Meet Our New Director of Advising: Cody Olson

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Cody Olson

After serving as an advisor at Commonwealth Honors College for three and a half years, Cody Olson recently stepped into a new role as the director of advising! While his daily schedule is changing as he transitions into this new opportunity, Olson’s mission remains grounded in his passion to serve students and enrich their college experiences. 

The Accidental Advisor 

Olson didn't always plan on a career in higher education. He attended Shippensburg University, located in Central Pennsylvania, as an undergraduate. He was a business major, planning on working in marketing or human resources after graduation. However, like many students, he hit a crossroads and began looking for fulfillment in other areas. This meant various major changes from environmental science to public policy, but he found his true calling in an unexpected place; working in new student orientations.  

While completing graduate studies at UConn, Olson began advising new students on a one-on-one basis, which is where he discovered a newfound purpose.  

“That was where I found the most fulfillment – helping students navigate what are sometimes needlessly complex and tricky systems at large universities – and helping them align their interests, their backgrounds, their experiences, and their aspirations, with what they can actually do at the university,” he explains. 

An “Amorphous” Blob 

Now a month into his tenure, Olson is focused on ensuring that Commonwealth Honors College feels like a community rather than what he calls an "amorphous blob.” Although he is still accepting individual advising appointments, his new role will transition him into a much more supportive role to the entire advising team.  

"I’m developing systems and policies to make sure everybody who interacts with our office has an excellent experience, whether it’s a small piece of information or big, life-altering conversations," Olson explained. 

As part of these new structures and policies, Olson aims to demystify the Honors College’s most pivotal requirement, the Honors Thesis. 

"My goal is to take it from being a checkbox item to a project that students are excited to have agency over," Olson said. "It can be anything from stage performances and political cartooning to policy analysis or working with elected officials. It should be a reflection of who you are."

Images from recent Honors Theses including examinations of fish anatomy, dance performances, and research on self-driving cars. Photos: Diki Yangzom, Ha Nguyen, and Kimberly Manyanga

Why Advising? 

For students who may be hesitant to seek out advising, Olson wants to convey the ever-important message that the advising office is there for more than procedural assistance. 

Olson emphasized that advising at Commonwealth Honors College is a holistic process. On any day, students are encouraged to come into advising to discuss anything and everything related to their academic, career, and personal goals. Come in to discuss graduate school, the thesis, or in Olson’s case, the Minnesota Timberwolves or his cat Reese! 

"We are a group of people whose nine-to-fives are literally to help students accomplish what they want to accomplish," Olson said. "Whether they want to seek out new opportunities or just want someone in their corner as they navigate something as big and scary as a college education, our office is there.” 

To meet with Cody or any of our amazing academic advisors, check out the advising website to book an appointment through Navigate or come in for drop-in advising on Zoom or in-person!