Bernadine Canada: Interim Director
Bernadine Canada is responsible for providing leadership to ACE staff in the development of programs and services that promote student learning and success. On a daily basis, you will find Bernadine collaborating with administrators, faculty, staff, and students. She listens to students’ concerns and assists them with problem-solving as they work to meet their academic goals.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
bernacan@uic.edu
Jose De Leon: College Instructor
Jose DeLeon teaches classes in critical and analytical reading and thinking. He is currently working on a book titled The Reading Matrix that presents an entirely new approach to teaching students how to master college level reading material. The Reading Matrix is part of a series of books that are to follow that will provide a comprehensive set of modules meant to cover aspects of discursive thinking and writing. Additionally, he teaches ESL courses and has experience working with students who are non-native speakers of the English language. He also teaches vocabulary classes where students can learn up to as many as 200 words within an eight-week time span.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
jdeleo1@uic.edu
Patrick Koerner: Interim Assistant Director
Patrick Koerner regularly teaches ASP 060: Studying/Learning Across the Disciplines, ASP 091: Critical Reading and Thinking, and ASP 092: Vocabulary Enrichment. His other responsibilities include providing workshops around campus on request and facilitating workshop series such as the Academic Achievement Program, the Student Study Series, and preparation courses for the verbal section of graduate entrance exams.
In all of his work for ACE, Patrick tries to provide students with the rationale behind his advice, as well as a forum to discuss whether a particular study strategy might (or might not) work.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
koerner1@uic.edu
Victoria Kolkebeck: College Tutor/Instructor, Health Sciences
Victoria Kolkebeck works with health professional students on their quantitative skills and with pre-health students on their prerequisite courses in math, chemistry, and physics. She provides a variety of teaching methods for individuals or small groups of students, focusing on underlying concepts as well as strategies for solving problems. Many students who come to ACE struggle to do well in their math and science courses, and Victoria is gratified to be able to help them.
Victoria specializes in working with underrepresented students and with students who prefer to work with a single person through the entire sequence of their prerequisite math and science courses.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
vkolke1@uic.edu
Ixta Rosa: College Instructor
Ixta Rosa is an instructor for several ASP courses and also facilitates various academic success workshops, including the Save Our Semester and Academic Achievement Program workshop series. She also meets with students individually to assist them in time management, critical reading, and general study skills. Additionally, she informs students on the importance of improving critical writing skills, and often aids students in writing papers and personal statements.
Ixta is perhaps best known among students as the author of the ACE Study Tip of the Week, a column that appears weekly in subscribing students' email boxes. Ixta is also responsible for the program newsletter to provide affiliated and interested students, staff, and faculty with information about ACE.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
Jermaine Woodard: Administrative Assistant
Jermaine Woodard is the administrative liaison between ACE staff and the UIC community of students and staff. He helps students determine which ACE staff member can best assist them in achieving their full potential while at UIC. Jermaine is also responsible for coordinating and maintaining the day-to-day operations of the ACE office,including answering phone calls, organizing meetings, planning events, ordering office supplies, and preparing necessary ACE documents.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
jwood12@uic.edu
