Liberal Arts Mentorship Academy
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The Liberal Arts Mentorship Academy is a new program in the College of Liberal Arts that pairs Liberal Arts students with a COLA staff member for a year of developmental mentoring. Students will have the opportunity to work on any academic or professional goals with an experienced higher education professional. Students who take part in the Mentorship Academy will receive:
- Tailored monthly mentorship meetings
- Scholarship opportunities
- Personal and professional development resources
If you are interested in joining the Liberal Arts Mentorship Academy, you can fill out the interest form online now.
For any questions or concerns about the Mentorship Academy, you can reach out to la-mentorshipacademy@utexas.edu.
2024-2025 Advisor Mentors
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Brett Glasscock
Co-Coordinator/Advisor-Mentor Brett Glasscock is a Student Program Coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts Student Division. A COLA alum with a degree in Rhetoric & Writing and a minor in LGBTQ Studies, Brett respects the value of UT's College of Liberal Arts and its students. Through the University Writing Center and the Liberal Arts Honors program, Brett developed a passion for working with college students in his undergraduate education. Now he gets to put that passion to work by serving COLA's Undeclared students and guiding the Liberal Arts Mentorship Academy through its pilot year. In his free time, Brett is an avid reader, making it a goal to read 70+ novels a year. You can also find him at Austin Film Society, Crux Climbing Gym, or one of the many great bookstores around Austin.
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Shannon Rose
Co-Coordinator/Advisor-Mentor Shannon Rose has been with COLA for two years as the Program Manager for First Year Experience. This includes welcoming new students during Orientation, helping first year and transfer students during their first semester on the 40 Acres through FIGs and TrIGs and now mentoring COLA students in the Liberal Arts Mentorship Academy! During her free time, you can find her traveling, at an estate sale, or at a concert.
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Avery Baldwin
Advisor-Mentor Avery Baldwin graduated from UT Austin in 2020 with a B.A. in English and Minor in Women and Gender Studies. When they advise, they draw from a place of care, especially from their personal experiences in undergrad. They received tremendous support from their advisors, who pointed them towards university resources that they say truly changed their life. One of their ultimate goals is to be like their undergrad advisors; they were kind, empathetic, funny, and made them feel safe. Additionally, they implement their core values of authenticity and vulnerability in each interaction with their students to accomplish these goals. They hope to continue doing so in LAMA! They are so excited to be an advisor-mentor!
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James Beard
Advisor-Mentor James Beard holds a B.A. in Anthropology from U.T., and a Ph.D., also in Anthropology, from U.C. Berkeley. He has studied in Zimbabwe and Portugal, and worked at the U.S. research station at McMurdo Base, Antarctica. He has over half a decade's experience in advising students, and he is in love with higher education!
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Cassadie Charlesworth
Advisor-Mentor Cassadie Charlesworth is in her third year as a senior advisor in COLA for the Government and CTI departments. She also helps support the Jefferson Scholars Program as their sole advisor. Prior to advising, she was a literacy and theatre teacher for over a decade. Her approach to advising is geared towards holistically supporting students through meaningful connections, just as she used in the classroom. When she's not advising, she loves to bake with her toddler, go to ren faires, write, travel back to her hometown of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and try to see live theatre. Fun fact: her undergrad degree is in Drama and she's been a professional actor for stage and film in LA, NY and ATX!
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Jason Gentry
Advisor-Mentor Jason Gentry is an award-winning academic advisor with 25 years of experience at UT Austin. He didn’t graduate from UT but “got here as fast as he could.” With degrees in History and English, he truly believes in the lifelong benefits of a Liberal Arts education. He will candidly, carefully, and with a little bit of humor, help you navigate the complexities of UT Austin. In his free time, he cooks for family and friends, plays bass in a rock and roll band, and is still surfing and skating all around the world. Two small pieces of advice to COLA majors – include your UTEID in all email correspondence and take your foreign language sooner rather than later. Thank YOU!
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Rebecca Marcus
Advisor-Mentor Rebecca has been an academic advisor with the College of Liberal Arts since 2019. She received her M.Ed. from UT Austin in Higher Education Leadership and her Bachelor's in English from Kenyon College. Rebecca primarily advises students in Linguistics and Sociology, but she’s happy to chat with students of all majors! A big sister at heart, Rebecca enjoys supporting students through periods of transition and exploration. She believes in the power and flexibility of a Liberal Arts education and is a staunch proponent of experiential learning (e.g. internships). During her free time, Rebecca enjoys hiking, reading, and playing with her dog Teddy. Rebecca loves trying new foods and discovering new Austin eateries — feel free to share your favorites!
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Freddy Sanchez
Advisor-Mentor Freddy Sanchez is the undergraduate adviser for Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies. Originally from Queens, NY with over 10 years of experience working in higher education. Freddy enjoys meeting with students and helping them learn more about themselves and helping them achieve their academic goals. When he is not in the office, Freddy enjoys trying new foods, hiking, reading, or training in Brazilian Jiu-JItsu.