Student Resources
Student Advocates
Advocates are the support system for Academy students. They are a special and select group of
allies designated to help students adjust to campus life. Advocates act as liaisons to help resolve
a variety of adjustment issues, including academic, financial, personal, or social through
one-on-one communication and support.
All Student Advocates are part of the Student Affairs Office. To contact your Student Advocate
or to find out who your Student Advocate is, please call 800.544.ARTS. or by email at
studentaffairs@academyart.edu.
Meet the Advocates
Take a moment to discover the wealth of experience our Advocates bring to the table.
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Xia Lee
Xia was born in Southern California and grew up in the Central Valley. She received a Bachelor
of Art in Psychology, with a minor in Education, from the University of California, Berkeley and a
Masters of Art in Counselor Education from San Jose State University. Previously, Xia has worked as
a refugee counselor and a high school counselor for at-risk and underrepresented students. She is
passionate about Education and has a strong interest in the Arts. Both traits have brought Xia to
the Academy of Art, where she is excited to support and work with students while they pursue their
goals.
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Jennifer Sembera
Jennifer was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and earned a
Bachelor of Art in Anthropology from Texas A&M University. While in college, Jennifer
volunteered for three years as a Freshman Orientation Counselor to incoming students and as an
Operations Coordinator for on-campus music programming. Following her study abroad experiences in
Guatemala and Mexico, she traveled on her own through the U.K. and Central Europe. Jennifer moved
to San Francisco in 2005, serving as an Americorps volunteer in the Mission District. In addition
to her experience with students, she has worked in the fields of marketing, editing and
travel-writing. She is passionate about education and the arts and brings years of in-depth
experience to her role as a Student Advocate. Jennifer is excited by the opportunity to work with
the talented artists and designers at the Academy of Art University!
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Kari Spencer
Kari Spencer grew up on California's Central Coast. She moved north to attend San Jose State
University where she received a B.S in Advertising and a minor degree in English. Before coming to
the Academy, Kari worked as a Study Abroad Advisor for students pursuing overseas education. She
also worked briefly in advertising, but found working with students to be her real passion. Kari
enjoys working with AAU's creative students and helping them find success at the Academy.
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Thelma Dimas
Thelma grew up in Los Angeles, California. She received a Bachelor of Art in International
Relations from San Francisco State University. Previously, Thelma received the opportunity to teach
English as a Foreign Language in Istanbul, Turkey. Additionally, she worked for the Upward Bound
Project at the Univ. of S.F. and helped at-risk high school students meet their academic goals to
apply for Universities across the nation. Through her experience of working with students
internationally and domestically, Thelma has discovered that her professional passion is to assist
students reach their full academic potential and looks forward to working with exceptional students
of the Academy of Art University.
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Navi Ganancial
Navi grew up in the North Bay. She graduated from Pacific Union College with a Bachelor of
Science in Public Relations/Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in International Communication with
an emphasis in Italian. Throughout her college experience she was highly involved with the
administration and student life by participating in numerous student associations. It was during
those years that her dedication to students flourished, which is why she is excited to be an
Advocate here at the Academy. Navi has also spent time abroad studying in Florence, Italy. While in
Europe she traveled extensively, and gained a deep appreciation for art and the impact that it has
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Vince Apple-Chiarella
Vince grew up on the beautiful island of Maui. He moved to the mainland to attend the
University of San Francisco where he earned a B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Japanese
Language and Culture. While at USF he became very involved in the new student orientation process
and took an initiative in helping students acclimate themselves to college life and the city of San
Francisco. Vince is the oldest of seven siblings and has vast experience coaching youth athletics
in which he has naturally taken pride in being a positive role model. He hopes that he may continue
to provide assistance and support to the students of the Academy of Art University. |
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