English Alum in the Spotlight: Dr. Winny Oyamo Twombly

by Joseph G. Bova, '23

Dr. Winny Oyamo Twombly, MA, Ed.D., '09, is an Assistant Director of Academic Advising & Academic Pathways at Middlesex Community College. She earned her MA in English at SSU and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Administration at Northeastern University. After graduating from SSU, Winny worked in admissions at two higher ed institutions. In 2015, she transitioned into academic advising, first as an academic advisor, and then a coordinator, and now an assistant director.

Why did you want to major in English?

I loved to write, was already a high school English teacher, and decided I wanted to see if I could make a career out of writing. It was a great experience, but I decided to shift to higher education administration because, if I wanted to, I could still teach on a part-time basis.

What were your favorite classes at SSU?

Geesh! This is hard. I loved to write creatively, so my favorite classes were the non-fiction writing classes, even though I had to get comfortable with getting my work critiqued. But these were a fun way to learn, even though they stretched my creativity to the limit.

Besides your writing classes, what was your favorite thing about SSU?

As an international student, the CIE office was just invaluable in ensuring that SSU became home away from home. Nelly Wadsworth, Don Ross and Reiko Morris and Yanxia Wang just made life in America and at SSU fun. I never felt lost, confused or alone because they became family. For that, I am beyond thankful to SSU for the CIE office. The general vibe at SSU was a perfect fit for me. It took on the character of a former teaching school and had faculty who loved to teach and enjoyed what they taught, which made classes enjoyable, and I felt supported through my learning process.

What does your job involve?

Preparing and running orientation sessions for new students; meeting with students to complete career assessment, identify a major, utilize academic maps to plan out courses; research and prepare for transfer; preparing for graduation. Managing the functions of the Lowell advising office; collaborating with advisors on roles and responsibilities at the office; trouble shooting and resolving student and office concerns; training peer advisors, and other duties assigned by director of advising.

How have you applied your experiences at SSU to your career?

At SSU, I worked as a tutor at the tutoring center, an editor for the school's literary magazine, and a student advisor at the international students’ office. The work I do preparing and running orientation sessions was something I learned at the CIE office. The most important experience at SSU was that being a student there reminded me of how much I enjoyed being in academia. It was based on my overall experience that I decided to apply for, and got a job working in a college's enrollment office. I have since then transitioned to working in academic advising and loving every minute of it!

What do you find most enjoyable about your job?

The opportunity to watch and be part of the process of students growing and learning and become better and improved versions of themselves with every semester and year. In my role, I find that what I know is actually useful and helpful to the students that I work with. It gives me confidence that I am making an impact, one student at a time. At my current institution, I have been blessed to have colleagues, supervisors and leadership who have believed in me and have supported my professional and academic growth, and have allowed me to grow and provided opportunities for me to make an impact on students and in my department.

What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in your career?

Knowledge and experience of how American higher education works and how it relates and connects to the pre-k to 12 system and the workplace. Relationship building, listening skills, collaboration within and outside the institution, and effective communication are soft skills that are invaluable in my role.

How do you adapt and stay current on developments in your field?

Attending professional conferences for my field, especially the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), is one way I stay current in my field. We also have webinars that we watch. These may be related effective use of technology, career planning, or academic advising. I also just started training to teach at a graduate higher education program. This allows me to utilize my training in teaching language arts and creative writing while connecting with faculty in the higher education administration field. Also, getting involved in on-campus committees that investigate strategies to improve various aspects of institutional life.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Being an international student at Salem State was my best educational choice and experience! It set me up to be the confident and capable educator that I am today. Thank you! Go Vikings!

If you are interested in connecting with Winny, you can reach out to her via email: oyamow@middlesex.mass.edu