Maggie Bannon ’23Ed.D.

Maggie Bannon ’23Ed.D. worked hard to climb the academic and professional ladder as a first-generation student, and now as the director of academic advising for the first professional advising center in UNCW’s College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA). 

Bannon has found her passion for academic advising and helping students like her succeed.

“I want to provide all students, especially those from underserved populations, the space to share their stories, hopes and dreams,” Bannon said. “I hope students see my genuine interest in their success and feel comfortable coming to me for assistance, especially when they feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to go or who to talk to. I want to challenge students to make the most of their time at UNCW and take healthy risks.” 

Bannon was hired as an academic advisor for UNCW’s Center for Academic Advising (formerly the University College) in 2006, where she coordinated the first-year learning communities. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Marshall University. In fall 2019, she pursued a degree in the Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program at UNCW and successfully defended her dissertation in October 2023. 

With the initiative from Bannon, CHSSA hired professional academic advisors to support undergraduate students. Currently, these advisors are piloting a new approach in partnership with several departments, with efforts to expand to all departments by next summer. Students will have both a primary advisor from the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and a faculty mentor. The advisors will help with course planning, major/minor changes, graduation applications and academic challenges, allowing faculty mentors to focus on students’ specific interests and opportunities within their majors.

Getting to know the students is an effort Bannon prioritizes. 

“I love that each student is unique. I love hearing their stories and learning about their interests and what they hope to accomplish at UNCW and beyond,” Bannon said. “I love helping them find ways to make the most of their time at UNCW through opportunities like undergraduate research, internships, study abroad experiences and department or campus involvement.”

Bannon often shares her own experiences and advice with other first-generation students: find mentors and supporters, take risks and leverage the resources and opportunities at UNCW, ask for help when necessary, realize you don’t have to navigate everything alone, and visit the Career Center annually to enhance skills, explore opportunities, and prepare for future careers.  For students who have faced barriers in their academic journey, Bannon is a supportive outlet ready to help.

“I love being a support system that helps them connect to resources to help them succeed,” she said. “I also enjoy being a sounding board to help them figure out ways to accomplish their goals, and I point out their accomplishments when they don’t see them. I have seen many students make impressive turnarounds in their academic journeys, and I love cheering them on from the sidelines. Watching them walk across the stage during graduation feeds my soul.”

National First-Generation College Student Week (Nov. 4-8) celebrates the achievements of first-generation college students. The week culminates on National First-Generation College Celebration Day (Nov. 8), marking the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965.  In honor of the observance, we’re sharing inspiring stories from first-generation Seahawks throughout the month. Explore UNCW’s First-Generation Programs to learn about resources and a community dedicated to first-generation students’ academic and personal success.