“Education is a key that unlocks the doors to understanding and self-knowledge.”
Profile for
Jennifer Cottle, Ph.D.
College Life Coach
- Staff
In her previous professional role, Dr. Cottle served as the Director of Early Childhood Intervention Services for an MHMR center in the DFW metroplex. The organization provided services to individuals with early childhood developmental delays and disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health issues, substance use disorders, and the families of these individuals, serving thousands of people each year. One of her duties was to attend college and university fairs for recruitment purposes, visiting campuses across the metroplex in search of students interested in serving their communities by working with the most vulnerable people who reside there.
ETAMU was one of the campuses where she recruited. Dr. Cottle felt the energy and enthusiasm of ETAMU almost as soon as she arrived. The students, faculty, and staff stood out to her through the thoughtful ways they engaged with her and the questions they asked about the work the community center was doing. She had the opportunity to visit ETAMU three times during her tenure as Director of ECI Services, and she decided that if she ever had the opportunity, she would pursue a position there because she felt strongly that she wanted to be a part of the ETAMU community.
A conversation with Jennifer Cottle
How do you help students at East Texas A&M?
I help students to gain the skills necessary to be successful in university. I was a first-gen student, so I feel that my role is to provide the kind of support that I needed as an undergraduate. It's important to note that I am not just students' College Life Coach for their first year at ETAMU—I'm their College Life Coach for the whole time that they are here!
What do you love most about your career?
I've had a varied career in family service, serving children and families across the lifespan. When I began teaching university students in 2019, I enjoyed having the opportunity to pass along the knowledge I had gained over a lifetime of service to others. I love teaching and connecting with others. I believe that education is a key that unlocks the doors to understanding and self-knowledge.
What do you like doing when you're not working?
A perfect day for me would be spent with family and friends. I love festivals and concerts, gardening, and trying new things. I have a large family, and any chance I get to spend time with them in nature, I am thrilled.
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
I love the lion statues and the lion mural. I like to take walks around campus, and I love to see all of the artwork.
Who has been a role model for you and why?
My personal role model is Dr. Catherine Dutton. Dr. Dutton was my mentor at Texas Woman's University, and she was so encouraging of my writing and research. She continues to surprise me with her bravery and positivity. She recently gave a Ted Talk called “Lessons From the Sex Professor Who Never Dated.”
Of course, there are others whose lives or philosophy inspire me: Dr. Carol Gilligan, Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, George Washington Carver, and David Bowie.
Education
- Ph.D., Family Studies, Texas Woman's University, 2021
- M.S., Human Development & Early Childhood Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas, 1993
- B.A., Psychology, Baylor University, 1991
- Texas Educator Certification, General Education EC-6, Special Education EC-12, Region X Education Service Center
featured courses
- CID 1300: The Student and The University