Joshua Braaten attended West Virginia University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management – envisioning a career in the business sector of scholastic or collegiate sport. After graduating from WVU, Joshua began a profession in academia – but as an Academic Advisor at American Public University System where he developed a great passion for student services/coaching within higher education. He has now spent a decade working in a student services role at the collegiate level. Most recently, Joshua has been promoted to Senior Success Coach within the Success Coaching Unit at George Mason University.

Rebecca Mattern is a 2x Patriot, earning both her Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies and her Master’s degree in Counseling and Development from George Mason University. During her graduate program, she worked as a Graduate Assistant and Academic Coach with Learning Services and as the Graduate Career Counseling Intern with Career Services. Rebecca joined the Student Success Coaching team at George Mason in Summer 2022.

Sam Hediger is a PhD student at the George Mason Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, working to better understand conflict systems and peacebuilding’s power to address them. While attaining his master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at Portland State University, he worked for three years as a Graduate Peer Mentor, supporting both students and faculty in their renowned University Studies undergraduate program. Sam is also a Student Success Coach at George Mason University.

Flannery Wickham has been an ADVANCE student Success Coach working with matriculated students from Northern Virginia community college since the Summer of 2022. Before joining George Mason University, Flannery worked as a College Life Coach at her alma mater, Florida State University. Flannery moved to the NOVA region to attend graduate school at George Mason and just recently graduated with her Masters in Higher Education and Student Development.