Professional advisors
Advisors
Carmalita M. Kemayo, Advisor
Carmalita hails originally from California and has lived and worked in a number of locations throughout the country. As a nationally certified counselor and seasoned trainer, she has served multiple populations in academic, corporate, and community environments. She is particularly interested in the effective application of knowledge to real life experience, and hopes to instill in her students the insight to value their education as an investment and the skills to maximize the return on that investment.
E-mail: ckema2@uis.edu
Mae Marie Noll, Advisor
Springfield native and long-time UIS presence, Mae is a staunch student advocate. Mae completed her B.A. at Illinois College, her Masterís at UIUC, and her teaching certificate at UIS. Prior to joining the UIS staff, Mae worked in Student Affairs and Academic Affairs at UIUC and Springfield College in Illinois. Mae encourages and assists students in the exploration of the life of the mind inside and outside the classroom. She focuses on supporting student academic success, while matching students with opportunities for personal growth and leadership development. Mae wants our students to feel part of a community that values them as individuals, supports them as scholars, and prepares them for life outside of the institution.
E-mail: mnoll1@uis.edu
Tarah Sweeting-Trotter, Advisor 
Tarah is an Illinois native and most recently relocated to Springfield from Jacksonville, Illinois.She earned her B.A. from MacMurray College and her M.A. from UIS. She is currently working towards her Ph.D. in English with a certificate in Women's Studies at St. Louis University. Tarah has experience in marketing communications, career services, campus activities, residence life, disability support services and first year programs. She has a passion for working to help students realize their full potential and achieve success both in and out of the classroom.
E-mail: tswee03s@uis.edu
Peer advisors
Jessica Flynn, Peer Advisor
My name is Jessica Flynn and I am from south side Chicago. I am an only child, but I have a Chihuahua that acts like a little sister. I am a Legal Studies major and a Criminal Justice minor. I plan on attending law school and becoming a child advocate. I love to volunteer and play music. I am a percussionist and have been playing since I was nine years old. I balance my time well when it comes to doing homework, studying, working, and still having a social life. I am outgoing and easy to talk to. I am excited to be working in the Academic Advising department and working with students.
Natalie Hammoud, Peer Advisor
Natalie Hammoud is a junior who graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 2009. Located in Oak Park, the high school is in a western suburb about 10 minutes outside of Chicago. Natalie is an Accounting major and a Business Administration minor and is looking to receive her MBA and CPA one day. From her hard work and connection with the campus, Natalie reciprocates her knowledge of UIS by encouraging students of their academic success. Natalie provides support to help new students transition into college life through individual and small group interactions and offers direction to many of the new situations and responsibilities associated with college.
Shaun Kerr, Peer Advisor
Shaun Kerr is a Sophomore Business Administration major and Economics minor. He plans to also obtain his MBA. Shaun grew up in Meredosia, IL, a village between Springfield and Quincy. His future goal is to be a Financial Advisor for a bank or corporation. He is an outgoing person and very interested in athletics of nearly all sorts. He enjoys casual games of basketball, flag football and sand volleyball. Shaun is new to the UAAC office but has already grown to enjoy helping students with their problems.
Zach Watkins, Peer Advisor
Zach Watkins is a Senior History Major and International Studies Minor and plans to go to law school after completing his BA. He grew up in Mossville, IL, a village residing just north of Peoria, and graduated from Illinois Valley Central High School in Chillicothe, IL in 2008. Before coming to UIS, Zach completed his associates degree in the Honors Program from Illinois Central College (East Peoria). He looks forward to meeting people with different perspectives, and particularly likes studying other cultures. Zach is a proud Chicago Bears fan who enjoys recreational hiking and the occasional game of ultimate Frisbee. As a tranfer student, Zach brings a unique perspective to academic advising and looks forward to his job.
Office Staff
Lesly Schoo, Office Manager
Lesly has been working in higher education for more than 15 years but is relatively new to the UIS family. She believes that the students are the heart of the University. Lesly feels it is our duty as faculty, staff and student workers to help all the UIS students move forward to achieve their educational goals in the most helpful and efficient way possible.
Email: uisuaac@uis.edu
Krystal Cheung, Student Worker
Krystal Cheung is a Junior Psychology major and Elementary Education minor. She plans on teaching in one of the local Elementary schools after graduation. She is a Golden Apple Pathway Scholar as well as a Midstate Student Support for Teaching Scholar (MSS). Krystal’s sophomore year at UIS she was a Peer Advisor and is now one of the student workers for the Undergraduate Advising Office. She loves her job because she loves to help her fellow students find the classes that they need and help guide them on their path toward getting their Gen Eds complete.
Kyle Pratt, Student Worker
Kyle Pratt is a Senior Chemistry Major with the focus on Bio-Chemistry. He graduated in 2008 from Yorkville High School. Kyle’s future aspiration is to go to graduate school and study Environmental Engineering. He enjoys helping students with their advising questions.
