Navigate your first year at UA with the support of student mentors who utilize their experiences to answer questions, support your success, and share advice. Navigators are available for walk-in meetings and scheduled appointments on Monday through Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM. Connect with a Navigator today!
Contact the Navigators
Reach out to the Navigators to schedule an appointment or ask your questions by clicking schedule an appointment below, visiting the office, or calling the number listed below.
Meet the Navigators
Allison
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Major : Chemistry & French
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 – 2 PM
Ellanora
Cullman, Alabama
Major : Fashion Design & Fashion Retail
Office Hours: Fridays at 12 – 4 PM
Isabella
Vincennes, Indiana
Major : Biology
Juli
Miami Lakes, Florida
Major : Psychology & Human Development
Katie
Eastvale, California
Major : Marketing
Kiyah
Atlanta, Georgia
Major : Criminal Justice & Psychology
Maddie
Auburn, Alabama
Major : Human Development & Family Studies
Campus Compass
Campus Compass is your audible guide to navigating campus at The University of Alabama. Join First Year Navigators for bi-weekly podcasts utilizing their experiences and knowledge to help first year students gain a stronger foundations on campus. Navigators are here to give advice, support your journey, and guide you on the path towards success.
Check out the episodes below on Spotify!
Episode 5: Breaking Up with Your Major
Isabella and Juli explore the idea of “breaking up with your major” and how to go about navigating resources and tools on campus to enhance your journey of finding what’s best for you . With how common students change their major, it’s important to know that you’re never alone in this process and that Navigators are here to help! Whether it’s changing your entire path or just adding a minor, there are various ways to consider and adjust your journey in a way that better aligns with your interests, goals, and future plans.
They discuss all the helpful tips of going about finding what’s best for you on your academic journey, including exploring fun classes, talking to the career center, and using UA websites such as Focus 2 and Degree Works. Using personal experiences, they share how they’ve navigated changes through their own academic path and the opportunities they encountered while being a student at UA.
Episode 4: March Madness
In this episode of Campus Compass, Isabella and Julie explore “March Madness” from both a campus life and academic perspective, highlighting how students can balance school stress with social engagement.
They encourage students to attend a variety of university sporting events, not only for enjoyment but also to earn Tide Loyalty Points, which can lead to access to high-demand games and exclusive opportunities.
Shifting to academics, they emphasize the importance of utilizing campus resources such as peer tutoring, the Counseling Center, and advising services to manage exam stress and improve performance. They also provide practical guidance on course registration, introducing tools like Schedule Builder and DegreeWorks to help students efficiently plan their academic paths.
Episode 3: Interning through Summer
FYE Navigators Isabella and Juli talk about different ways students can spend their summer, focusing on including internships, summer jobs, study abroad, and summer classes.
They share their own plans while discussing the benefits of gaining experience, building transferable skills, and exploring career interests. The episode also highlights helpful resources for finding opportunities and encouraging students to start planning early while choosing the option that fits their goals. Whether students receive multiple offers or face a few rejections along the way, Isabella and Juli remain them the persistence, preparation, and self belief will help them find the opportunity that's right for them.
Episode 2: Drop the Addy
FYE Navigators Isabella and Juli discuss what UA students need to know about securing housing for the upcoming academic year. They explain on-campus and off-campus housing options, how to find roommates, transportation considerations, budgeting and financing, and storage unit tips.
The episode also covers why first-year students should begin their housing search early, especially since many sophomore, junior, and graduate students secure leases early during the fall semester.
This episode is designed to help first-year students reduce stress and make informed decisions as they begin planning for next year’s housing
Episode 1: New Semester, New Me
FYE Navigators Isabella and Juli talk everything from getting involved to adjusting for the spring semester.
Become a Navigator for the 2026-2027 Academic Year!
Have a passion for first-year students and the first-year experience? Do you enjoy mentorship? Be a navigator of the first-year experience by serving as an ambassador for UA First!
Navigators will conduct outreach calls to first-year students, represent UA First at various marketing functions and events, speak to classes, participate in leadership development trainings, host weekly walk-in hours for first-year students, and support the office with communication efforts and monthly programs. Use your college experience to help navigate incoming students through their first year!
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are closed. If you have questions, please contact Karley Fernandez Conley at kfconley@ua.edu.