Get to Know HFC: Program Advisor Julie Fountain is nurses’ go-to advisor

Education has always been important in HFC Program Advisor Julie Fountain’s family.

Her father was a teacher who later became a principal and eventually ended his career as a superintendent. Her mother was a nurse who taught at the college level and coordinated clinical placements.

“I didn’t expect to go into higher education when I finished college,” recalled Fountain. “I planned to teach or be a school counselor in a middle school. At the time I graduated, the state was making pretty significant cuts in K-12 education, and it didn’t seem to be a good time to start a career in that area. I applied for a job at Michigan State University and started my higher education career there.”

Attending a community college offered convenience and introduced her to a diverse community

Born in Saginaw and raised in Troy and Grand Ledge, Fountain is the third of four children. After graduating from the Battle Creek Academy, she enrolled at Lansing Community College.

“When I graduated from high school, there was a lot going on in my family and I wanted to stay close to home,” she explained. “I had a great experience at LCC and loved not only the convenience but also the diversity of the students. People of all ages and life experiences were in my classes, and it just felt like such a rich learning environment.”

Transferring to Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Fountain earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in history and a secondary education endorsement. She later earned her master’s degree in counseling from Western Michigan University. Since 2008, she has been a licensed professional counselor. She lives in Plymouth with Nathan, her husband of 15 years, and their two daughters, ages 13 and 11.

“Once I started working in higher education, I knew I wanted to get back to a community college”

Fountain taught middle school for two years before returning to work toward her master’s degree.

“When I earned my master’s degree, my first job was in the MSU College of Nursing. My main role was Program Advisor for the master’s and doctoral programs. I worked in recruitment, admissions, orientation, program planning, graduation, and licensure. When I got married in 2008 and moved to Plymouth, I found a similar position at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in their School of Nursing, working with undergraduate students,” said Fountain.

After her position at U-M was downsized in 2016, Fountain came to HFC. Her first position was serving as a Student Success Navigator, reporting to HFC Coordinator of Student Success Lorraine Paffenroth, who hired Fountain at HFC.

“Once I started working in higher education, I always knew I wanted to get back to a community college,” said Fountain. “I found an opening at HFC. I felt right at home here from the time I arrived on campus for my interview.”

Enjoys connecting with students and working with them to achieve their goals

Fountain has been in her current position since 2022, reporting to Interim Director of Academic Advising Jennifer Markin.

“Julie is a dedicated professional focused on each individual student’s success,” said Markin. “She has spent the last 20 years guiding future nurses through rigorous curriculum and evolving requirements. HFC students are lucky to have her in their corner!”

Fountain’s duties include working with pre-nursing students who plan to apply to HFC’s renowned nursing program. She helps them map out their prerequisites and work toward the other general education classes they will need in the future for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. She also assists students in general education programs who are planning to transfer to a BSN program at a four-year college or university.

“My favorite part of advising is simply connecting with students,” said Fountain. “Getting to meet them, learning about their life and their goals, and helping them map out a clear path forward is so rewarding. College can be tricky to navigate, especially if you don’t have friends or family who have been through the process before. I tell students all the time that they don’t need to be shy about asking for help. Navigating college can be challenging, and we’re here to help. Make a connection with your advising team early on, so you don’t need to go it alone. It will make your college experience so much better!”

“I had the pleasure of working with Julie for a few years in Academic Advising,” said Paffenroth. “Julie is an excellent program advisor and came to HFC with a wealth of nursing and healthcare program background. I appreciate Julie for her dedication to her students, her kind, quiet manner, and her attention to detail. She is respected by students and her colleagues both staff and faculty and has been a tremendous contributor to the advancement of academic advising and the nursing program here at HFC.”

Eliminating barriers to success

Fountain is always continuing to find more effective ways to help students and remove hurdles to their degree.

“Working with a program that has limited enrollment is always tough, because not all students will be admitted,” she explained. “It can be a hard conversation to have with someone who may have been planning and working toward that goal for years. I’ve always found, though, that no situation is simply good or bad. It can be discouraging to change course, but it can also be an opportunity to stop and reflect on other rewarding careers. There are so many terrific health careers or other helping professions that can be a good match for students. I want to help find ways to minimize the negative impact that disappointment could have on a student’s education. You absolutely can dust yourself off and keep going toward your goals even if life throws you a curveball.”

Her advice to students who struggle with time management or organization is they should really take the time to improve those skills by attending time management workshops and purchasing a planner.

“Find a system that works for you. You will be so much further ahead if you can master your time. Check your email daily. Be a ‘learner.’ Not every class or assignment will feel relevant to you, but if you go into it with an open mind and think, ‘What can I learn from this?’ you can find value in those experiences,” she said. “I encourage students to look at the big picture. Develop their future goal, then make a plan toward that goal. Do you want to specialize? What degree or certification does that require? Let’s design a specific plan with goals to get you there. Starting with the end in mind allows us to utilize the student’s time at HFC to the utmost to set them up for success in their education and career beyond HFC.”