RONNIE FELDER

Academic Counselor- West Los Angeles College

Hello and welcome to my first year as an academic coach at West Los Angeles College! My journey as a counselor here, known to my students as "Ronnie," is all about creating a welcoming and friendly environment where students feel comfortable from the start. My approach is student-centered, focusing on understanding each student’s strengths, challenges, and goals to develop personalized support. While education plans are essential, I believe in a holistic approach that addresses every aspect of student success, including time management skills.

This year, I’ve been dedicated to continuous growth, learning from colleagues, and collaborating with our team to support our students. I’m honored to be part of the WLAC Faculty Success Coach grant program, where I have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. With the guidance of veteran counselors and support from our Dean and Department Chair, we foster a community that promotes success for everyone.

This page will highlight my evolution and experiences throughout my tenure journey, sharing the challenges, achievements, and growth I experience along the way. Thank you for joining me!

year one

Go West. Go Far.

Clients

MY APPROACH

In my first year, my approach to counseling was highly student-centered. I focused on understanding each student's unique strengths, challenges, and needs, which allowed me to develop personalized solutions to support their academic success. When students met me, I introduced myself as "Ronnie" to create a comfortable, open space for sharing concerns. I listened carefully, took notes, and provided honest, thoughtful feedback. If I didn’t have an immediate answer, I followed up, ensuring no issue went unresolved.

ENGAGEMENT

This year, my focus has been on providing the best possible support for students by learning from my peers and fostering a positive, collaborative environment. I’ve made every effort to remain accessible and approachable, ensuring that students know I’m here for them and that they always have someone in their corner.

STRENGTH/
CHALLENGES

This year, I focused on transcript evaluations, education plans,and academic petitions to deepen my admissions expertise. Supporting students in accessing resources and building essential college skills, I found time management was a key challenge, especially for students of online classes balancing heavy workloads. Developing creative strategies to help them succeed became a priority, with inspiring results.

GROWTH

This year, I’ve grown by creating safe spaces for students, networking with veteran counselors, and investing in self-growth through literature, workshops, and events like Climate Palooza. These experiences have strengthened my ability to connect with and support students, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this foundation will bring in the coming year.

year one

I had the privilege my first year of a grant-funded initiative focused on improving success rates for Black male students in online courses, I was selected as one of twelve faculty members to address this critical issue. Our team collaborated to share data with instructors across disciplines, highlighting the disparities in success rates among Black male students in their online classes. We aimed to engage faculty with equity-minded strategies and suggest alternative teaching approaches to enhance student performance.