Andrea fisher, director

Growing up in a household of educators, my commitment to academics and methodical organization began at an early age.  I earned a scholarship to play Division I volleyball at the University of Georgia and graduated Cum Laude, earning a B.S. in Mathematics.  I followed my passion for education and became a high school math teacher at Mission Hills High School in Southern California.  I was fortunate to work with a diverse study body and served on committees focused on curriculum alignment, assessment, and state testing.  School administrators recognized my penchant for organization and asked me to speak at the district-wide conference on "Effective Organizational Strategies for First-Year Teachers."  During this time I also served as the head coach for the boys & girls varsity volleyball teams at Mission Hills which helped me reconnect with the student-athlete community and take the next step in my career.

In 2012, I became a Learning Specialist in the UCLA Athletic Department, working closely with student-athletes to ensure access to resources, provide intensive academic skill building and create personalized academic support plans. Through my weekly one-on-one meetings with student-athletes, I became attuned to the their need for structure and organizational strategies to keep them on track while balancing the competing demands of their academic and athletic commitments.  I was promoted to Football Academic Coordinator in 2015 which gave me the opportunity to concentrate on the 120 football student-athletes and their unique goals and challenges.  In this role I was responsible for coordinating the academic operations of the football program, providing guidance in course and major selection, monitoring the academic progress of each football student-athlete, and collaborating with our academic support team to develop and implement individualized academic support plans on a quarterly basis. With demanding practice schedules and ambitious academic plans, I guided these student-athletes towards techniques that would help them structure their time and keep them on track for graduation. ADD STATS ABOUT APR/Graduation. 

In addition, I have spent the past 13 years as a private tutor and academic coach for students ranging from 4th to 12th grade.  Working closely with students and families, I have been a consistent resource and provided support in a variety of subject areas and honed my academic coaching skills.  Through my work at UCLA and with my private clients, I have developed strategies to help students succeed, reach their goals and build confidence along the way.  I am trained in disability identification and have witnessed many of my students overcome learning obstacles and academic challenges with tailored guidance and support.

Through my various roles and experiences, I have had the pleasure of working with students from many different walks of life - from those who have access to a variety of resources to students who have never had academic support in their lives.  I am confident in my ability to connect with students, understand their needs, and tailor programs to their specific goals in order to achieve academic success.