Academic Advising

Your Success Starts With Support

The Microbiology academic advisors are committed to your success, both at UMass and beyond. Our dedicated advising resources are here to guide you through every step of your academic journey and support you in reaching your goals.

First-Year Advising

First year students with a primary or secondary major in the College of Natural Sciences are assigned a First Year Advisor (FYA). FYAs do more than just recommend classes. We build relationships that will support your success from your first day of classes until your last final exam! At the end of your first year, we help you transition to your major advisor who will work with you through graduation. 

More Info About FYA

Upper-Level Advising

All upper-level students (including transfer students) -- i.e., students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year -- will be assigned to an upper-level professional advisor who will stay with them until they graduate. 

Samina Mian
samina
Hello! My name is Samina Mian and I currently work as an Upper-Level Academic Advisor
within the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In addition
to advising Microbiology students, I support students in the Biology and Veterinary Technology
majors at UMass Amherst. I am a recent graduate from UMass Amherst and completed both my
undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. I was on the
Student Farm Enterprise program during my junior year and am very passionate about
vegetable and fruit production! My M.S. program focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
in Massachusetts apple orchards to monitor for three early-season insect pests and determine if
they displayed a feeding preference for certain apple cultivars on grafted apple trees. I am
passionate about local and sustainable agriculture, gardening, writing, and mentorship. Feel
free to book an advising appointment via Navigate or to stop by my office in Morrill III if you
need assistance with course registration, degree requirements, or are looking for ways to get
involved on campus!
samina
Meghan Gerson
meg
Meghan Gerson is one of the Associate Directors of Upper Level Advising in CNS. Located in Morrill Science Center III, her and her team support Microbiology, VASCI, and Biology students. She is passionate about helping students navigate their academic journey, explore opportunities, and build a strong sense of belonging within their major. Whether you are planning your courses, considering research or career paths, or mapping out your next steps toward graduation, Meghan is excited to partner with you and help you make the most of your UMass experience.
meg

Undergraduate Faculty Mentor

Heather Reed

Senior Lecturer; Undergraduate Program Director

Heather Reed.
Ph.D.: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, 2005
Heather Reed.

Professional advisors can provide students with support for:

  • Major/college/gen-ed degree requirements
  • Creating an academic plan to stay on track for graduation
  • Exploring and declaring Double majors/Dual Degrees/Minors
  • Navigating Campus Resources
  • Adjusting to College/Establishing a sense of belongingness
  • Major Exploration
  • Academic Success & Planning
PA F25

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