Technology
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Health Information Technology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology & Phlebotomy
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Pharmacy Technology
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Radiography
  • Respiratory Care
  • Veterinary Technology
  • English
  • Nursing
Thesha Zeigler, M.Ed., TCC Academic Success Coach

I have a Master’s Degree in Urban Education, which focuses on educational improvements for underserved and underrepresented students with diverse backgrounds, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Langston University.

I’ve been employed at Tulsa Community College for 14 years and have experience in various departments. My current position as an Academic Success Coach allows me to advocate for students, develop strategies for student success, collaborate with staff and faculty to improve the curriculum, and address various areas such as life strategies, personal wellness, food insecurities, and communication skills. Other areas of expertise include Academic Advisement, which assists in creating strategic degree plans for students through Pathway implementation; Career Services, which offers career assessments, job preparation, and job search assistance; and TRiO Student Support Services, which provides resources, tutoring, and counseling for first-generation, low-income, and/or students with documented disabilities. Lastly, I have a wealth of knowledge from over 20 years of experience in private business, including customer service, money management, and team training and building.

What was the best piece of advice you were given as a college student? The best advice I received as a college student is to build strong relationships with frontline staff such as Financial Aid, Advisement, Bursar, and Enrollment Services. By knowing their names and being kind to them with a simple "Hello (name)" and "How are you today?", they will go the extra mile to help you when needed!


Strengthening Institutions Academic Associate Coaches

Doug Allen

Doug Allen, Academic Success Coach

Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Schedule with Doug

I am a dedicated and results-driven professional with a passion for helping students. I am a Tulsa native and a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. After graduating high school, I attended the University of Oklahoma, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Public Administration with a minor in Economics. I also earned my master’s degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Project Management from Northeastern State University.

I have a proven track record of success in higher education. I have 17 years of experience in various roles within higher education. I have served as a Recruiter, Financial Aid Coordinator, Assistant Director of New Student Support, and Financial Aid Assistant Director. I currently serve as an Academic Success Coach with Tulsa Community College. I am truly thankful for this opportunity to work for TCC! Working with students is truly gratifying, especially when you witness them excel and achieve their goals. My commitment to their excellence, coupled with my ability to problem solve and adapt to evolving challenges in higher education, has allowed me to consistently deliver impactful results for both the college and the student.

Some of my favorite hobbies include traveling with my wife, watching sports, walking my dog, and studying the Bible.

What was the best piece of advice you were given as a college student? The best piece of advice that was given to me as a college student was to trust God and never give up! Perseverance is key in life. If you continue to take a step forward every day towards the finish line, you will eventually cross it.

Dr. Andrea Clark Chambers

Dr. Andrea Clark Chambers, TCC Academic Associate Coach

Monday – Wednesday: 12:30 – 4 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Schedule with Dr. Chambers

As a native of Tulsa and proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, I am excited to have this wonderful opportunity to work closely with students to help them be successful and achieve their educational and career goals. The importance of education was instilled in my brother and me at a very young age, so we have both worked hard to pursue our educational goals. Though I wasn’t sure how it would take shape, I recognized early in life that I wanted to help people in our community to manage many of the barriers and challenges that they face in their daily lives. So after high school, I went to Northeastern State University, where I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication and later received a Master of Divinity Degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. There, the seeds of lifelong learning were planted as I worked as a Research Assistant for several faculty members, completed work-study in the school library, and served in student government to advocate for the underrepresented students and connect them to a variety of resources for their success on campus and beyond. But my love for Tulsa and deep passion for helping people drove me back home to serve the people in my community for the past 20 years.

Prior to becoming an Academic Associate Success Coach, I worked in both church and nonprofit organizations for over two decades and taught religious courses as an Adjunct Professor. After completing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformational Leadership at Phillips Theological Seminary, I added the teaching of several TCC College Success courses in 2021 to my list of preferred courses in which I help students.

I look forward to working with all students at TCC through the Center for Community & Learning by helping them realize their full potential and achieve their goals. I believe that my particular life path has allowed me to gain the knowledge, experience, and tools necessary to encourage and support students as they pursue their educational, career, and long-term life goals.

