Meet the Staff

Jessica Harrell, Ph.D.

Director of the Academic Success Center

Jessica earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Rhetoric at Carnegie Mellon University. During more than 10 years as a teaching and learning professional, she has enjoyed helping professors design courses that support student learning and helping students develop self-regulated learning strategies they can use across their academic careers. She is passionate about creating programs that enhance the learning experience for all students and that uniquely support historically undervalued and at-risk students. Jessica hopes all students feel like they belong at the ASC and know that their growth and success is important to us.

In addition to her work at Oakland, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and tending to her flock of chickens.

You can reach Jessica at:
[email protected]
(248) 370-4460

Clarisse Mikami, M.S.

Assistant Director

Clarisse holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Post-Master's Graduate Certificate in General Management. She is a certified Supplemental Instruction supervisor with over 10 years of experience in academic support and teaching in higher education. Clarisse oversees the Supplemental Instruction Program and many of the study group sessions. In her role, she enjoys providing support to student leaders through hands-on learning opportunities that enrich their academic and career experiences. She strives to create a welcoming and safe environment for all students to reach their goals toward academic success. 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, doing yoga and pottery, and caring for her plants.

You can reach Clarisse at:
[email protected]
(248) 370-4217

Dean Carmichael

Peer Tutoring Program Coordinator

Dean has been overseeing the peer tutoring program in the Academic Success Center since 2018. As a former high school English teacher, Dean now relishes the opportunity to work with college students and assist them on their journey of personal and academic growth. In addition to supporting the tutors who work with the ASC, Dean is also one of the Academic Coaches who helps students with managing the collegiate experience and building a personal schedule for study. 

Dean played basketball throughout high school and into college and also coached and recruited for a college basketball team in his home state of New Mexico. Dean enjoys being a part of the Oakland community along with his wife and his three sons and takes pride in supporting Oakland students, as well as Golden Grizzlies men’s and women’s basketball.

You can reach Dean at:
[email protected]
(248) 370-2529

Amy Ward

Academic Coaching Coordinator

Amy has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. Her focus in the ASC is one-on-one Academic Coaching as well as leading workshops. She believes in listening carefully to students' concerns and challenges, and discussing practical, research-based strategies for support. Amy finds discovering new information about the brain, learning and sleep fascinating, and she loves sharing her “bag of tricks” to help students move forward! It is important to her that students feel safe sharing their experiences in their classes so she and others can help connect them to the right resources and strategies OU has available. 

Amy also enjoys the outdoors with her family and two beagle-mix dogs. She believes kitchens are made for dancing and laughing with family and friends.

You can reach Amy at:
[email protected]
(248) 370-3129

Nick Ronzi

Coordinator for Residential Academic Support

Nick is a two-time OU alum with a B.A. in Math and an MEd in Higher Education. Once an OU student tutor himself, Nick has remained dedicated to student success throughout his many years as a Golden Grizzly and always looks forward to learning more in collaboration with the OU community. Whether organizing tutoring offerings, facilitating workshops or meeting individually with students as an Academic Coach, Nick is excited to greet new students, learn about their experiences, and explore success strategies in conversation. Nick strongly believes in the potential of every student and is grateful for the opportunity to join them on their journeys. 

In his free time, Nick enjoys reading, gardening and learning about the natural world.

You can reach Nick at:
[email protected]
(248) 370-3942

Steve Grain

Office Assistant III

Steve has an undergraduate degree in Social Studies Education and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Communication with a focus on narrative. He does administrative work at the ASC and immensely enjoys the opportunity he has to interact with students on a daily basis. 

In his free time he enjoys doing all kinds of art, but especially loves theater, writing and illustrating.

You can reach Steve at:
[email protected]
(248) 370-4219