Staff Spotlight: Rebecca Severson, ‘14, ‘20, Academic Advisor, Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) Program

As a double alumna of Seattle University and staff member of the College of Nursing, Rebecca Severson, ‘14, ‘20, has had a long relationship with the SU community, which she describes as both, “holistically formative and transformative. As a student, I felt the mission and values of SU from my faculty and classmates being carried out. As a staff member, I draw from that experience and aim for my students and colleagues to feel cared for and supported as whole, unique persons.”  

Severson earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies in 2014 and Master’s degree in Transformational Leadership in 2020 from Seattle University. She joined the College of Nursing in 2015 as its Undergraduate Program Coordinator and worked closely with students and advisors, over time leading her to pursue a career as an academic advisor. She says, “the transition to nursing and to doctoral studies can be intense and overwhelming [for students]… I enjoy spending time with them, offering or connecting them with whatever support they need.”

Get to know more about Severson and what she enjoys about her career as an academic advisor at Seattle University.

Tell us a little about yourself, hobbies, passions, or other details you’d like to share?

I’m a first-gen, double alumna of Seattle University with a passion for people. I love fantasy novels, board and video games, camping (but not hiking!) and spending time with my nearest and dearest. I am passionate about neurodivergence–how it shows up in our lives and how to make things more accessible for various brain wiring.

What made you decide to pursue a career as an Academic Advisor?

I enjoy working with people and thrive in fast-paced environments. Before I came to SU, I was specifically looking for early career jobs in either health care or education. I knew I wanted to work in a field that cared for others and was likely going to be around in 20-30 years. My path to advising was built upon asking “what’s next?” at each stage of my career. When I joined the College of Nursing as a program coordinator and began working closely with advisors, it seemed a natural progression to transition to an advising role.

How long have you been in the field and what do you like best about it?

I began advising in my previous role [with the undergraduate program], so almost 9 years. One of the things I most appreciate about advising is that every day is different. Some days are packed with 1:1 student meetings, some are full of data, some are focused on advising programming, and others on everything all at once.

What’s your favorite part of working with SU nursing students in your role?

My favorite part is working with students and colleagues to resolve complex problems and/or situations. The transition to nursing and to doctoral studies can be intense and overwhelming, causing all manner of chaos for students. I enjoy spending time with them, offering or connecting them with whatever support they need. Towards the end of meetings, they often say, “I feel so much better now, I wish I’d done this sooner!”