Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 9Ìýa.m. - 5 p.m.Ìý
Office Location:
McKinley 104
Contact Us
Office of Undergraduate Academic Services
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
United States
Undergraduate Advising
The School of Communication Undergraduate advising office is committed to delivering outstanding advising services to our students by utilizing the theory and practice of Appreciative Advising. Appreciative Advising is an academic advising philosophy which calls advisors to celebrate students' strengths as they help advisees achieve their life and academic goals. It is a reciprocal approach where both student and advisor benefit and learn. Appreciative Advisors build relationships with students to keep them engaged in exploring multiple avenues for meeting their needs. We are truly invested in partnering with students to achieve academic and personal success.
Appointments
Click below to schedule an appointment. Please indicate your preferred format (in person, virtual or phone) to host the advising session and specify the purpose of the meeting under the notes section. This willÌýhelp us prepare and serve you better.
You will be able to schedule appointments beginning on those dates.
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Ana Maria Ulloa-Shields (anamaria@american.edu)Ìýwill be advising students with last name A (all students) and last names A-E (May/August 2025 graduating students only).
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Rachael Huddleston (rhuddleston@american.edu) will be advising students with last names B-G (Sophomores & Juniors).
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Julio Reyes (julior@american.edu)Ìýwill be advising students with last names F & G (May/August 2025 graduating students only) and last names H-N (all students).
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Debbie Bartels (dbartels@american.edu) will be advising students with last names O-Y (Sophomores & Juniors).
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Tara Flakker (flakker@american.edu)Ìýwill be advising students with last names O-Z (May/August 2025 graduating students only) and last name Z (all students).
Drop-Ins
Virtual Registration Drop-Ins
March 24 – April 4
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 1pm – 3pm
Tuesday, Thursday: 10am – 12pm
This space is designed for brief (10-15 minute) registration-related questions. Students will be connected with their advisor on a first-come first-served basis. Please join via this Zoom link:Ìý.
* Please note that we won't have drop-ins on March 28 due to Inauguration.
Meet Our Team
Ana Maria Ulloa-Shields (anamaria@american.edu)
Ìý
Advising Students:
• Last Name A (all students)
• Last Names A-E (May/August 2025 graduating students only)
Ìý
- Ana Maria joined SOC as Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Student Services in February 2022. Ana Maria has leadership experience at Carnegie Mellon and Columbia Universities, serving in Assistant, Associate Dean and Sr. Associate Dean of Student roles.
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- On campus Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Working remotely Thursdays and Fridays.
Rachael Huddleston (rhuddleston@american.edu)
Ìý
Advising Students:
• Last Names B-G (Sophomores & Juniors)
Ìý
Rachael joined SOC in 2024 after teaching and advising students in the US and abroad. Partnering with students to help them navigate their educational journeys and achieve their academic goals has been a highlight of her career in education.
On campus Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Working remotely Mondays and Thursdays.
Julio Reyes (julior@american.edu)
Ìý
Advising Students:
• Last Names F & G (May/August 2025 graduating students only)
• Last Names H-N (all students)
Ìý
Julio is eager to work with the SOC/Â鶹Æƽâ°æ community. Julio was born and raised in Maryland. He has a Masters in Academic Advising from Kansas State University. Julio is enthusiastic about empowering students so that they can create their path to a better and brighter future. In his free time, Julio loves to explore different restaurants in the DMV, travel to new places, and play soccer.
On campus Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Working remotely Mondays and Tuesdays.
Debbie Bartels (dbartels@american.edu)
Ìý
Advising Students:
• Last Names O-Y (Sophomores & Juniors)
Ìý
Debbie joined the advising team after two years at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ's NPR member station, WAMU, where she worked to build strong relationships between WAMU and the community. Prior to thatÌýshe was an educator at the Smithsonian, designing and teaching experiential learning programs. She enjoys connecting SOC students to the incredible experiences they can only find here at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ.
On campus Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Working remotely Mondays and Thursdays.
Tara Flakker (flakker@american.edu)
Ìý
Advising Students:
• Last Names O-Z (May/August 2025 graduating students only)
• Last Name Z (all students)
Ìý
Tara Flakker is the Director of Undergraduate Student and Academic Affairs and will be advising seniors students with last names O-Z and all students with last name Z.
On campus Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Working remotely Mondays and Tuesdays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer credits into SOC?
12 credit hours of communication courses may be transferred in prior to matriculation at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ and counted toward SOC major requirements, with SOC academic advisor approval. 2 communication courses, worth a total of 6 credit hours, may be taken abroad with prior approval from your SOC academic advisor. Refer to the Transfer Articulation Equivalency page to see if your courses will transfer.Ìý
What GPA will I need to remain in good standing?
School of Communication students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0 to be in good academic standing.
More information on the undergraduate academic rules and regulations can be found here.