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Jacksonville native Dr. Erin Richman has been an integral part of the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ community since 2003. She began her journey as a visiting assistant professor in psychology before transitioning to a teaching and administrative position at Florida State College at Jacksonville. While there, she continued teaching part-time at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ before making her full return in January 2022. 

Today, Richman is associate vice president of Student Success and holds roles as an adjunct in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and an instructor for Coggin Executive Programs, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her multifaceted roles.   

Her passion for education and student success isn’t just her job, it’s in her DNA.  

“I love that I get to do work that makes an impact,” said Richman. “It’s a privilege and responsibility that I take seriously, and I love to be continuously pushed to grow in new ways.”  

As a first-generation college student, Richman said she didn’t know how to navigate the complexities of a university even though she was a very good student academically. 

“Part of my mission as a leader in higher education is to create friendlier systems that aren’t mysterious to students, where everyone can get help easily — before they need it,” explained Richman. “Putting all of the benefits of the university in front of students such as academic advising, tutoring, coaching/mentoring, hands-on learning and more, helps all students thrive throughout their four years at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.”    

Creative moments  

Richman is known for thinking outside the box when it comes to creating programs and materials that complement her work. She admits some of her creative moments often come to her while driving.  

“I find my creative moments during my commute,” said Richman. “I am a music lover, so music fills my commute. I’m usually jotting down ideas that come to mind such as staff survey questions to places I'd like to visit to creating playlists for staff celebrations.”  

Her passion for innovation extends beyond her personal creativity. She takes pride in opening doors to opportunities for students such as the Osprey First Summer Pathways program.   

“The new Osprey First Summer Pathways program makes me proud,” Richman said. “Education was transformative for me personally, so getting to build a program that creates a pathway to opportunities for students is very fulfilling.”  

Empowering students and making connections  

Richman says the mission of the Student Success team is to empower students with knowledge, resources and opportunities to achieve educational and professional success.  

One way this is done is through experiential learning (EL). Beginning this fall, all incoming students are guaranteed at least one immersive, hands-on experience such as an internship, research project or leadership opportunity.  

"Experiential learning as a concept is not new to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ,” Richman said. “In fact, ‘learning by doing’ or High Impact Practices has been part of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ for many years. From involving undergraduates in research and creative projects, to internships, community service, or by providing undergraduates with opportunities to explore entrepreneurial ideas, our work and dedication to students through these experiences is the heart of what makes ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ special.” 

Richman said students will be exposed to hands-on learning throughout their ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ journey both in and outside of class, and courses will be designated as EL so students will know in advance before they register the course will include hands-on learning. 

“Our hope is that students will be exposed to hands-on learning throughout their ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ journey both in and outside of class,” said Richman. "Courses like senior capstone, directed research, field experiences, service learning and others will be considered EL courses, too. What many students don't realize is that ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ offers experiences outside courses which also provide the benefits of EL such as being a Peer Coach, a Supplemental Instruction leader, a Student Government leader.”  

 Richman emphasized the importance of students making meaningful connections with faculty and staff as a key factor in student success. She said the introduction of myNest a year ago, where students can book virtual and on-campus appointments with their advisors, enhancing accessibility and support.  

“Our goal is to facilitate every student making meaningful connections, whether that happens during a class, in a lab, at a basketball game, with their advisor or at OzFest,” Richman explained.   

Another important role of Student Success is helping students see the connections between what they learn in the classroom and what their long-term goals are as it pertains to working in the real world.  

“Students open up to their advisors about their hopes, fears and aspiration, and in turn, advisors help educate them about their options and give them courage to pursue their dreams,” she said. “Career Services prepares them with mock interviews, career assessments and career discovery sessions.”      

Preparing for the future  

In addition to overseeing Student Academic Success Services, Academic Advising, Experiential Learning and Undergraduate Research, Richman’s responsibilities continue to grow. She is also overseeing the creation of the new Military Science department, which includes the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).   

Outside of work, Richman says she loves to travel and most recently traveled to Sedona, Arizona with one of her daughters.   

As for the best advice she’s been given, she’s reminded what her best friend, Elise Bush, advised: “Life is short, play hard.” 

“I work hard and I play hard! And in order to work and play hard, I also practice what I've preached for many years in my Psychology courses: Get great sleep."