Where We Are

Garland Hall, Suite 3A
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-516-8216
advising@jhu.edu

Office Hours:
8:30-4:30, Monday-Friday

Visiting:
You are welcome to drop in during office hours, but we prefer you call 410-516-8216 to make an appointment.

What We Do

The Office of Academic Advising promotes excellence and exploration at Johns Hopkins. We offer undergraduates many services to advance this mission.

For Arts & Sciences students, we…
• Advise freshmen on academic challenges and choices
• Support the faculty advising system for upperclassmen
• Oversee the academic progress of all students

For all students at Homewood, we…
• Offer programs to improve study skills and to explore academic options
• Coordinate tutoring and study consultant program for groups and individuals
• Help students win national scholarships like the Fulbright and the Rhodes
• Assist students wishing to study abroad

Who We Are

From top left (clockwise): James Fry , Linda Pressley, John Bader, Richard Sanders , Kathie Sindt, Patricia Powers, Adriene Breckenridge, Ruth Aranow, Karen Desser , Barbara Flint, Fay Day, Michelle Rodriguez , and Vicki Fitzgerald

John Bader
Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Advising (advisor for freshmen K-La and Interdisciplinary Studies) and Scholarship Advisor

Dean Bader believes that you must wander before you find a home, as he has found one in advising. He traveled to India on a Fulbright, taught high school history, and worked at ABC News. He was director and political science professor at UCLA’s Center in Washington, D.C., and then worked on a US Senate campaign as policy director. Dean Bader earned his bachelors in History from Yale College, and his masters and doctorate in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He sings in an a cappella group, the Tone Rangers.

Dean Bader is also responsible for Summer Programs , Intersession, ROTC, and the Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate program. He is co-chair of the Traditions Committee, which is exploring Homewood's rich history.

jbader@jhu.edu

James Fry
Assistant Dean of Academic Advising (advisor for freshmen Dj-Gi)

Over the years, Dean Fry has advised many graduate and undergraduate
students, directed multiple orientation and advising services, and
coordinated study abroad, internships, and independent study programs.
He has also taught a variety of introductory college courses, including
freshman seminars, expository writing, and human development. And as
much as he enjoys the classroom, from either side of the lectern, Dean
Fry likes best to meet students one-on-one. Helping a student discover
an intriguing course or meet an especially engaging professor is always
satisfying. A graduate of McDaniel College, he also holds a Master's
degree in American Studies from Bowling Green University. In addition to
his work with college students, Dean Fry’s interests broadly include
American culture but architecture and urban planning in particular.

jamesfry@jhu.edu

Ruth Aranow
Senior Academic Advisor (freshmen So-Z) and Study Abroad Coordinator

Dr. Aranow earned her doctorate in chemistry from Hopkins and taught here before becoming an academic advisor. She shows the same devotion to advising as she did to teaching, for which she won the George Owen Teaching Award. She enjoys helping students solve problems and coordinates the study abroad program. Her hobbies include music, photography and travel.

raranow@jhu.edu

Adriene Breckenridge
Senior Academic Advisor (freshmen Le-O)

Ms. Breckenridge was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. She loves working with college students and has been working in higher education for 19 years. She earned a BA in psychology from the University of Washington, a Masters of Divinity from Howard University, and a Masters in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins. She also conducts workshops on campus geared toward helping students develop the academic skills needed to achieve academic success. "Ms. B" as she is affectionately known by her students, serves on Campus Ministries Advisory Board and is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

breckag@jhu.edu

Kathie Sindt
Senior Academic Advisor (freshmen Gj-J)

Dr. Sindt began her career in biomedical research, earning a BS in biology and a Ph.D. in pharmacology. Feeling isolated in a research lab but fulfilled by mentoring students, she returned to school to earn an MA in career counseling. She’s thrilled to be an advisor because she enjoys making a difference in someone’s life. She likes playing with her dog and enjoys science fiction.

ksindt@jhu.edu

Karen Desser
Senior Academic Advisor (freshmen P-Sn)

In most stories, either a stranger comes to town or someone goes on a journey. Ms. Desser's life features both plots. After years as a high-school teacher, she moved to Baltimore and a new career at JHU. She delights in guiding students through their academic journey, our civilization's version of the voyage of discovery. She's made it herself to four continents and hopes to someday wear her red high-tops in the remaining three.

