Meet our Student Success Coaches
Student success coaches are available by appointment only.*
*Each student is assigned a student success coach after orientation. To find out who your student success coach is, please email COTCsuccess@mail.cotc.edu or go to the “Student Assistance” section of COTCconnect on myCOTC.
Newark
Alex Wilson
Alex Wilson (he/him/his) is passionate about helping students self-advocate and navigate the challenges of college. Before COTC, he worked in IT for Park National Bank and provided after-school tutoring programs for K-12th graders for the Columbus Metropolitan Library system. Alex has a BA in Education from Kent State University. When he’s not on campus, Alex is hiking or camping, trying new recipes, playing board games, tinkering with retro video game consoles or disturbing his two cats (Chester and Nimue).
Coshocton
Jackie Farmer
After working at the Ohio Department of Education for 12.5 years, Jackie [she/her/hers] was a teacher in both adult education and business education at the Coshocton County Career Center as well a part-time faculty member at COTC. She also served as a tutor for computer, reading and writing skills. Jackie has bachelor’s degree in education from Kent State University and an MAE from Muskingum College.
Knox
Rachael Bailey
Rachel Bailey has worked in higher education for 25 years, including six years at COTC, in admissions, advising, testing and success coaching. As a Success Coach, she sees her role as an encourager, a motivator and a guide through the college experience. She believes that every student learns in unique ways and that effective studying is a learned skill. Rachel has a BS in Elementary Education from University of Rio Grande and an MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University.
Pataskala
Gary Swisher
Gary Swisher appreciates how every student is wired to learn and succeed in unique ways, and he strives to increase self-understanding in students who are meeting challenges or just trying to figure things out. He has several years’ experience guiding students through their academic and career journeys as a director of career development. Gary holds a master’s degree in counselor education and a bachelor’s degree in advertising design. He’s a husband and dad of two grown children (and three cats). He also works as an independent career counselor and enjoys exploring the woods, DIY projects, playing music and leading worship at his church.
Aidan Wei
Aidan Wei is a Southern California native devoted to helping students make the overwhelming just a tolerable level of whelming. They have a BA in English from Scripps College as well as a BA in ASL Studies from Western Oregon University. At Western, Aidan discovered a passion for student success while working as a peer academic coach and an academic advisor. Now they are excited to bring that passion and near-decade of college experience to COTC. They also enjoy crocheting, collecting uranium glass and watching musical theatre.