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Faces on Campus: Dr. Laura Sidoran

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You just never know who you’ll meet at Eastern Florida State College. It’s true when they say that everyone has a story, and our Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Laura Sidoran, has a truly inspiring one!

I first met Dr. Sidoran in the SAIL (Student Access for Improved Learning) Office on the Melbourne Campus, where she used to serve as Executive Director. It’s a regular stop on campus tours, and she was always there to greet us with a friendly smile. Dr. Sidoran is well-known at EFSC for supporting and mentoring students with physical, instructional and attitudinal barriers so as to help create an accessible and inclusive environment for all. These days, she oversees all of the College’s Student Affairs teams, which include resources like advising and tutoring.

A graduate of EFSC (class of 1986), Dr. Sidoran shared with me that she once “had an instructor that was instrumental in encouraging [her] to continue [her] education.” In a recent online interview, she talked about a time when she had decided to quit school altogether after getting behind in a course. Instead of just letting her go, the instructor contacted her directly and insisted that she could do it.

“She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” said Dr. Sidoran, who finished her degree, then continued her education, ultimately earning her Doctorate from UCF. Her experience as a student has had a tremendous impact on what she does today:

“I take that to work every day, as it is my goal that every EFSC student walks away feeling that same support.”

Now more than ever, students, faculty and staff are learning the importance of staying connected and supporting one another. According to Dr. Sidoran, working remotely from home and hosting virtual appointments through chat, phone and video has been a truly unique experience for the Student Affairs teams — one that has emphasized society’s dependence on technology and the Internet. Just as students have had to adjust to taking classes online, EFSC employees have had to adjust to working from their home offices, and doing so has highlighted what we take for granted in our regular, on-campus spaces. Little things like office supplies, as well as bigger things like printers and dual computer monitors are conveniences that are inaccessible to some while working from home.

“We had to move so quickly to remote work,” said Dr. Sidoran. “Our IT department was an amazing help at getting all the phones switched over. We couldn’t use our personal cell phones, so everyone had to have a new system. It took a while, but everyone rolled up their sleeves and hit the ground running. I couldn’t be more proud of all the Student Affairs departments. It was stressful, but we tried to focus on the mission (student success) and not on the fear of what was happening around us.”

Although there are challenges to working from home, Dr. Sidoran notes that there are also positives: “I’ve heard from many people that they can be more focused and more productive, which aligns with a study out of Stanford that found working from home can boost productivity.” She went on to list two things she hopes students will keep in mind — not just as we navigate COVID-19, but always:

  1. We truly are here to help. Check out our Virtual Student Services Guide for the most up-to-date communications, as well as info on how to get in touch with your Advisor. We’ve got you!

  2. Your input matters. “It’s important to keep a pulse on what is happening so we can make improvements where necessary,” Dr. Sidoran said. “Our mission is to support students, and so we want their constructive feedback.” Student Affairs regularly stays in touch with the Communications Department to tweak the information on the website as needed, so you’ll always have the latest information and guidance.

You would be hard-pressed to meet anyone at Eastern Florida who is more passionate about student success than Dr. Laura Sidoran. Looking at where she is today, it is fascinating to think that she nearly dropped out of college at one point. That just goes to show it only takes one person to make a big difference in your life, so if you’re questioning whether you should continue your education, please get in touch. We’re here to help.

Tracy Glidden
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