Get to Know HFC: Ashlei Chears earns certificates to become a more inclusive advisor

It’s not uncommon for students to change their majors during the course of their undergraduate careers. HFC Student Success Navigator Ashlei Chears has been in their shoes.

“I chose business administration with the goal of majoring in human resource management,” she said. “One day, I was having a conversation with a friend and telling her that I dreaded taking the math that I would need to go into HR management. She told me to look at human resource development instead. HR development focuses more on the people side of the business. I could take philosophy instead of math, so I changed my major. It’s funny, because now that I’m one of the Business Administration advisors, I approach things differently. I work with students who have the same anxiety about math that I had. I point them to resources that will help them succeed in math instead of telling them to change their major.”

Drawn to student affairs

Born in Southfield, Chears – the youngest of two – was raised in Dearborn, where she still lives. She graduated from the Henry Ford Academy, which is located on the grounds of The Henry Ford in Dearborn.

Chears earned her bachelor’s degree in HR Development from Oakland University. During her time at Oakland, she served as a Resident Assistant, as well as worked in Career Services, Academic Success, and Student Conduct.

After graduation, Chears attended the University of West Georgia on a graduate assistantship. She earned her master’s degree in Professional Counseling with a concentration in College Student Affairs.

“During my senior year at Oakland, I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate degree out of state, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in,” she said. “I was drawn to student affairs because I was so involved on campus throughout my time at Oakland.”

And her education has not stopped. In 2020, Chears earned a Spanish Studies Certificate of Achievement from HFC. In the Fall 2022 semester, she will begin the Deaf Studies Certificate program at HFC. Her older brother, Stanley, will also attend HFC this fall.

“I went to a Spanish immersion school from preschool to 8th grade,” she explained. “Our classes were taught in English and Spanish, so I already had a Spanish language background. I have had a goal for a long time to brush up on my Spanish and to have a Spanish language credential. I also have a goal to learn sign language and learn about Deaf culture. I want to be a more inclusive advisor and be able to effectively communicate with anyone who comes in for an appointment. I think completing the Deaf Studies certificate will help me get closer to that goal.”

What it means to help HFC students succeed

When she graduated from UWG, Chears returned to Michigan. She worked as a health advocate for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Detroit. Then she came to HFC, where she’s worked for the past eight years.

“I was there for about a year and a half before coming to HFC,” said Chears. “I wanted to be back in student affairs. I was specifically attracted to HFC because of familiarity. I grew up right down the street from HFC. My high school uses HFC’s gym as its home court. So, growing up, I spent a lot of time in and around HFC.”

Chears began her career at HFC as an Enrollment Associate II in 2014. She became an Admission Associate III in 2015. She has been a Student Success Navigator, advising students in HFC’s Business, Culinary Arts, and Computer Technology programs, since 2020. In this position, she reports to HFC Manager of Academic Advising and Student Success Lorraine Paffenroth. Chears has also taught COLL-101: College Success at HFC.

“I appreciate Ashlei for her commitment to students and their success,” said Paffenroth. “She is kind, compassionate, and caring in her work with students. I admire her thoroughness and attention to detail in her work with students. She genuinely demonstrates that she has the student’s best interests at the forefront of her advising work. Ashlei is a good colleague and partner and works collaboratively within the team. Ashlei’s contributions make us all better and she is an ambassador for the department with students as well as faculty and staff. It is a pleasure to work alongside her.”

Students are capable of succeeding. Resources can be their biggest challenge

Chears spoke about the pros and cons of being a Student Success Navigator.

“The most challenging part of my job is a lack of resources. I’ve never met a student who wasn’t capable of succeeding, but I’ve met plenty who do not have the resources to succeed. We always try to point them in the right direction – emergency funding, the Hawk’s Nest, counseling – but, sometimes, it isn’t enough. A lot of students struggle with problems at home and with food insecurity, transportation, childcare, and a slew of other things. Sometimes, it gets to be too much for them, and they aren’t able to focus on their classes.”

While that is a source of frustration for Chears, student success stories balance it out.

“The best part of my job are the stories that students are always willing to share,” said Chears. “The students who I work with come from all different walks of life and I’m always impressed when they are willing to open up and share exactly what it is that brought them to HFC.”

Chears also spoke about her ultimate career goal.

“Ultimately, I think I will be in higher education for a while. My biggest goal is to be in a position where I can help historically underserved communities achieve their academic goals.”