Success Coaching

Lizzy Breibart, Success Coach

• Undergrad Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders with minors in Deaf Studies and Russian
• Hometown: Haddonfield, NJ
• Activities: Reading, shopping, and baking; Fun fact: I speak Russian.
• What should you know about me? I love West Chester and I am excited to further my education in this amazing community!
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Adjusting to a new lifestyle.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Completing extra classes and minors.

Javier F. Brown III

• Current Major/Program: Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs Master's Program; Undergrad Major: B.A. in Psychology; 
• Hometown: Lancaster, PA
• Activities: Spending time with family and friends, working out, playing sports, hiking, video games, traveling, Millersville Concerned Men (MU); Fun fact: I played basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, and Judo. Learned some Muay Thai while I was in NYC for 6 months. I tried out playing soccer and training in professional wrestling.
• What should you know about me? I love helping people to not only reach their potential but get to where they describe as success!
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Figuring out what I wanted to do as a career and finding a major that best suits that career path and my interests.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Receiving the Newman Civic Fellowship Award and joining the Newman Civic Fellowship Class of 2019-2020.

Peggy Findeison, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: School Counseling & Licensed Professional Counseling; Undergrad Major & Minor: B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Sociology
• Hometown: Downingtown, PA
• Activities: Surfing, rock climbing, gardening, yoga, reading, riding my horse, and spending time with friends and family; Fun fact: I once slept 100 ft up in a tree in the Costa Rican jungle!
• What should you know about me? I believe no goal is too small or too big and I am truly passionate about helping others achieve their goals, whatever they may be! I enjoy learning about different ways to help someone and am always open to feedback on what is or is not working. I also love the outdoors and believe we can learn a lot about ourselves by looking to nature for answers.
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Managing my time and finding all the resources that were available to me. 
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Completing two research projects from start to finish and having one of them published in an academic journal.

Abena Boadua Sakyi, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Master of Public Administration; Undergrad Major & Minor: Political Science and Economics 
• Hometown: Accra, Ghana
• Activities: Listening to music, singing, and reading; Fun fact: I crossed three rivers on foot during a festival in Ghana.
• What should you know about me? I love meeting people and helping in anyway  I can. I enjoy learning about new cultures. I am also very accommodating. I believe that we usually have the answers to what bothers us; all we need to do is look inside our hearts.
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Juggling school with political positions.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Receiving an honor from the Dean.

Maddie Skjefstad, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: M.S CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counseling); Undergrad Major & Minor: Psychology and concentration in ethics
• Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL and West Chester, PA
• Activities: Traveling, reading, trying new workout classes; Fun fact: I’ve been to seventeen countries (hoping for 20 in 2024).
• What should you know about me? I’ve been a peer mentor since I was fifteen, I love being a second pair of eyes on a problem to help solve it.
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Switching majors while online during COVID.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: Hitting submit on my senior capstone projects!

Chloe Weissman, Success Coach

• Current Major/Program: Master of Social Work (MSW); Undergrad Major: Psychology
• Hometown: Newtown, PA
• Activities: Thrifting, film, hiking, sports, traveling, painting; Fun fact: I’ve traveled to Europe twice.
• What should you know about me? I graduated from WCU in 2023, so I am familiar with campus life and the useful resources that are offered. I am excited to help students with their academic goals and make sure they are smoothly navigating our institution. I am happy to help students manage their time, build stress-management skills, and be an overall academic support throughout the semester. I look forward to working with you!
• Biggest Challenge as an Undergrad: Balancing my coursework with the research I was pursuing with Dr. Hyers.
• Biggest Success as an Undergrad: I graduated with honors last spring!

Dominique Bennett, M.A., Success Coach Lead

Dominique Bennett is a seasoned higher education professional with experience in the onboarding and training of 15 graduate assistants in a former role as Resident Coordinator at La Salle University. She was responsible for directing programming, maintaining a budget, establishing a procedure around crisis intervention and follow up, and collecting and analyzing data to improve services. Dominique holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Dominique is in her fifth year at WCU. In her previous role as Student Success Coordinator to the College of Health Sciences, she conducted individual and group advising sessions for the Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Nutrition. Dominique also provided mentorship and coordinated care to students on academic probation or at risk of dismissal.

Dominique is excited to lead the Success Coaching team! She will provide supervision on the individualized academic skills sessions and group academic success workshops offered by our graduate assistant Success Coaches. Dominique will assist in the marketing and assessment of Success Coaching and provide guidance on outreach to students and appropriate case referrals in the EAB Navigate CRM platform.