As a former college volleyball player who benefited from the help of an academic advisor during her undergraduate days at the University of Delaware, Kimberly Stewart decided to "pay it back" by helping the next generation of student-athletes successfully navigate their way through higher education. Today, she's a student-athlete academic advisor and life skills coordinator in UNLV's Academic Success Center.

Why UNLV?

After living on the East Coast for eight years I wanted a change; I wanted to explore another location of our country and escape the snow. Once arriving on campus I felt comfortable. The people I met had a passion for helping our students excel and I wanted to be part of something great. UNLV is an amazing place to be and I love being able to see the accomplishments of our community thus far.

Where did you grow up and what was that like?

I grew up in the Midwest in Kentwood, Michigan, knowing all my neighbors and having block parties every summer. As I got older our town grew and my high school became the second largest high school in Michigan and also the most diverse. I was exposed to many different cultures and backgrounds; it was a great experience!

What is your job title and what are some of your job duties?

I am a student-athlete academic advisor and life skills coordinator. Some of my duties include:

• Meeting with students to help them adjust to college while balancing their course load and their sport commitments.
• Monitoring and evaluating academic progress towards graduation and eligibility requirements for the teams I oversee.
• Preparing student-athletes for life after college by hosting events for them to develop the necessary skill sets to succeed independently.

What inspired you to get into your field?

As a collegiate student-athlete, I utilized my academic advisor as much as possible. When I was close to graduating I decided I wanted to help future student-athletes be successful through college the same way my advisor helped me. 

Is there anything people on campus can do to help you in your job?

Communication is key. Working with our student-athletes is the best part of my job and some might not understand what our job really entails or what student-athletes balance every day. Everyone in my office is always happy to meet with others around campus to describe what our student-athletes’ schedules are like and to explain what our roles entail.

Finish this sentence, "If I couldn't work in my current field, I would like to...

Be a professional photographer traveling around the world seeing amazing sceneries and capturing moments in time to share with others.

Proudest moment?

My proudest moments thus far are completing my master’s degree in higher education counseling and student affairs at West Chester University in Pennsylvania and seeing my students succeed. Celebrating the small wins in life with them makes me proud to be doing what I’m do.

Who inspires you?

My family inspires me. They have always been supportive of my journey in life and they give me the drive to do my best every day.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I’m a huge Indianapolis Colts fan; it’s in my blood. My family has season tickets and I love being able to go to the games and celebrate a victory with the fellow fans.

Pastime or hobbies?

I’m a Netflix junkie. I enjoy watching documentaries about the world and how the cultures and food differ from here in the States. My goal is go to Europe and do a winery tour of all the top vineyards. 

Tell us about an object in your office that has significance for you and why it is significant. 

In college I was on the varsity volleyball team and one of our biggest fans was Jan, who is the university’s museum collections manager. Every year as a gift for the seniors, she has clay lizards made with them wearing our jersey and with a volleyball. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of where I began and the journey I’ve taken to get to where I am today.