Evan Staves
Academic Advisor for Machine Tool Technology, Process Technology and Forest Technology
Lake Charles Campus
evan.staves@sowela.edu
My name is Evan Staves and I am the Academic Advisor for the School of Industrial Technology. I’m from Lake Charles, LA. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from McNeese State University. I have 6 years of experience in higher education. I’ve worked in areas such as the Registrar’s Office, Veteran’s Affairs, and Testing. Why I like working with students at SOWELA: As an academic advisor, you get to meet all kinds of people. No two students are alike. Everyone you come in contact with has their own story, aspirations, and goals. My job allows me to listen first, and then come up with the best solution to get them to their ultimate destination.
Academic Advisor for Machine Tool Technology, Process Technology and Forest Technology
Lake Charles Campus
evan.staves@sowela.edu
My name is Evan Staves and I am the Academic Advisor for the School of Industrial Technology. I’m from Lake Charles, LA. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from McNeese State University. I have 6 years of experience in higher education. I’ve worked in areas such as the Registrar’s Office, Veteran’s Affairs, and Testing. Why I like working with students at SOWELA: As an academic advisor, you get to meet all kinds of people. No two students are alike. Everyone you come in contact with has their own story, aspirations, and goals. My job allows me to listen first, and then come up with the best solution to get them to their ultimate destination.
Venus DeJean
Academic Advisor for Information Systems Technology, Drafting and Design Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, and Welding, Accounting Technology, and Culinary Arts
Lake Charles Campus
venus.dejean@sowela.edu
My Name is Venus DeJean and I am an Academic Advisor and Retention Coordinator. I’m from Lake Charles, LA. I received my Bachelor’s degree from McNeese State University. I’ve worked in higher education for the past 5 years helping students as an Enrollment Specialist and Financial Aid Counselor. Working with students at SOWELA, I have the privilege to witness who students are at the start of their journey and how they come to develop into their future selves. It is my sincere desire that every student succeed.
Academic Advisor for Information Systems Technology, Drafting and Design Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, and Welding, Accounting Technology, and Culinary Arts
Lake Charles Campus
venus.dejean@sowela.edu
My Name is Venus DeJean and I am an Academic Advisor and Retention Coordinator. I’m from Lake Charles, LA. I received my Bachelor’s degree from McNeese State University. I’ve worked in higher education for the past 5 years helping students as an Enrollment Specialist and Financial Aid Counselor. Working with students at SOWELA, I have the privilege to witness who students are at the start of their journey and how they come to develop into their future selves. It is my sincere desire that every student succeed.
Matthew Ferguson
Academic Advisor for Chemical Laboratory Technology, Industrial Electrical Technology, and Industrial Instrumentation Technology
Lake Charles Campus
matthew.ferguson@sowela.edu
My name is Matthew Ferguson and I am an Academic Advisor. I received a Bachelor’s degree from University of Louisiana at Monroe, and spent years working in higher education at McNeese State University. My career at SOWELA began as a Student Services Generalist where I tutored in Math, English, Chemistry, and more. Then, I transitioned to an Enrollment Specialist and Advisor at the Morgan Smith Site in Jennings, LA. I enjoy working with students at SOWELA because I love seeing students take on new challenges and achieve their goals.
Academic Advisor for Chemical Laboratory Technology, Industrial Electrical Technology, and Industrial Instrumentation Technology
Lake Charles Campus
matthew.ferguson@sowela.edu
My name is Matthew Ferguson and I am an Academic Advisor. I received a Bachelor’s degree from University of Louisiana at Monroe, and spent years working in higher education at McNeese State University. My career at SOWELA began as a Student Services Generalist where I tutored in Math, English, Chemistry, and more. Then, I transitioned to an Enrollment Specialist and Advisor at the Morgan Smith Site in Jennings, LA. I enjoy working with students at SOWELA because I love seeing students take on new challenges and achieve their goals.
Ashley Gray
Academic Advisor for General Studies, Criminal Justice, Transfer Degrees
Lake Charles Campus
ashley.gray@sowela.edu
My name is Ashley Gray and I am an Academic Advisor. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree from The University of Mississippi and my Master’s from The University of Southern Mississippi. I have worked in higher education for 8 years. I was the Director of Student Activities and Housing at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, MS and an Administrative Coordinator in the School of Accountancy at The University of Mississippi. I am excited to work with SOWELA students to help them further education and career goals.
Academic Advisor for General Studies, Criminal Justice, Transfer Degrees
Lake Charles Campus
ashley.gray@sowela.edu
My name is Ashley Gray and I am an Academic Advisor. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree from The University of Mississippi and my Master’s from The University of Southern Mississippi. I have worked in higher education for 8 years. I was the Director of Student Activities and Housing at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, MS and an Administrative Coordinator in the School of Accountancy at The University of Mississippi. I am excited to work with SOWELA students to help them further education and career goals.