Kdesser@jhu.edu

Michelle Rodriguez
Senior Academic Advisor (freshmen Bb-Di)

Born on a military base in California, Ms. Rodriguez continuously moved to many exciting places, including Japan, before finally landing in Maryland. She earned a BS in Computer Information Systems from Towson University before discovering that one of her true passions is working with college students. After pursuing her MA in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University, she has come to join the Hopkins family and continue a career in Academic Advising. She enjoys being active in her church, spending time with her husband and nieces, playing softball, and watching football (Go Niners!)

mrod@jhu.edu

Richard Sanders
Director of Student Disability Services and Academic Advisor (freshmen A-Ba)

Dr. Sanders came to Johns Hopkins by way of California, New York, and North Carolina. In his first life, he did research and taught courses on cognitive psychology and language development. But since 1990, he has been using his knowledge of academia to help Hopkins undergrads choose the right courses and make good decisions.

sanders@jhu.edu

Linda Pressley
Office Manager

Ms. Pressley has lived in a variety of places and moved to Baltimore to be closer to her first grandchild. She comes to Johns Hopkins after working at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently completing a degree in Integrative Studies from Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, via online classes. Ms. Pressley enjoys working with student who she refers to as “baby adults”, watching them mature during their years in college. In her spare time, she enjoys building dollhouses and is currently working on a San Franciscan dollhouse for her granddaughter.

lpressl2@jhu.edu

Barbara Flint
Administrative Assistant to the Director

Ms. Flint has been with the Office of Academic Advising since 1991 and loves her job of managing the office budgets and personnel processes. She derives great satisfaction from providing support to the staff members who are interacting with the students and guiding them through a successful college experience. A native of Baltimore, she is an avid fan of the Orioles, Ravens, Maryland Terps, and of course the Hopkins Blue Jays!

bflint@jhu.edu

Marsha McCormick
Tutoring Administrator

Ms. McCormick was born, raised and educated in Baltimore. She has been the tutoring coordinator for eight years. Her greatest reward is to see how struggling students, with the help of a tutor, gain confidence and help others in turn. The mother of three, she is very active in church and family activities.

mmcc@jhu.edu

Patricia Powers
Administrative Secretary

Ms. Powers has worked for OAA for many years. She likes seeing students grow from apprehensive freshmen to successful professionals. She has been awarded the Gold Cup and Homewood Cup. A native of New Jersey, she is an avid reader of history, philosophy and comparative religions.

camden@jhu.edu

Vicki Fitzgerald
Administrative Secretary, Assistant to Dean Bader

Although Mrs. Fitzgerald is a new resident to Baltimore City, she is no stranger to the area. Born and raised in Waldorf, MD, she attended McDaniel College in Westminster, MD and earned a BA in Psychology. Working with Hopkins students has encouraged her to pursue a Masters degree from JHU in hopes of furthering a career in the college environment. She enjoys experimenting with digital photography using Photoshop and is excited to have such a beautiful campus to photograph!

vlevand1@jhu.edu

Fay Day
Study Consulting Coordinator

Fay Day retired from the public school systems of Louisiana where she worked as a speech therapist in grades 1 -12 and in Adult Education. She also worked in Colorado in an early childhood setting for four years. Fay has an M.ED. from Loyola of New Orleans. On completion of her M.ED. she continued to gain various certifications in areas such as ESL and Adult Education. Fay was escorted to Baltimore from New Orleans via Hurricane Katrina. In Baltimore, she is currently the Administrator of the Study Consulting Program at JHU. She enjoys many church activities, travel, reading, being a wife to Steve, and a mother to Elizabeth. Being in Baltimore has provided Fay and her family with much to explore and experiences.

fday2@jhu.edu