Name: Julie Willits
Majors Advised: Psychology majors and minors (previously served as adviser for 3 1/2 years in Sociology and Criminology)
Hometown: Jersey Shore, PA (not the beach, unfortunately – it is in central PA))
Educational Background:I attended Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I earned my advanced degree at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. I earned a Master of Science in Education with Pennsylvania certifications in Secondary School Counseling and School Psychology. Growing up, I always enjoyed helping people and listening when others needed to talk. Oftentimes my friends would turn to me to share problems, which meant that I was on the phone a lot! I worked as a school counselor with middle and high school students for 7 1/2 years before beginning my position as academic adviser. I was always interested in working with the college population and advising was the perfect fit for me, my skills, interests, and values.
Something most students don’t know about you: I love to ski, snowshoe, scrapbook, and read. When I was chaperoning a high school ski trip to Killington, VT about 14 years ago, I skied with the die hard skiers in wind chills that went to 30 degrees below 0 and it didn’t bother me. For someone who is almost always cold, that was a huge feat. I have done a few 5K’s, walking them mostly. My mom, sister, and I have walked our first half marathon in May 2014 and we are currently training to walk another half marathon this May. I have 2 kitties, Beanie and Papa Kitty. A very memorable college experience for me was during my junior year spring break when I visited my cousin who was living in Atlanta, GA at the time. On my Greyhound Bus ride home by myself, I got caught in a historic blizzard and it took 4 days to get home. Roads were closed and trains were shut down. Two of those nights were spent in a hotel with no luggage, only a carry on, because the bus company lost my luggage. I survived with $5 in my pocket and having to use my mom’s credit card for food and lodging.
If you could do college over again: I would have pursued an Education Abroad experience.. Going abroad would have been a great learning experience, both academically and personally. Exploring the possibility of doing a concurrent major in Sociology (instead of just the minor)was something else I wished I would have pursued, as I have strong interests in both Psychology and Sociology.
What you like most about your job: I enjoy seeing students grow each semester, working towards attaining their goals. I love to see students excited and passionate about their interests, wanting to do more to learn about all the possibilities for their future career interests.