Tufts' new associate director of pre−professional advising has eased into her position with an eye to making her personal expertise in the law and health professions valuable to Tufts undergrads.
Stephanie Ripley, who previously worked at Tufts as a degree audit coordinator, started work in November as an advisor and has found that her previous experience at Tufts, coupled with her expertise in the law and health professions, have served her — and her students — well.
"In higher education, it really does take a full academic year to fully understand the position," Ripley said. "But I definitely think that knowing the Tufts requirements and working with Tufts students before and working in this office before have really been beneficial to my learning curve."
The position's responsibilities include providing guidance and programming to students who are interested in pursuing careers in the legal or health professions, according to Ripley.
Junior Owen Rood, who has met with Ripley to discuss a potential career in law, affirmed her dedication to pre−professional advising.
"She had an invested interest in providing a very high−quality pre−law advising experience to the undergraduates on campus," Rood, who is co−president of the Tufts Pre−Law Society, said.
Carol Baffi−Dugan, program director for Health Professions Advising, counted Ripley's work ethic and her accessibility among her professional strengths.
"She is very supportive, warm and friendly with students, and I had seen that in action," Baffi−Dugan said. "I can't be more delighted that Stephanie took the position," she added.
Baffi−Dugan, who is also an associate dean for undergraduate education, oversees Ripley in her new position.
Ripley's advice could especially benefit anyone on campus with an interest in law, Rood said.
"She is very curious about the things that [the Tufts Pre−Law Society does], how things have gone in the past, what type of services have been available to undergraduates in the past [and] what we think she should do in the program," he said.
Ripley was one of over 100 applicants for the position in pre−professional advising, according to Baffi−Dugan.
"More than 100 applied," Baffi−Dugan said. "I probably had about 35 or 40 applicants who had the basic elements that were required for the position."
Ripley was one of three finalists. Her educational qualifications and professional experience as a university employee put her over the top, according to Baffi−Dugan.
"We definitely wanted someone who had work experience in higher education and preferably those that involved direct contact with college students," Baffi−Dugan said. "I hoped to hire someone who had experience in general academic or career advising."
Ripley holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and a master's degree in educational administration and policy studies from SUNY Albany.
