How Derrick Fairman is helping change the face of academic advising
Welcome to the LA&PS Through the Ages, where, each month, we speak to longtime members of the LA&PS community about how they got to York University, what their roles are like and even some of their fondest York memories.
Today’s story is all about Derrick Fairman, who supports student success in the Faculty as an Assistant Director of Student Academic Advising Services. The York University alumnus has spent the past five years driving innovation in academic advising through the development of programming tailored to students’ needs and empowering advisors by way of professional development opportunities equipping them with the latest industry knowledge.
Fairman’s passion for giving back and creating positive change is unmistakable when he speaks about his work, but it extends far beyond the walls of the University: “Outside of York, I'm a mentor to young people,” says Fairman. “I also like to volunteer as much as I can to support the elderly and sick in retirement homes and hospitals.”
When did you first join the York University community?
I began working at York University in 2016 when I was hired for my current role of Assistant Director for Student Academic Advising Services.
What sparked your interest in working at York University?
I wanted to come home — both literally and figuratively. I graduated from York with a History and Political Science double major and shortly after, headed to the United States where I completed a couple of master's degrees and taught at the secondary and post-secondary levels for 10 years. All those years later, I returned to Canada and worked at several colleges in the GTA within the advising and student services area before "coming home" to York University.
I am so pleased that I made the decision to join LA&PS even though I left behind so many positive connections and friendships at my previous institutions. Ultimately, those experiences helped to enrich what I can contribute as a member of the York University community.
What do you enjoy most about being part of LA&PS’ Academic Advising team?
The joy of working with administration, faculty, staff, and students every day to promote and further student success. I love to see the celebratory exuberance when an idea blossoms into a full-fledged, collaborative initiative that leads to helping students achieve their goals and dreams.
What inspires you at work each day?
The answer is the focus on one simple question: "How can we make the student and/or experience even better than it is now?"
Whether it is something small, such as supporting a student with advising success strategies to help them graduate earlier than they expected, collaborating with colleagues and staff to find solutions to the issues of the day, or a new professional development/training opportunity that will enable staff to better support students, this singular question is what inspires me to work each day.
What’s the proudest accomplishment of your York University career?
Transforming LA&PS Academic Advising into a truly student-centred, developmental, and professional department at York is certainly one of my proudest accomplishments. Today, the department is rooted in Appreciative Advising theory and practice, employing new and effective forms of technology to improve the student experience, and providing training and development for advisors to better serve students. Consequently, we have had a number of staff and students wanting to join LA&PS over the last several years because they know we are committed to student success and promote professional development within our Faculty. Furthermore, our leadership team have been great supporters in the transformation of the Academic Advising Department.
How has your role helped you make a positive impact?
In my role as Assistant Director of Academic Advising in LA&PS, I have been able to make a positive impact in the LA&PS community by working with my colleagues to support our many students who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. I have dedicated myself to helping all students be successful no matter their unique circumstances are. I have also been a champion in continuing to expand Appreciative Advising and professional development for advisors and staff across the University. I am also very proud of the fact that I have been able to work with a team of colleagues, including our awesome work study and peers within the Student Success and Retention portfolio to support our new and continuing students as they transition at York from year to year. We also recently developed a Roadmap to Student Success which is being used to help students to make that successful transition as they matriculate through their program of study in LA&PS. As an alumni of York and LA&PS, and a Black kid from a working-class family in Scarborough, it’s wonderful to be part of the beautiful and diverse community of faculty, staff, students that comprise York University. I am proud to be a York Lion!
Now, a fun question! Who is the most interesting person that you’ve met?
I lived and worked in Atlanta, Georgia for 13 years and while there, I met one of my civil rights heroes, John Lewis, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King and was a student leader that engaged in the Freedom Rides in the Southern United States during the 1960s. He was such a humble and peace-loving man; I'll never forget the experience of meeting the iconic John Lewis.