Courtney Guillory
Academic Advisor for Practical Nursing, Digital Arts and Communication, and Office Systems Technology, Business Administration
Lake Charles Campus
courtney.guillory@sowela.edu
My name is Courtney Guillory and I am an Academic Advisor. I was born and raised here in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from McNeese State University. Currently, I am pursuing my master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling from Lamar University. I have worked in higher education for several years assisting students as Program Coordinator and Hall Director at McNeese State University, and most recently as Student Life Coordinator here at SOWELA. I love meeting new people and building new relationships. I’ve always had a passion for helping people. Being able to assist students in choosing their educational and career paths is rewarding.
Academic Advisor for Practical Nursing, Digital Arts and Communication, and Office Systems Technology, Business Administration
Lake Charles Campus
courtney.guillory@sowela.edu
My name is Courtney Guillory and I am an Academic Advisor. I was born and raised here in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from McNeese State University. Currently, I am pursuing my master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling from Lamar University. I have worked in higher education for several years assisting students as Program Coordinator and Hall Director at McNeese State University, and most recently as Student Life Coordinator here at SOWELA. I love meeting new people and building new relationships. I’ve always had a passion for helping people. Being able to assist students in choosing their educational and career paths is rewarding.
Jordan Gribble
Academic Advisor for students applying to the RN program (ASN and LPN to RN bridge)
Lake Charles Campus
jordan.gribble@sowela.edu
My name is Jordan Gribble and I am an Academic Advisor at SOWELA. I received a Bachelor’s degree from McNeese State University in Mass Communications. I’ve spent nearly a decade in Secondary Education as a Middle and High School English teacher. My primary drive in Education has always been to ensure that every student gets what they need to achieve—it is my hope at SOWELA that advisees under my tutelage get just that.
Academic Advisor for students applying to the RN program (ASN and LPN to RN bridge)
Lake Charles Campus
jordan.gribble@sowela.edu
My name is Jordan Gribble and I am an Academic Advisor at SOWELA. I received a Bachelor’s degree from McNeese State University in Mass Communications. I’ve spent nearly a decade in Secondary Education as a Middle and High School English teacher. My primary drive in Education has always been to ensure that every student gets what they need to achieve—it is my hope at SOWELA that advisees under my tutelage get just that.
Kim Stanton
Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist
Morgan Smith (Jennings) Instructional Site
kimberly.stanton@sowela.edu
My name is Kimberly Stanton and I am the Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist for SOWELA’s Morgan Smith Instructional site in Jennings. I started my journey at SOWELA in 2017 as a HiSET student then worked my way up to graduating with an Associates in both Accounting and Business Administration at SOWELA. I currently attend Northwestern State University, where I am working to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. It is a pleasure to be able to guide students along their journey, just as I was guided when I was a student here at SOWELA.
Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist
Morgan Smith (Jennings) Instructional Site
kimberly.stanton@sowela.edu
My name is Kimberly Stanton and I am the Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist for SOWELA’s Morgan Smith Instructional site in Jennings. I started my journey at SOWELA in 2017 as a HiSET student then worked my way up to graduating with an Associates in both Accounting and Business Administration at SOWELA. I currently attend Northwestern State University, where I am working to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. It is a pleasure to be able to guide students along their journey, just as I was guided when I was a student here at SOWELA.
Katelyn Warren
Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist
Oakdale Instructional Site
katelyn.warren@sowela.edu
My name is Katelyn Warren, and I am the Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist for SOWELA’s Instructional Site in Oakdale, LA. I graduated in 2017 from Louisiana State University Eunice with my Associates of Science in Criminal Justice. I have begun my journey to obtain my Bachelor’s in General Studies from Northwestern State University. I am excited for the opportunity to help students navigate their educational and career paths.
Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist
Oakdale Instructional Site
katelyn.warren@sowela.edu
My name is Katelyn Warren, and I am the Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist for SOWELA’s Instructional Site in Oakdale, LA. I graduated in 2017 from Louisiana State University Eunice with my Associates of Science in Criminal Justice. I have begun my journey to obtain my Bachelor’s in General Studies from Northwestern State University. I am excited for the opportunity to help students navigate their educational and career paths.
Jordan Chambers
Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist
Lamar Salter (Leesville) Instructional Site
jordan.chambers@sowela.edu
My name is Jordan Chambers, and I am the Enrollment/Advising Specialist for SOWELA’s Lamar Salter Instructional site in Leesville. I was born and raised here in Leesville, Louisiana. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northwestern State University. I have been working in higher education for 5 years assisting students in Student Accounts, Testing, and as an Instructor. My goal is your goal: I want to see our students reach their academic and career goals!
Enrollment Support/Advising Specialist
Lamar Salter (Leesville) Instructional Site
jordan.chambers@sowela.edu
My name is Jordan Chambers, and I am the Enrollment/Advising Specialist for SOWELA’s Lamar Salter Instructional site in Leesville. I was born and raised here in Leesville, Louisiana. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northwestern State University. I have been working in higher education for 5 years assisting students in Student Accounts, Testing, and as an Instructor. My goal is your goal: I want to see our students reach their academic and career goals!