Mary Grace Collier-Kisler
Degrees and Credentials
M.A. English, Arcadia University
B.A. English, York College of Pennsylvania
Certificate of Public Librarianship: Clarion University
Certificate of Early Childhood Education: York College of Pennsylvania
Short Bio
Mary Grace is the Academic Advisor for TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB). She has a background in social work, teaching, and public librarianship. A former adjunct instructor of English at UBP and Senior Adjunct Instructor of English at Jamestown Community College (JCC), Mary Grace hails from the Philadelphia area where she began her teaching career at Delaware Valley University as an adjunct instructor of English. In her professional endeavors, Mary Grace has traditionally worked with students from underrepresented groups: first-generation college students, students from rural and low-income backgrounds, students with learning disabilities, active-duty military students, and students who are young parents.
The TRIO Team has been steadfast in their mission to offer holistic support to students. Mary Grace manages a caseload of approximately 85-90 TRIO students. She helps students effectively communicate with their instructors, faculty advisors, and UPB offices. Mary Grace provides her students with individualized academic advice and coaching. She consistently provides direction and encouragement, and sometimes a hard truth, to achieve academic success. Mary Grace teaches TRIO’s Success from the Start class where students learn how to engage in study through the introduction of academic success skills: time management, organization, and study strategies. The class also focuses on financial literacy tools, career exploration, and discusses personal growth.
Research, Accomplishments, and Publications
- 2012 President's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching,
Jamestown Community College - 2011 CELT ApPLE Teaching/Learning Enrichment Award, Jamestown Community College: Guest lecturer in a graduate course on Native American fiction at Arcadia University.
- 2005 SUNY TLE Mini-Grant Award, Jamestown Community College: “Scholarly Siblings: Understanding the Relationship Between Reading and Writing, a Collaboration within the A+ Program.” Evelyn Sabina and Mary Grace Collier-Kisler