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Tara Stopfel Warden
Assistant Dean - McMicken College of Arts & Sciences; Director - UC Center for Exploratory Studies
Center for Exploratory Studies - Center for Exploratory Studies
Center for Exploratory Studies - Staff
Dean's Office - Staff
Undergraduate Affairs and Advising - Staff
151 McMicken Hall
513-556-6537
tara.stopfel@uc.edu
Professional Summary
Professional background includes innovation, design and leadership of college student academic and student affairs units that increase student engagement, retention, satisfaction, and success. Currently, Tara is serving as assistant dean for academic advising at the University of Cincinnati with oversight of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences academic advising center as well as directing the Center for Exploratory Studies (CES). She began her work at UC in 2003 when she opened and established CES. The Center has since achieved national recognition as an exemplary practice by the National Academic Advising Association and was also featured in the New York Times. Her 17 years of service to both small, private and large, public universities has also included leadership as associate dean of students, director of career development, and director of residential living, among others. Tara is a regular presenter at national conferences, including the National Academic Advising Association. Tara has served as a consultant to California State University, Long Beach; College of Mt. St. Joseph; and was the invited presenter for a national webcast by Noel-Levitz. Personal interests include travel, hiking, reading, and entertaining friends and family with her partner, Christopher.
Education
M.Ed., University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 1999 (Counseling and Student Services, emphasis in Higher Education Administration).
B.A., University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 1995 (Interdisciplinary Human Studies - biology, psychology, sociology).
Research Interests
Current area of greatest research interest is academic advising as a teaching and learning function within the student educational process. Other interests include leadership in higher education, design of university advising functions, student major and career choice, student development theory, academic environmental factors for students of color, and application of sound business principles to higher education.
Other Publications
. Advising Special Populations. NACADA.
Invited Presentations
Tara Stopfel Strategies for Using Academic Advising to Enhance Retention and Student Engagement. Noel-Levitz, Webinar.
Lectures
Tara Stopfel & Sherry Spokas (). Interviewing and Hiring for Advising Excellence. NACADA Pre-Conference Workshop, Chicago, IL.
Tara Stopfel & Adrian Hall (). Getting Resources in a Performance Based Budgeting or Data Driven Decision Making Environment. NACADA, Baltimore, MD.
Tara Stopfel, Carol Tonge Mack & Sherry Spokas (). Comprehensive Exploratory Advising. NACADA, Indianapolis, IN.
Tara Stopfel (). Blueprints: Building a Center for Exploratory Studies. NACADA, Cincinnati, OH.
Tara Stopfel (). Creating a Community of Scholars. Staff Conference, Jackson, TN.
Tara Stopfel (). Taking the Lead in Creating Student Centered Environments. Women's Leadership Conference, Cincinnati, OH.
Tara Stopfel & Dustin Keller (). Leadership and Emotional Intelligence in Higher Education. MIMSAC Student Affairs Conference, Memphis, TN.
Tara Stopfel (). Making the Staff Connection. SWACUHO.
Tara Stopfel (). Disciplinary Counseling 101. Hall Director Training, Denton, TX.
Tara Stopfel & Kalina Pohlmeier (). Training Your Staff to Handle Sexual Assault Situations. SWACUHO.
Tara Stopfel Warden (). Exemplary Practices in College Student Major Selection. Ohio First Year Experience Summit, Cincinnati, OH.
Tara Stopfel Warden (). A University’s View of Variables Impacting Major Selection. Southwest Ohio Articulation Conference 2009, Cincinnati, OH.
Honors & Awards
Award of Appreciation for Dedication & Committment to UC students, African American Cultural & Research Center.
Various awards for outstanding performance and leadership, UNT Department of Housing.
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
National Academic Advising Association.
MBTI Qualified.
Courses Taught
15-MLTI-175 DISCOVERING UC.
18-CI-801, Student Development Theory Graduate Seminar.
Lambuth University, Freshman Seminar.
Additional Information
Consultant, California State University Long Beach Office of the Provost; overall evaluation of the university's academic advising structures and systems
Consultant, College of Mt. St. Joseph Cabinet; academic advising best practice
