Undergraduate Academic Counselors
Your undergraduate academic counselor is a qualified professional who will assist you along your journey toward graduation in the following ways:
- Evaluates your transfer credits, and answers your transfer-credit questions.
- Provides a graduation check when you apply to graduate.
- Reviews and posts your degree when you have completed all degree requirements.
- Consults with your faculty advisor regarding your academic records.
- Assists you should you have academic difficulties.
 |
Debbie Crouch
Assignment: International students and last names beginning with Len-Lz
B.A. in Political Science and Home Economics, Seattle Pacific University, 1983.
M.S. in Community Counseling, Seattle Pacific University, 1993.
Joined SPU staff in 1983, has been in Academic Counseling since 1994.
Phone: 206-281-2446
Email: dcrouch@spu.edu
Family: Husband Jim; daughter Megan, a recent SPU grad; and son Devon, an SPU junior.
Why I’m a counselor: I love the academic realm, students, and helping people identify and reach their goals. Academic counseling is a good fit for me. |
| |
|
 |
Annette Rendahl
Assignment: Last names beginning with A-Co
B.A. in Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, 1993.
Joined SPU staff in 1993, has been in Academic Counseling since 1994.
Phone: 206-281-2539
Email: arendahl@spu.edu
Family: I have been married to my husband Tim for 12 years and our daughter Lauren is the light of our lives.
Why I’m a counselor: I chose this profession because I really enjoy getting to know students as they work toward their goals. I also really believe in higher education and it is fun to watch hundreds of students graduate every year with a degree. |
| |
|
 |
Ben Weins
Assignment: Last names beginning with Cp-Haq
B.S. in Mathematics Education, University of Sioux Falls, 2002.
M.A. in Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University, anticipated 2010.
Joined SPU staff in 2006, has been in Academic Counseling since 2006.
Phone: 206-281-2661
Email: benweins@spu.edu
Family: My wife and I moved here in 2006. I grew up in the Midwest, but have quickly grown to love the SPU community and campus. Go Falcons!
Why I’m a counselor: I chose to become an academic counselor because I enjoy helping students get the most out of their college experience. There are so many excellent educational options at SPU, and I enjoy watching students discover and fulfill their goals. |
| |
|
 |
Serena Severance
Assignment: Last names beginning with Har-Lem
B.A. in Theatre from Seattle Pacific University, 2002.
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle Pacific University, 2008.
Joined SPU staff in 2002, has been in Academic Counseling since 2005.
Phone: 206-281-2542
Email: slsevera@spu.edu
Dream vacation: There are so many places I’d love to see! I hope someday soon to be able to go to Paris, France.
Why I’m a counselor: I love working with students throughout their college experience, and am always so excited for students when they finish their degree, and they can look back and be so proud for their accomplishment. |
| |
|
 |
Kristen Labrecque
Assignment: Last names beginning with M-Pd
B.A. in English, Seattle Pacific University, 1998.
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Seattle Pacific University, 2004.
Joined SPU staff in 1998, has been in Academic Counseling since 2003.
Phone: 206-281-2245
Email: kristenl@spu.edu
Academic struggle: I’ve always been a little shy, and it took a lot of courage for me to speak up in class and visit professors during office hours. Now that I know how welcoming professors are, I wish I took advantage of more opportunities to engage with them.
Why I’m a counselor: I love academic planning, and I love helping students. Academic counseling helps me combine those loves. What a great job! |
| |
|
 |
Jim Kim
Assignment: Last names beginning with Pe-Sp
B.A. in Economics, Seattle Pacific University, 1998.
Joined SPU staff in 2000, has been in Academic Counseling since 2003.
Phone: 206-281-2255
Email: jimkim@spu.edu
Family: I’m married, my mom and dad still live in the area, and a sister who passed away in 2002.
Why I’m a counselor: Primarily for the opportunity to come alongside students as they pursue their academic and career goals. |
| |
|
 |
Ingrid Steele
Assignment: Last names beginning with Sq-Van
B.A. in Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, 2003.
Joined SPU Staff in 2003, has been in Academic Counseling since 2007.
Phone: 206-281-2578
Email: isteele@spu.edu
Dream vacation: I would love to visit Europe, more specifically Italy, Scotland, Germany, & France. I’ll have to wait, however, until my son is old enough to appreciate all Europe has to offer, and that may be quite a while!
Family: I am married and have one boy, who was born in August of 2009. |
| |
|
 |
Edie Finnell
Assignment: Last names beginning with Vao-Z
B.A. in Social Science, Hope International University, 1997.
M.A. in Church History, Gordon Conwell, 2001.
Joined SPU Staff in 2002, has been in Academic Counseling 2004 to 2007, returning in 2010.
Phone: 206-281-2324
Email: finnell@spu.edu
Family: My husband and two little girls.
Why I’m a counselor: I enjoy working with students and coming alongside them during this exciting time in their lives. Earning a degree is a huge investment and I love being a part of a team of people helping students to navigate the process and succeed. |
|