TESTIMONIALS
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Dr. Jill is the reason I was able to graduate college. Managing my time was extremely difficult for me due to severe depression and anxiety. Jill stood with me every step of the way no matter what I needed. Some days it was helping me to get out of bed and eat. Other days it was helping me finish my senior thesis, emailing professors, or meeting with administrators. But no matter what it was, I could ALWAYS count on Jill to be there to support me. She pushed me to overcome setbacks at times I truly thought I was going to give up. She helped me realize how I functioned was possibly different from others but that it wasn't a bad thing- just something I needed to communicate with my professors. She helped me realize it was OK to ask for help and accommodations. She helped me find my voice by sometimes becoming my voice. She became whatever I needed to succeed- sometimes taking the form of a friend, sometimes mother-figure, other times alarm clock (for those times where I couldn't seem to get out of bed). Her patience with me helped me learn to be patient with myself, and her belief in my abilities helped me to believe in myself. She has extensive knowledge in academia especially with respects to academic accommodations and disability services, as well as a deep understanding of college/campus culture.
Jill is the kindest, most open-heart person I have ever met, and I would recommend her to anyone who feels like they need help but aren't sure how to ask. To people who aren't sure what exactly it is they need help with, I urge you to reach out to Jill- you will not regret it. Honestly, I think anyone and everyone would benefit from having Jill in their life. I don't think I could ever thank her enough for what she has done for me.
Graduate, Pomona College '19
Thanks for your willingness to work with my son; I want to thank you for the help that you provided to him. You got him started on the right foot with his on-line class, and I think you set him up for success. You gave him hope, and without hope he had nothing. Thanks again, Jill, I will always be grateful that my son and I could turn to you at a very crucial time! I would recommend you with the most confidence.
Claremont Colleges Faculty and Parent
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Jill is especially skilled at strategic questioning—you can always count on her to push your thinking and to help you develop your perspective independent of what she believes. I found myself learning more about how to navigate an institution like Scripps through my interactions with Jill—she’s also one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with.
Toni Myers, Scripps College ’12
Meeting with Jill to explore different options to accommodate my needs has allowed me to perform at my best in and outside the classroom. Meeting with Jill on a regular basis also gave me the unique opportunity to collaborate on different academic support projects such as tutoring services and academic workshops.
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Maria Melendrez, Pitzer College ’16
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Pitzer graduate, Maria, and Jill
I honestly don’t know where I would be today without Jill’s help. Jill is incredibly patient, hardworking, and passionate at what she does. Meeting with Jill has helped me stay organized, on top of my work, and maintain a positive outlook on academics. She comes up with creative and personalized solutions to any problems that may arise over time. She is well versed in academic policies and culture and takes a “hands-on” approach to her interactions with students. Thank you Jill!
Arielle Davis, Pitzer College ‘18
I have known and interacted with Jill professionally for almost twenty years and I was her direct supervisor at Pitzer College. I was fortunate to hire Jill in the role of Associate Dean of Students and Director of Academic Support Services, which included oversight and management of all areas of academic support and services for students with disabilities. Jill has many strengths. She is a very conscientious, smart, thoughtful, and hard-working professional. Jill is an excellent communicator, both in-person and in writing, and her presentation and facilitation skills are superb. She cares deeply about students, from their essential well-being to their personal and academic success. This is evidenced by the number of students that wanted to meet and work with Jill, even before she arrived on campus in the summer of 2012.
In her role as Associate Dean at Pitzer, Jill not only brought much-needed stability and consistency to the office and the program upon her arrival, she raised the standard of service, support, and professionalism to an entirely new level. Jill very quickly built bridges with students and, very importantly, faculty at Pitzer. She has a tremendous ability to develop trust and garner respect from colleagues at all levels, whether they are a peer, a subordinate, or a senior leader at an institution. I saw this first-hand while Jill worked in various roles at Pomona College, Scripps College, and at Pitzer College. I recommend Jill as an academic coach to the highest degree possible.
Jim Marchant, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Community Relations, Pitzer College
Jill Hawthorne is one of the most compassionate, considerate, and caring individuals I have come across in my 20+ years in education. As an educator, Jill’s greatest strengths lie in her communication skills. Those skills were developed over her many years of experience working tirelessly with faculty, students and families in order to ensure real student success, regardless of the challenges. It is important to note that Jill has high expectations for her students, but equally important that she always understands the need for nurture and support along the way. As the Head of a secondary school, I know intimately the incredible value of the resources that Jill can provide. In short, you want Jill on your team!
Lolli Lucas, Assistant Head of School, The Buckley School
Jill is an expert in her field who diligently keeps up with best practices in academic coaching and the latest developments in student affairs, academic accommodations, and disability services. She is a warm, relentlessly positive person who truly cares about the success of her students. Jill will challenge you while simultaneously empowering you to use effective tools and strategies to achieve your goals. I haven't worked with a colleague who was more dedicated and conscientious than Jill during my 15 years in higher education.
Matthew Donato, Director of the Center for Careers and Life After Brown,
Brown University