About Us

Meet Our Leadership

At the heart of Undergraduate Advising and Success (UAS) is a dedicated team working across Academic Advising and Peer Connections to support every undergraduate at San José State University. Our advisors, peer educators, and academic support staff collaborate to provide personalized, inclusive, and research-informed guidance that empowers students to reach their academic and personal goals.

This work is guided by a leadership team committed to student success. Together, the Senior Director, Managing Directors, and the Associate Vice Provost provide strategic direction, foster campus partnerships, and ensure our services remain student-centered, equity-driven, and responsive to the diverse needs of the SJSU community.

Shonda Goward

Dr. Shonda Goward is the inaugural Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Advising and Success, overseeing 10 student success centers dedicated to closing equity gaps and increasing graduation rates. Since joining in Fall 2021, she has built upon the foundational work of each college in developing these centers, and collaborated closely with leadership in Undergraduate Education to enhance academic advising and advance broader student success initiatives. Her role has recently been elevated under the provost to provide increased focus on various facets of student success beyond advising alone including serving as the campus lead for the AASCU Student Success Equity Intensive.

Dr. Goward's professional focus and research center on strategies for retaining historically excluded students and fostering their academic achievement and well-being. She holds a B.A. with dual majors in journalism and mass communication, and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in English with a concentration in African American Literature from Southern Connecticut State University, and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from The George Washington University. 

A California native, Dr. Goward's family migrated to the Bay Area during the Great Migration of the 1940s. She is a first-generation college graduate from a working-class background, and is proud to represent that perspective as a part of the academic leadership team.

De’Ron Jasper

De'Ron Jasper (pronounced day-ron) serves as the Managing Director of the Student Athlete Resource Center (SARC) and Associate Athletic Director at San José State University, where he leads comprehensive academic and student support services for Spartan student-athletes. Jasper joined SJSU in July 2023, bringing over a decade of progressive experience in collegiate athletic administration and educational services.

Prior to his current role, Jasper spent time at the University of Colorado, where he advanced from Assistant Director of the Herbst Academic Center and ultimately served as Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and Operations for the University of Colorado Athletics Department. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in supporting student-athlete academic achievement and program operations.

Jasper’s earlier experience includes serving as Academic Coordinator of Student-Athletes at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. There, he led academic support for multiple sports and contributed to Mercer earning three consecutive Barrett-Bonner Southern Conference awards, recognizing the university’s high percentage of student-athletes with GPAs above 3.0. He also worked as an instructor at Old Dominion University. He directed Project Launch, a program that supports low-income high school students in their pursuit of higher education and employment at the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center.

A former Division I student-athlete himself, Jasper earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Psychology from Georgia Tech, where he was a football scholarship recipient and three-time letterman. He completed his master’s degree in education at Old Dominion University as a graduate student-athlete and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education from the same institution. Jasper is an active member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Joel Morales

Joel Morales serves as the Managing Director for the Humanities & the Arts and Social Sciences Student Success Centers within the Undergraduate Advising and Success Unit at San José State University (SJSU). With a dedicated tenure at SJSU since 2018, Joel has contributed to student advising through multiple progressive roles, including positions in Human Resources, Academic Advising, and as a Graduation and Retention Specialist, each aimed at enhancing student success and engagement.

Joel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Bakersfield. His professional background has allowed him to incorporate human-centered practices into his advising philosophy, utilizing a holistic approach guided by comprehensive data review.

His professional passion centers on proactively identifying and dismantling barriers to equitable educational opportunities, ensuring that all students have the resources and support they need both inside and outside the classroom.

Joel’s overarching goal is to empower each student in achieving their academic degree and confidently transitioning to the next chapter of their lives beyond college. He remains deeply committed to fostering inclusive environments where every student feels valued, supported, and prepared to succeed.

Julia Odom

Julia is a Bay Area native raised in Oakland, California.  She graduated from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California with a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior. She has over 25 years of experience in higher education. She enjoys helping students figure out ways to navigate college life and well-being. Her focus is developing and Implementing programs and processes that promote student success.

Kathryn "KP" Palmieri 

Kathryn "KP" Palmieri (she/they) has been the Managing Director for the College of Science Student Success Center (CoS-SSC) and the Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC) since Fall 2023.  Returning to their alma mater with over 25 years of experience, KP previously served in residential life, academic advising, career development, and management positions at the College of St. Benedict (MN), UC Davis, Sacramento State, Santa Clara University, and Cal State East Bay. 

A Bay Area native, KP earned a BA in Child Development and minors in Advertising and Music Education at SJSU. It was campus involvement in the Spartan Marching Band, Greek Life leadership, and the Resident Advisor (RA) position that inspired a return to  higher education. After earning a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (K-8) at St. Mary's College, KP taught fifth grade for two years before accepting a scholarship to attend Miami University (Ohio) for an MS in College Student Personnel (now called Student Affairs in Higher Education/SAHE). Miami University's first year advising program was the catalyst for a practicum in the College of Arts and Science Dean's Office that eventually led to a career focused around academic advising. 

KP is an authentic people connector, college navigator, and lifelong learner, who enjoys the intersections between the arts, education, nature, and social justice. 

Deanna Peck

Deanna Peck (she/they) has dedicated over 25 years to San Jose State University, contributing to University Housing Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Peer Connections.

Growing up in the Midwest, Deanna earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught in England, Wisconsin, and Cameroon, Africa. She holds a Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration with a concentration in Counseling from Indiana University-Bloomington, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University.

Deanna is passionate about enhancing the student experience through an asset-based lens that values cultural wealth, and enjoys exploring trails, cultures, and restaurants in her free time.

Yajayra Tovar

Yajayra is a proud first-generation college graduate and a passionate leader in higher education, with over a decade of experience advancing student success, equity, and inclusion. She currently serves as the Managing Director of Undergraduate Advising & Success at San José State University, where she oversees the Student Success Centers for the Lurie College of Education and the College of Health and Human Sciences.  Her own experience navigating college as a first-gen student fuels her commitment to creating inclusive, supportive environments for students from all backgrounds. Yajayra has led cross-functional teams and developed student-centered initiatives that focus on retention, engagement, and belonging, especially for historically underserved communities.

A core part of her professional purpose has been advocating for and supporting students who have had lived experiences in the foster care system. She has led programs and partnerships that center their voices, remove systemic barriers, and provide holistic resources that help students not just navigate college but truly thrive. Grounded in culturally sustaining practices, trauma-informed care, and community-centered approaches, Yajayra brings a collaborative and equity-driven lens to all she does. Outside of work, Yajayra enjoys spending quality time with loved ones and believes deeply in the power of education, representation, and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged to grow.