Bernadine Canada: Associate 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
Judith Cohen: Assistant Director
Judith Schein Cohen teaches Academic Skills Program courses and coordinates the academic and classroom component of ACE. She also supervises ACE instructors, plans the Academic Skills Program semester schedule, and develops and carries out some of the workshops. In addition, she supervises Supplemental Instruction and Tutor and Peer Led Study Group training. Finally, Judith serves on committees and works with representatives from other campus departments to implement new activities and programs that will improve learning assistance and academic support services for all UIC students.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
judithsc@uic.edu
Jose De Leon: Academic Skills Specialist
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
Cecelia Downs: Academic Skills Specialist
Cecelia Downs works primarily with pre-health and health professional students. She helps students determine the reasons for their struggles and then helps them modify aspects of their preparation and/or performance. Cecelia’s work often involves helping students reduce test anxiety and improve logical analysis of test questions. For students working on a dissertation, she assists with project management and writing avoidance.
Cecelia enjoys program development, from developing MCAT and PCAT prep courses to collaborating with the Counseling Center to design a program for students on probation (Academic Achievement Program). As ACE’s webmaster, she has written handouts for the site and developed a section of student-to-student study tips.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
cdowns@uic.edu
Myrna García: Academic Skills Specialist
Myrna García joins the Academic Center for Excellence as a visiting Academic Skills Specialist for the 2007-2008 academic year. She currently teaches ASP 090: Critical Reading and Thinking and facilitates workshops on topics such as time management. Myrna is a doctoral candidate in the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of California, San Diego who has a myriad of teaching experiences at the elementary, high school, and college level. Her interests include serving as a resource for students interested in the fields of education, humanities, and the social sciences and working with first generation college students.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
mgarcia4@uic.edu
Patrick Koerner: Academic Skills Specialist
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.
Patrick 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 inboxes. 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: Academic Skills Specialist
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 Menchaca: Academic Skills Specialist
Ixta J. Menchaca is an ACE academic skills specialist who meets with students individually to assist them in time management, critical reading, and general study skills. She also collaborates with colleagues in various academic success workshops, such as the ACE Student Forums and Clinics, and the Student Study Series. Ixta is also responsible for the program newsletter to provide affiliated and interested students, staff, and faculty with information about ACE. Additionally, she enthusiastically informs students on the importance of improving critical writing skills, and often aids students in the processes of paper revision and editing, particularly but not exclusively for students in English 150, 152, 160, and 161.
Academic Center For Excellence at UIC
Suite 2900, Student Services Building
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: (312)413-0032
imench2@uic.edu
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
