OAT is a re-invention of the long standing SOAR Advising Committee – expanding its role to focus to the educational and philosophical priorities of advising new students. The committee is responsible for planning and implementing the SOAR advising program, as well as exploring the links between SOAR and the fall semester Academic Orientations.
This committee is intended to take advantage of the recent changes to the University’s advising structure by relying on the staff and resources in both the Center for the First-Year Experience and the Office of Undergraduate Advising to carry out its priorities.

OAT meets approximately every other week for 90 minutes during the academic year, starting in October. OAT meets 5-6 times in the summer during SOAR.
Aaron Apel, Office of the Registrar
Kristin Armstrong, School of Human Ecology
Katie Denzin, Wisconsin School of Business
Keiva Coppage Aranda, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Chris Diorio, Center for the First Year Experience
Scott Golueke, Credit Evaluation Services
Kate Knudson, School of Nursing
Carrie Kruse, University Libraries (College Library)
Diana Maki, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Alex Mok, Cross-College Advising Service
Nikki Witt Penwell, College of Letters & Science
Nathan Phelps, FIGS & Course Access
Mary Possin, College of Engineering
Todd Reck, Enrollment Management
Dave Sedor, Intercollegiate Athletics Academic Services
Ariel Sorenson, Wisconsin School of Business
Sara Stephenson, Letters & Science Honors Program
Michael Sullivan, School of Education
Chris Verhaeghe, Center for the First-Year Experience
Max Wagner, Co-Chair, Center for the First-Year Experience
Jen Walsh, Co-Chair, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Kayde Zimmerle, School of Music
Amy Zwaska, School of Pharmacy
OAT meeting schedules and minutes can be accessed on the committee’s wiki page (please note, UW-Madison NetID authentication is required to access the wiki).
OAT has a representative from each advising unit at SOAR. The members are appointed by their school/college/advising unit each year.
To indicate your interest in joining OAT, please take the OUA Committee Interest Survey.