Advocates

Brenna Whitton

Brenna Whitton

Brenna Whitton
She/Her/Hers
brennawhitton@usf.edu

I strongly believe that every student has the potential to reach their goals and be successful, however they define success. My goal is to support students through life’s various transitions, while providing resources and strategies. I value building a relationship with students, creating an environment of trust, and putting in mutual effort to help students reach their goals. I live by the term “challenge by choice” when working with students, as our choices, even when challenging, guide our journeys. Having experienced being an out-of-state student, in-state student, and exchange student, I am comfortable with cultural shocks, no matter where you are coming to USF from, with the right support and strategies I believe you have the potential to achieve your personal and academic goals.

I joined the Office of Academic Advocacy in 2022, previously working at USF St. Petersburg campus. I have worked in higher education since 2017, including first year academic achievement programs, student leadership and community engagement, academic advising, first year summer programs, and most recently with transfer students for the last 2.5 years.  As an undergraduate student I was a transfer student from University of New Hampshire, studied abroad at the University of South Wales, and earned my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. After a gap year working in a public high school, I attended Mississippi State University where I earned my M.S. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs and Higher Education. I recently earned my Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising and am pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Higher Education from USF.

I look forward to getting to know my students, understanding how to best support them in their academic journey, and collaboratively creating a plan that will support them towards their definition of success.