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Megan Cavanaugh
Megan joins Joliet Junior College (JJC) with several years of experience in higher education. Her background involves academic advising, alternative breaks programming, and conference services. Megan brings experience from the community college level as well as public and private four year institutions including Heartland Community College, Illinois State University, and Drexel University. She is passionate about empowering students to discover their strengths and aspirations through higher education. Megan earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from Illinois State University.
![Cheryl Turrise](https://jjc.edu/sites/default/files/Advising/turrise%2C%20cheryl%202..jpeg)
Cheryl Turrise
Cheryl began her career with JJC in 2012 when she served in the position of Transfer Specialist. She came to JJC after several years assisting students as an Academic Advisor at Moraine Valley Community College. In 2016 Cheryl became the Assistant Director of Transfer at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and most recently returned to Illinois, and JJC, after four years with the University of California, Irvine, in the capacity of Advisor/Coordinator and Credential Analyst for the STEM Education Secondary Teacher Program “CalTeach.”
As a first-generation student, Cheryl understands the challenges of navigating college systems and processes with limited resources and support and is committed to student success. As a JJC Student Success Coach, Cheryl believes she can best serve students by helping them understand their options, recognize and prepare for potential obstacles, and then guiding them towards efficient and strategic pathways while helping them avoid wasting time, effort, and unnecessary funds on actions inconsistent with their goals.
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Sara Strabel
Sara joined the JJC staff in November 2023 with over 10 years of experience working with students in higher education. Prior to JJC, Sara served as the Assistant Registrar at her alma mater, Carthage College, where she oversaw the processes for first year student registration and graduation. Additionally, Sara worked for a number of years in university housing and residence life where she mentored student leaders and worked to create safe and supportive living environments for all students. She is passionate about assisting students with exploring the many options a college education has to offer, while drawing on her own experience as a first-generation college student to ensure each student is supported throughout the process.
In addition to her work experience, Sara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from Carthage College as well as a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University.
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Kandis Wright
Kandis is a proud alumnus of Joliet Junior College, where she earned her Associates of Arts degree in Accounting. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Governor’s State University. Kandis brings experience from her work at the college as an Educational Outreach Specialist for the Educational Talent Search TRIO Program. In this role she was responsible for recruiting, supporting, and tracking the success of over 800 high school students. She also developed and planned several student programs and workshops with the purpose of transitioning high school students from underrepresented groups successfully to college. Kandis also previously worked as a Secretary in the Fine Arts Department. In addition to her work in higher education, Kandis is a Youth Volunteer in Chicago’s Lawndale community. In her free time, she mentors, tutors, and provides overall support to disadvantage youth.
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Cynthia Costa-Vaccarella
Cindy joins Joliet Junior College (JJC) with several years of experience in the education landscape. She taught high school English in Chicago for several years and has also worked in administrative roles researching and implementing staff development for teachers. Cindy transitioned into higher education in 2020. She was an Academic Coach at the University of St. Francis before arriving at JJC as a Student Success Coach. She enjoys listening and helping students make informed decisions; considering pathway options, outlining details and outcomes as they align their education plans with future goals. Cindy earned a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University Chicago.