Academic Counselor
More about Viktor (He/Him/His):
B.A. English with a minor in Education, UC Davis
I am currently an Adult Education M.A. Candidate here at SF State!
My approach to advising is rooted in the education philosophy of andragogy, in which an advisor encourages adult learners to set personal learning objectives aligned with their values and goals. It is my belief that empowering students' sense of agency leads them to more meaningful personal, academic and professional experiences.
I aspired to be a mentor in a higher education environment for many years. But after working as a Tutor at SFSU's Tutoring and Academic Support Center, I got to engage with our student body and assist in their creation of academic projects and the development of study skills. I loved this work, and decided that advising would be the best next step to turn my love of student service into a full-time career!
As an Advisor for 1st and 2nd year scholars, many of my students are experiencing a great deal of change– new friends, classes, responsibilities, and lifestyles. Helping students make well-informed decisions within these two years can be incredibly conducive not only to their academic success, but their development as well-rounded individuals. This reality gives my work excitement and meaning every day.
My favorite part of my job is getting to learn about the diverse career paths of SF State students!
The best class I've ever taken has got to be ISED 747: Culture, Language and Society in Education. Learning about strategies to empower students marginalized by societal and educational norms was incredibly empowering– an amazing curriculum that could be useful for all educators.
While at UC Davis, I worked at my University's bus mechanics shop! If you ever want to talk about bus models or environmentalism in transit– I'm your guy!
Try as many new things as you possibly can! Our campus is a hub of diverse experiences waiting to be explored. This could be taking a GE classes in a new subject, joining a recreational sport you used to love as a kid or applying for a student job you feel passionate about.
In my free time I love to read with my book club, go bouldering, hike and snowboard!