Sandy Samuel

Sandy Samuel, TCC Academic Associate Coach

Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thursday: 1 – 5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Schedule with Sandy

I grew up in California and moved to Oklahoma for school. I am currently pursuing my doctorate in Health. I am relatively new to TCC and love working with this team, which is an invaluable resource for students at TCC. I feel like we are truly making a difference in people’s lives, and that’s awesome! I worked as a mentor and Peer Leader in undergrad, so helping fellow students is right up my alley and I enjoy it! I have a strong, yet developing, background in Leadership and Advocacy for under-represented students, having taken part in multiple such programs in undergrad, such as being the Student Director for Project SPEAK - an advocacy group to prevent domestic violence, and serving as the President of the only multicultural Honors Society on the UCO campus. These experiences include involvement in diversity and inclusion organizations, and community engagement.

I sincerely hope I can make a difference in many students’ lives, whether that be in maximizing student performance in classes, helping them gain access to available resources, assisting them in getting more involved on campus and/or in leadership, tutoring them, mentoring them, or simply helping them navigate life. That being said, I hope you can reach out if you need help, and I will do my best to assist you. Remember, you are not alone! I look forward to contributing to the life-changing work being done by the Center for Community Learning at Tulsa Community College.

In my spare time, I enjoy dancing, singing karaoke, camping and hiking, traveling, biking, skydiving, and spending time with friends and family, among other things.

What was the best piece of advice given to me as a college student? As a current college student, the best piece of advice given to me thus far is to keep persisting and to occasionally step out of my comfort zone, as doing so will inevitably lead to the accomplishment of goals and to the pursuit of learning new things in the process! I like to call it, “Persist in the no-fly zone!”

What is the most important lesson learned about education?For that, I will leave you with one of my quotes. “You are not what you learn; rather, you learn who you are and use that knowledge to do!”

Senior Director of Center for Community & Learning

Dr. Dewayne Dickens, Ph.D.

Dewayne Dickens, Ph.D., TCC Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

I lead the Academic Success Coaching Office, along with providing college-wide support as Senior Director of Center for Community & Learning. My work includes supporting students’ semester persistence toward attaining a degree or certificate through the Center for Community & Learning. Through the Center, students are guided with research-based practices to enhance leadership, self–assessment, and goal-setting skills for students – with particular focus on first generation, low-income, and underserved populations.

I have served as a Developmental English Associate Professor at Tulsa Community College for 17 years. My doctorate is in Curriculum and Social Foundations (English emphasis) with a dissertation focus on college persistence for African American males. I have extensive experience in providing faculty professional development (having served several years as Tulsa Community College’s Coordinator for the Academy for Teaching Excellence, the three-year orientation and professional program for new full-time faculty). I also have a strong background in leadership, diversity and multicultural learning issues, implicit bias discussions, including national presentations on such topics as creative strategies for teaching and learning, race in education, technology in classroom instruction, and community involvement with education.

I am a member of the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation Board of Directors and lead the Scholarship Team. I also serve as Chair of the Board for the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, and serves as the Commission for the Mayor's African American Affairs Commission of Tulsa, along with serving on the Pastor’s Board for the Antioch Baptist Church.

Favorite pastimes: playing piano, singing, bicycling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Most important lesson learned about education:

Good writing (and expert skill for any subject) comes from practice, practice, practice – and revision!


2020 Impact Report for Academic Success Coaching

Impact Report April 2020
Academic Success Coaching
Three-Year Period (since Fall 2016)
Fall-to-Spring PersistenceFall-to-Fall PersistenceTwo-Year Degree CompletionDevelopmental Course Success (within 1 year)
Up 5.8% if coached

(71.61% vs. 65.3%)

comparing 7.8K coached to 72K non-coached students
Up 5.3% if coached

(50.6% vs 45.3%)

comparing 90 coached to 60K non-coached students
Up 7.8% if coached

(29.3% vs. 21.5%)

comparing 116 coached to 85K non-coached students
Up 6.7% if coached

(56.9%% vs. 50.2%)

comparing 2K coached to 13K non-coached students

Student Testimonies

"My Academic Success Coach has gone above and beyond. She has inspired me to keep pushing forward and never giving up on my dreams." — Gage

"My coach helped me identify specific academic strategies, time management, confidence, budgeting my time, and working through testing preparation." — Rebecca