Student Success Champion: Gisell Jeter-Bennett
How a First-Gen History Major is Engineering Student Success
When Gisell Jeter-Bennett stepped onto the Rutgers University campus as a first-generation student, she had laid out a map for her life — earn a history degree, move back to her New Jersey hometown, and become an elementary school teacher.
After a 10-minute conversation with an impactful program coordinator, Roger, with the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, her life’s trajectory took a turn. He listened to her airtight plan, then gently challenged her, pushing her to see beyond her surroundings and explore the possibility of earning a Ph.D. “You can make a career out of this,” he told Gisell.
“It was just someone taking time to tell me, not to discourage what I was thinking, but to say, ‘Here is what else is possible,’” recalls Gisell. “Sometimes you can only see what is in front of you. There is something to be said about someone taking the time to hear a student and give them just a little bit more to consider. You really don’t know where it’s going to take them.”
As a graduate student, Gisell discovered her true passion — working with and for undergraduate students. While she enjoyed teaching, it was the student engagement, getting to know them as people, understanding the challenges and growth students undergo while in college, and advocating on their behalf that motivated her most. Gisell decided then that she wanted to be someone that pours into students, helps them recognize their potential, and supports them along the way, just like people did for her at Rutgers.
Years later and far from the east coast, Gisell continues to personify the power of the pivot as Director for Student Academic Success in the College of Engineering’s Office of Community Access, Retention, and Empowerment (CARE).
“I teach students how to embrace change, how to embrace discomfort, and how to appreciate the power of the pivot.”
Though she holds two degrees in history, Gisell has become an indispensable architect of student success in one of Ohio State’s most rigorous STEM colleges. Alongside Assistant Dean for Enrollment and Community Engagement Lisa Barclay, she leads a team that designs and delivers programs to support student success and workforce readiness from their early summer bridge experiences all the way through graduation.
Her lack of an engineering background isn’t a hurdle … it’s her superpower. It brings a vital diversity of thought to the college, serving as a reminder that before the students are engineers, they are humans.
“Engineering students are students, too,” Gisell said. “Yes, they are extraordinarily bright, gifted students. But they are also young adults in most cases. They carry personal experiences, pressures and stressors, and they need just as much support as any other student.”
Normalizing Support in a Grind Culture
A core mission for Gisell and her team is shifting the academic culture from one of silent struggle to one of proactive support. Many of the high-achieving students admitted into the College of Engineering arrive on campus with an impressive academic record and have rarely, if ever, had a need to ask for help. When they inevitably hit a wall in college, pride can become their biggest obstacle.
To combat this, the CARE team actively works to normalize academic assistance. Through initiatives like co-requisite support in foundational math courses led by peer mentors, and tutoring via the Academic Coaching in Engineering (ACE) program, they have built a support system that helps students before they fall behind.
“Rather than telling a student they need to do better in math, we need to help them do better in math.’”
Gisell works with the entire campus community to cultivate an environment where vulnerability is welcomed. In majors that are traditionally rigorous and require long hours of grinding away, there is a need to create spaces where students feel comfortable asking questions.
“There’s something powerful about taking the time to truly hear a student. You never know where that conversation might lead,” said Gisell reflecting on the life-altering chat with her program coordinator.
Caring for the Whole Student
Gisell’s holistic approach extends far beyond the classroom. Under her leadership, the CARE team facilitates one of the largest living-learning communities on campus, providing over 200 first- and second-year students across engineering, architecture, landscape, and city-regional planning with a built-in network of experienced peers who intimately understand the demands of the coursework. The CARE team also connects students with alumni and industry partners like The J.M. Smucker Company, Marathon and the City of Columbus, helping them to visualize their future.
For Gisell, supporting students means understanding the full picture of their experiences — not just what happens in the classroom.
More recently, Gisell has championed a growing push to focus on college affordability and financial wellness. She and her colleagues are working closely with university partners to better understand how financial concerns impact persistence and retention.
“It’s hard for students to focus on academics and campus involvement when they’re worried about whether they can afford to come back next semester.”
Planting Seeds
A self-described plant enthusiast, Gisell and her team often refer to “planting seeds” for student success. They must be patient as they plant seeds of support, provide nourishment and wait for growth.
Sometimes, they get a front-row seat to a student’s “aha” moment. Other times, the impact of their work isn’t fully realized until years later when bumping into a former student on campus or receiving a timely LinkedIn notification. These moments — unexpected conversations on The Oval, career and life updates on social media, and stories of resilience by those she served — remind Gisell why her work matters.
“You plant seeds and you wait for them to sprout. We might not always be there to see them blossom, but just knowing we played a positive role in their journey brings me joy.”
