This story is part of a series on the employee award winners announced at NC’s 2024 Niagara Day celebration.
Katherine Gottli, Student Advisor in Niagara College’s School of Access Studies, is the 2024 recipient of the Niagara Champion Award.
The award is given out annually to a Niagara College employee who consistently supports the College’s recruitment initiatives in collaboration with the Marketing and Student Recruitment teams. Recipients are those who have gone above and beyond to enrich the recruitment process through their personalized approach, enhancing the prospective student experience and contributing to a positive and supportive atmosphere at NC.
As a Student Advisor with Academic Upgrading, Gottli provides support and engagement to prospective students, many of whom are vulnerable, equity-deserving, or have entrance barriers, and goes out of her way to ensure that students feel cared for, supported and connected at every opportunity.
Gottli is consistently active in the Niagara community, prioritizing events and activities that support the next generation of students, and cares about everyone she works with. She is described by her peers as someone who is “patient, kind, helpful and giving” and who is “an angel walking among us” that “inspires and empowers others.”
Whether meeting prospective students or their parents, Gottli represents “NC Life” and her impact on the student experience embodies what it means to be both a Niagara Champion and a member of the Niagara College family.
InsideNC caught up with Gottli to learn more about her work at NC.
How long have you worked at Niagara College and in what departments/roles?
I have been working at Niagara College since 2015 when I started in the Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership supporting the Co-Curricular Record program. I transitioned into Academic Advising, and supported students in the School of Trades, Justice and Fitness Studies, and General Arts and Sciences over my time in the Engagement, Advising, and Career Services department. I’ve also taught skills development courses through the School of Academic and Liberal Studies.
I have been in the role of Student Advisor in Academic Upgrading for just over two years. In this role, I support learners who are looking to successfully transition into college, employment, apprenticeship, or living independently by upgrading their skills in a college setting.
What does it mean to you to be recognized by your colleagues and the College with this award?
The work in Academic Upgrading does not exist in a silo – I feel very privileged to collaborate with compassionate, creative, and innovative colleagues, faculty, and administrators in departments across campus all with the same goal of decreasing the barriers to education for equity deserving learners.
It’s easy to be a Niagara Champion when our teams all share the goal of creating opportunities for learners to see themselves as part of the NC community. I am humbled and very thankful for this recognition, but also want to acknowledge that my role is part of a much larger, complex, creative system of Niagara Champions who work tirelessly to help our wider community feel safe, welcomed, and cared for as a member of the NC community.
You are known for making students feel cared for, supported and connected. What approach do you take when working with prospective and current students and their families?
I approach every interaction with a learner with the mentality of “make them feel as important as you needed to feel in that moment.” The reality of this role is that many of our learners have not had positive experiences with education that has resulted in disengagement and fear of re-starting. For someone to even show up at our office can be a huge (and frightening) step towards a new life. To have a person on the “other side of the door” who is giving of their time and heart and free of judgement could make the difference between that student showing up tomorrow and the next day, or never showing up again. My hope for every learner is that they continue to show up, and I try to be a small part of helping that happen.
What do you enjoy most about showcasing NC Life through your role?
Academic Upgrading is a safe landing pad for many learners – an opportunity to build their confidence and competence in a self-paced, lower stakes environment before launching into full time programs, employment, or apprenticeships. We help learners see themselves in meaningful and fulfilling education – many who thought it was never a possibility for them. What an amazing thing to be part of a community who works tirelessly to increase access to the potential for a different life all members of our wider community.
For you, what’s the best part about working at the College?
I am very fortunate to work closely with colleagues in the School of Access, Workforce Development, and Access and Inclusion in Recruitment whose capacity for compassion and commitment to helping others reach their potential is endless. The best part of working at Niagara College is seeing that compassion in action in every department on campus.
