Coaching World Issue 20: Industry Trends & Insights | Page 31

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Supporting the “Who:”
Coaching and College Student Development
Michele Oelking, PCC

A few weeks ago a coworker came to my office with a request:
“I have a student here looking for her coach.” As her normal coach was
unavailable I met with the student—let’s call her “Sam”—myself. I could tell
Sam felt a sense of urgency.
“Sorry to just show up, but I have a situation to work through and I need coaching. This is
one of the few places I can come where I won’t be judged,” she told me. We talked for a
while, and as she verbally processed, I noticed her energy shift. Sam ended our session
with some next steps and a plan to follow up with her coach.
Sam is just one example of the 1,363 students who have worked with a coach in our
program and left with energy and awareness in pursuit of their goals.
For incoming college students, the transition brings newfound joy and independence
and yet can be overwhelming and anxiety-producing. Students face daily decisions,
sometimes significant, that require executive functioning skills and emotional
regulation. These pressures raise questions and a desire for immediate answers.

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Michele is director of the
Academic Success Center at
Tulane University, an umbrella
of academic support services
for college students. Michele is
also a Life and ADHD Coach
and founder of Tulane’s Success
Coaching program. She is a
graduate of the ADD Coach
Academy and earned a master’s
degree in social work from
Southern University in New
Orleans. In December 2012,
she received Tulane University’s
Presidential Staff Excellence
Award for her achievements
on behalf of student success
and retention. Through her
private business, Souljourn
Coaching, Michele provides
coaching services and program
development to individuals and
organizations.